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.

Cannibalism: A Perfectly Natural History

by Bill Schutt

Publication year 2017

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Shame & Pride, Indigenous Identity, Mental Health, Death, Future, The Past, Animals, Appearance & Reality, Climate, Nature Versus Nurture, Colonialism, Community, Globalization, Politics & Government, War, Religion & Spirituality, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies

Tags Science & Nature, World History, Anthropology, Psychology, Biology, Animals

... Read Cannibalism: A Perfectly Natural History Summary

Captive Prince

by C. S. Pacat

Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Hate & Anger, Revenge, Shame & Pride, Masculinity, Sexual Identity, Coming of Age, Future, The Past, Family, Friendship, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Social Class, Community, Nation, Politics & Government, War, Beauty, Fate, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Wins & Losses, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Fantasy, Love & Sexuality, Romance

... Read Captive Prince Summary

Capture The Flag

by Kate Messner

Publication year 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes The Past, Appearance & Reality, Friendship, Teamwork, Social Class, Immigration, Nation, Politics & Government, Justice, Power & Greed, Truth & Lies

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Action & Adventure, Realistic Fiction, Children`s Literature

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Catching Fire

by Suzanne Collins

Publication year 2009

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Truth & Lies, Revenge, Memory, Shame & Pride, Perseverance, Conflict

Tags Science Fiction, Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Trauma & Abuse, Romance

Catching Fire (2009) is the sequel to The New York Times bestseller The Hunger Games (2008), and the second novel in author Suzanne Collins’s trilogy of the same name. Catching Fire is a young adult dystopian science fiction novel that takes place in the future, amidst the ruins of what was once America. Catching Fire details the aftermath of Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark’s victory in the 74th Hunger Games from the first novel. Despite... Read Catching Fire Summary

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

by Tennessee Williams

Publication year 1955

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Family, Sexual Identity, Loneliness, Truth & Lies, Femininity, Masculinity

Tags Southern Gothic, Drama, Classic Fiction, Education, Education, American Literature, Southern Literature, World History, Dramatic Literature

First performed in 1955, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is one of American playwright Tennessee Williams’s best-known works. This classic play won the 1955 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, the New York Drama Critics’ Circle award for Best American Play, and was adapted into a 1958 film starring Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman. Adapted from Williams’s short story “Three Players of a Summer Game,” the three-act Cat on a Hot Tin Roof occurs in real-time as the Pollitt family gathers... Read Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Summary

Caught Up

by Navessa Allen

Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Forgiveness, Love, Gender Identity, Sexual Identity, The Past, Family, Politics & Government, Justice, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Romance

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Chances Are . . .

by Richard Russo

Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Grief, Memory, Regret, Masculinity, Mental Health, Death, The Past, Appearance & Reality, Family, Friendship, Social Class, Music, Truth & Lies

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

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Charles

by Shirley Jackson

Publication year 1948

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Good & Evil, Truth & Lies, Appearance & Reality, Family

Tags Classic Fiction, American Literature, Humor, Post-War Era, Parenting, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction

American author Shirley Jackson’s short story “Charles” (1948) was first published in Mademoiselle, then in Jackson’s 1949 collection as well as in her 1953 novel Life Among the Savages. Though “Charles” is not in the horror genre, Jackson is a renowned horror writer and has influenced modern writers like Neil Gaiman and Stephen King. The story does, however, have an element of mystery—another genre for which the author is famous. This study guide cites the... Read Charles Summary

Checkers

by Richard Nixon

Publication year 1952

Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction

Themes Social Class, Economics, Politics & Government, Truth & Lies

Tags Politics & Government, US History, Cold War

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Christine

by Stephen King

Publication year 1983

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Safety & Danger, Conflict, Fear, Hate & Anger, Nostalgia, Femininity, Masculinity, Mental Health, Sexual Identity, Coming of Age, Death, Family, Friendship, Self Discovery, Social Class, Community, Beauty, Fate, Good & Evil, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Horror & Suspense, Fantasy, Mystery & Crime Fiction

... Read Christine Summary

Chronicle of a Death Foretold

by Gabriel García Márquez

Publication year 1981

Genre Novella, Fiction

Themes Truth & Lies, Death, Femininity, Justice, Revenge, Family, Memory

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Magical Realism, Latin American Literature, Education, Education, Classic Fiction

Chronicle of a Death Foretold is a 1981 novella by Colombian author Gabriel García Márquez. Told in non-chronological order and in journalistic fashion by an unnamed narrator, it pieces together the events leading up to and after the murder of Santiago Nasar by Pedro and Pablo Vicario. Chronicle of a Death Foretold is a classic example of Márquez's use of magical realism in his writing. The novella has been adapted several times as a film... Read Chronicle of a Death Foretold Summary

Chronicle of the Narvaez Expedition

by Álvar Núñez Cabeza De Vaca

Publication year 1542

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Colonialism, War, Nation, Race, Religion & Spirituality, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies, Power & Greed

Tags World History, Latin American Literature, Christian, Creative Nonfiction, Colonialism & Postcolonialism, Trauma & Abuse, Race & Racism, Renaissance

The Chronicle of the Narváez Expedition by Alvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca was originally written in 1542, with a reprint in 1555. The chronicle follows Cabeza de Vaca’s memories of his survival after the expedition (led by Pánfilo de Narváez) failed and broke apart, and his subsequent peregrinations through the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. His chronicle stands as an important primary document of the age of the conquistadores. Of particular importance are Cabeza... Read Chronicle of the Narvaez Expedition Summary

City of Glass

by Cassandra Clare

Publication year 2007

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Guilt, Truth & Lies, Friendship, Daughters & Sons, Siblings

Tags Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Romance, Grief & Death, Love & Sexuality, Science Fiction, Religion & Spirituality

City of Glass by Cassandra Clare (Walker Books, 2009) is the third installment of the young adult urban fantasy Mortal Instruments series and chronicles an epic Shadowhunter battle against an old foe’s return. City of Glass was a finalist for the Teen Choice Book of the Year and for the 2009 Goodreads Choice Awards. Clare was born in Iran to American parents. She spent several years traveling before she settled in the United States, where... Read City of Glass Summary