Leo Tolstoy famously begins the novel Anna Karenina with the sentence: "All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." In this thematic collection, we have gathered noteworthy texts that navigate the joyous and sorrowful emotional terrain of the family unit.
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: The Past
Tags Irish Literature, Literary Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2017
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Mental Health, Identity: Sexuality, Relationships: Mothers
Tags Romance, Mental Illness, Modern Classic Fiction, Drama / Tragedy
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family
Tags Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance, Food
With the Fire on High is a 2019 young adult coming-of-age novel by Dominican American author Elizabeth Acevedo, who won a National Book Award for her 2018 young adult novel, The Poet X. It tells the story of Emoni Santiago, a teenage mother of Puerto Rican descent, and her senior year at a Philadelphia high school. The novel focuses on Emoni’s enrollment in a culinary arts class and her subsequent journey of self-discovery. With the... Read With the Fire on High Summary
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Mothers, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags Historical Fiction, Western, Magical Realism, History: World
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Art, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Relationships: Family
Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, WWII / World War II, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World, Arts / Culture
Publication year 2012
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Disability, Relationships: Family
Tags Realistic Fiction, Bullying, Children's Literature, Disability, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction
Wonder is a middle-grade novel written by R.J. Palacio and published in 2012 by Alfred A. Knopf. The novel is a #1 New York Times Bestseller and also a major motion picture. Though multiple narrators tell the tale, the plot centers around August “Auggie” Pullman, a 10-year-old kid who has a genetic condition called mandibulofacial dysostosis that has left his face misshapen. People stare and judge him by his looks, but Auggie tries not to... Read Wonder Summary
Publication year 2016
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear
Tags Fantasy, Animals, Action / Adventure, Humor, Children's Literature
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Language, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: Education, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Historical Fiction, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Military / War, History: World
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Teams, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Music, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Self Discovery
Tags Romance, Holidays & Occasions
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Relationships
Publication year 1991
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Natural World: Space & The Universe, Relationships: Family
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, Politics / Government
Xenocide is the third book in Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game saga and is preceded by Ender’s Game and Speaker for the Dead. The series is best classified as dystopian science fiction; Ender’s Game, which has been adapted to film, is the most popular volume. Xenocide is set on two planets. The first, Lusitania, is inhabited by the Pequeninos and the descolada virus that is crucial to their life cycle but deadly to other species;... Read Xenocide Summary
Publication year 2017
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Race, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Siblings, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Self Discovery, Identity: Femininity, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Historical Fiction, Romance, Realistic Fiction, Immigration / Refugee, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World, Indian Literature
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Realistic Fiction, Addiction / Substance Abuse, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance, Mental Illness
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Art, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Society: Community
Tags Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Bullying, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2024
Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Aging, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Animals, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Grandparents, Society: Community, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Self Discovery
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1962
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict
Tags Lyric Poem, Confessional, Science / Nature
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Family, Life/Time: The Past, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Children's Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction, Religion / Spirituality, Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Realistic Fiction
Zach’s Lie (2001) is a critically acclaimed young adult thriller by American author Roland Smith. The novel explores themes of identity and the importance of family, truth, and trust. Smith is a New York Times bestselling author and has written over 20 young adult novels. Zach’s Lie won the Nevada Young Readers Award, and the American Library Association chose it as a Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers. Smith’s novel Jack’s Run (2007) continues the story... Read Zach's Lie Summary