Truth & Lies

Whether exploring the consequences of concealing the truth or excavating the mysterious nature of truth itself, the titles in this collection discuss the intersections among honesty, factualness, legitimacy, deception, falsehood, and lies.

That's Not What Happened

by Kody Keplinger

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Mental Health, Guilt, Grief, Self Discovery, Religion & Spirituality, Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Forgiveness, Regret, Coming of Age, Death, Education, Politics & Government, Justice, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies

Tags Realistic Fiction, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Modern Classic Fiction, Mental Illness, LGBTQ+

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The 5th Wave

by Rick Yancey

Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Hope, Community, War, Truth & Lies

Tags Science Fiction, Fantasy, Romance

The 5th Wave is the first young adult science fiction novel in Rick Yancey’s trilogy of the same name. The book was published in 2013 by G.P. Putnam’s Sons. It follows the story of Cassie Sullivan, a young woman left on her own after aliens attack the Earth in three waves. The first wave is an electromagnetic pulse that shuts down all electricity; the second wave causes natural disasters on the coasts of each continent... Read The 5th Wave Summary

The 6:20 Man

by David Baldacci

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Justice, Power & Greed, Truth & Lies

Tags Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Action & Adventure, Modern Classic Fiction

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The ABC Murders

by Agatha Christie

Publication year 1936

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Fear, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Good & Evil, Justice, Truth & Lies, Trust & Doubt

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Trauma & Abuse, Relationships, Social Class, Horror & Suspense, British Literature, Classic Fiction

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The Adoration of Jenna Fox

by Mary E. Pearson

Publication year 2008

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Truth & Lies

Tags Science Fiction, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Futurism, Fantasy, Romance

The Adoration of Jenna Fox is a 2008 science fiction novel for young adults written by Mary E. Pearson. Pearson is the author of several works for children and young adults, including series such as the Dance of Thieves duology and stand-alone works like Scribbler of Dreams. The Adoration of Jenna Fox is the first in a trilogy centered on the titular protagonist's experiences after waking up from a coma. The novel was positively received... Read The Adoration of Jenna Fox Summary

The Adventures of Pinocchio

by Carlo Collodi

Publication year 1883

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Childhood & Youth, Truth & Lies, Fathers

Tags Classic Fiction, Fantasy, Fairy Tale & Folklore, Action & Adventure, Italian Literature, Children`s Literature, World History

Set in the Tuscan region of Italy in the 1800s, by Carlo Collodi’s classic children's fantasy novel The Adventures of Pinocchio (1883) follows the misadventures of a living wooden puppet and his poor puppeteer father. The story was initially published as a serial in a weekly children's magazine; due to reader demand, it was later turned into a book. The Adventures of Pinocchio, translated into more than 260 languages, is considered one of the most... Read The Adventures of Pinocchio Summary

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

by Arthur Conan Doyle

Publication year 1892

Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction

Themes Teamwork, Justice, Truth & Lies

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Classic Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Historical Fiction, Action & Adventure

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s (1859-1930) The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes was published in 1892 as a collection of 12 short stories. The texts detail some of the earliest cases of the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes as narrated by his friend and collaborator, Doctor John Watson. The stories appear in the order in which they were originally published in The Strand Magazine.Conan Doyle was born in Edinburgh to Catholic parents, the second of 10 children. The... Read The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Summary

Theaetetus

by Plato

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Truth & Lies, Appearance & Reality

Tags Philosophy, Ancient Greece, Education, Education, Science & Nature, Philosophy, World History, Classical Period, Classic Fiction

Theaetetus is a philosophical work written by Ancient Greek philosopher Plato (427-347 BCEE). Written in 369 BCEE, it is an account of a dialogue between the Greek philosopher Socrates (470-399 BCEE) and a young geometry student, Theaetetus, about the nature of knowledge. Socrates asks Theaetetus questions that lead them to discuss, and assess, several theories and definitions of knowledge. These are, first, that knowledge is perception, that knowledge is true judgment, and that knowledge is... Read Theaetetus Summary

The Age Of Miracles

by Karen Thompson Walker

Publication year 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Memory, Order & Chaos, Truth & Lies

Tags Science Fiction, Fantasy

Published in 2012, Karen Thompson Walker’s The Age of Miracles is a bildungsroman science fiction novel. Set in modern-day California, “the slowing” is the term used to describe the mysterious phenomenon of Earth’s rotation gradually decelerating. Humanity must face drastic environmental issues, such as increased days of sunlight, and this serves as the dystopian backdrop to the coming-of-age story of 11-year-old protagonist, Julia.The Age of Miracles opens just as “the slowing” begins and is told... Read The Age Of Miracles Summary

The Age Of Reason

by Thomas Paine

Publication year 1794

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Good & Evil, Religion & Spirituality, Truth & Lies

Tags Philosophy, Age of Enlightenment, Religion & Spirituality, Science & Nature, World History, Philosophy, Classic Fiction, Politics & Government

Thomas Paine’s The Age of Reason is both a defense of Deism and a rejection of the world’s major monotheistic religions. Published in three parts (1794, 1795, 1807), Age of Reason reflects Paine’s belief that a significant religious upheaval would follow in the wake of the American and French Revolutions. In France, privileged orders such as monarchy and aristocracy had been toppled, and the established Catholic Church had not survived the onslaught. Paine feared that... Read The Age Of Reason Summary

The Alchemist

by Ben Jonson

Publication year 1610

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Guilt, Shame & Pride, Wins & Losses, Truth & Lies, Trust & Doubt, Power & Greed, Social Class, Community, Teamwork

Tags British Literature, Historical Drama, Comedy & Satire, Satirical Literature, Social Class, Finance, Renaissance, Education, Education, World History, Dramatic Literature, Humor, Classic Fiction

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The Antidote

by Karen Russell

Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Memory, Perseverance, Grief, Regret, Gender Identity, Indigenous Identity, Race, Coming of Age, The Past, Climate, Environment, Self Discovery, Colonialism, Community, Politics & Government, Equality, Justice, Truth & Lies

Tags Historical Fiction, Magical Realism

Competitor... Read The Antidote Summary

The Art Forger

by B A. Shapiro

Publication year 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Art, Perseverance, Gender Identity, Fame, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Power & Greed, Truth & Lies

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Historical Fiction

The Art Forger is the fourth book from author B. A. Shapiro. With a PhD in sociology, Shapiro is well known for combining meticulous research with character-driven storytelling. Her academic background shapes her fiction; in The Art Forger, Shapiro approaches art and crime as social and philosophical questions as well as plot devices. Her characters explore questions about why society values certain objects and what the art world’s obsession with reputation and provenance mean about... Read The Art Forger Summary

The Art of Happiness

by Dalai Lama, Howard C. Cutler

Publication year 1998

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Religion & Spirituality, Conflict, Perseverance, Fear, Forgiveness, Grief, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Hope, Joy, Loneliness, Regret, Mental Health, Future, The Past, Family, Friendship, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Community, Education, Order & Chaos, Truth & Lies

Tags Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, Psychology, Self-Improvement, Asian History

In 1998, the 14th Dalai Lama (Tenzin Gyatso) and psychiatrist Howard C. Cutler released The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living. Combining spiritual teachings and clinical framing, the book has become an example of where popular psychology, applied ethics, and secular spirituality converge. The book targets a broad audience seeking practical ways to decrease suffering, enhance interpersonal connections, and develop a more stable, compassionate mindset—regardless of whether they have a religious affiliation.A collaborative project... Read The Art of Happiness Summary