War

From the Trojan War to World War II to the Iraq War, history has been shaped by humanity's tragic capacity to wage war. In this thematic collection, we have gathered fiction and nonfiction texts that investigate both the lessons and the senselessness crystallized in the aftermath of military conflict.

Hana's Suitcase

by Karen Levine

Publication year 2002

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Grief, Justice, War, Love, Family, The Past

Tags Holocaust, World War II, Jewish Literature, Children`s Literature, Military & War, World History, Biography

Originally published in 2002 by Second Story Press, Hana’s Suitcase is a historical text by Karen Levine that weaves together the story of two young children in the Holocaust with the narrative of a Japanese museum curator in the early 21st century. Levine, a radio journalist and producer, first heard about Hana Brady’s suitcase from a news article and subsequently produced a radio show about the story. This launched what would become Hana’s Suitcase and... Read Hana's Suitcase Summary

Hattie Big Sky

by Kirby Larson

Publication year 2006

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Loneliness, Race, Coming of Age, Climate, Environment, Place, Friendship, Community, Immigration, War

Tags Historical Fiction, Coming of Age, World War I

Kirby Larson’s Hattie Big Sky is a 2006 young adult historical fiction novel that won the Newbery Honor Award. Larson is a young adult author who specializes in writing historical fiction centering on strong female protagonists. Set during World War I, the novel follows Hattie Brooks as she travels to Montana to work on the farm that her uncle leaves to her after he dies. The novel explores themes of community, overcoming adversity, and issues... Read Hattie Big Sky Summary

Heart of a Dog

by Mikhail Bulgakov

Publication year 1925

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Masculinity, Coming of Age, Animals, Nature Versus Nurture, Social Class, Nation, War, Science & Technology

Tags Satirical Literature, Science Fiction, Russian Literature, Symbolic Narrative

The Heart of a Dog (1925) is a novella by Russian author and playwright Mikhail Bulgakov. During his lifetime, Bulgakov was celebrated as a playwright in the Soviet Union, but his works often faced censorship by authorities due to their satirical critiques of Soviet life and government. The Heart of a Dog is a satirical science fiction tale of a surgeon who uses organ transplants to transform a stray dog into a man. It deals... Read Heart of a Dog Summary

Heavenly Bodies

by Imani Erriu

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Fate, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Grief, Hate & Anger, Hope, Love, Memory, Revenge, Mental Health, Sexual Identity, Death, Appearance & Reality, Fathers, Self Discovery, Politics & Government, War, Good & Evil, Loyalty & Betrayal, Religion & Spirituality

Tags Fantasy, Romance, New Adult, Survival Fiction

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Hecuba

by Euripides

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Revenge, War, Fate, Justice, Conflict, Hate & Anger

Tags Tragedy, Mythology, Ancient Greece, Classical Period, Grief & Death, European History, Trauma & Abuse, Dramatic Literature, Fantasy, Classic Fiction

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Heir

by Sabaa Tahir

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Hate & Anger, Hope, Love, Revenge, Gender Identity, Indigenous Identity, Coming of Age, Colonialism, Nation, Politics & Government, War, Good & Evil, Justice, Power & Greed

Tags Fantasy, Romance

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Held

by Anne Michaels

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Memory, Death, Future, The Past, Family, War, Art, Music, Religion & Spirituality, Science & Technology

Tags Military & War, World History, Literary Fiction, Historical Nonfiction

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Helen

by Euripides

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes War, Fate, Appearance & Reality

Tags Classic Fiction, Mythology, Tragedy, Dramatic Literature, Fantasy

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Henry V

by William Shakespeare

Publication year 1599

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Nation, Coming of Age, War

Tags Classic Fiction, British Literature, Historical Fiction, Drama, Education, Education, World History, Dramatic Literature

Henry V is a play by English playwright William Shakespeare, believed to have premiered in 1599. It is best preserved in the 1623 publication of Shakespeare’s work known as the First Folio. Shakespeare’s surviving work includes 10 history plays focusing on the history and kings of England 1399-1485 and based on actual events. Henry V is the fifth of these chronologically and focuses on King Henry V of England, specifically on the events surrounding the... Read Henry V Summary

Heroes

by Alan Gratz

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Race, Friendship, War

Tags Children`s Literature, World War II, Military & War, World History, Historical Fiction, Action & Adventure

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Hiroshima

by John Hersey

Publication year 1946

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Death, War

Tags Journalism, Asian History, World War II, Creative Nonfiction, World History, Education, Education, Military & War, Japanese Literature, Classic Fiction

Hiroshima, an account of the first atomic bomb used in warfare, is a nonfiction book by John Hersey. Alfred A. Knopf published it in 1946, several months after it first appeared as an article in the New Yorker. The magazine ran the article at the end of August 1946, just after the first anniversary of the dropping of the bomb, devoting the entire issue to the lengthy piece. The issue sold out immediately and was... Read Hiroshima Summary

Hitler's Daughter

by Jackie French

Publication year 1999

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Coming of Age, Nation, War, Good & Evil, Justice, Safety & Danger

Tags Military & War, World History, Christian

Hitler’s Daughter is a historical fiction middle-grade novel written by Jackie French. It is part of the Hitler trilogy and was originally published in 1999. Jackie French is an Australian author, environmental activist, and historian, and her books have won over 60 awards internationally. Hitler’s Daughter was named a Blue Ribbon Book and a Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Book of the Year for Younger Readers. It was also adapted into a play. The... Read Hitler's Daughter Summary

Home Front

by Kristin Hannah

Publication year 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Marriage, War, Family, Love, Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Grief, Mental Health

Tags Romance, Historical Fiction, Dramatic Literature, Military & War, Modern Classic Fiction

... Read Home Front Summary