The solace and comfort of true friendship — and the pain of its loss — can rival any romantic or familial relationship. In this collection, we present texts that examine the unique qualities and costs of deep friendships.
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Aging, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Siblings, Values/Ideas: Beauty
Tags African American Literature, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance
Publication year 2010
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Siblings
Tags Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Humor
Publication year 2001
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness
Tags Realistic Fiction, Bullying
Publication year 2007
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Relationships: Fathers, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Society: Education
Tags Children's Literature, Education, Science / Nature
Publication year 2003
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community
Tags Realistic Fiction, Sports, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance
Publication year 1961
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Fantasy, Classic Fiction, Humor, Children's Literature, Magical Realism, Animals, Action / Adventure
James and the Giant Peach by British author Roald Dahl was first published in 1961. This critically acclaimed children’s novel was made into an award-winning film in 1996. It tells the story of a giant peach that magically grows in a young boy, James’s, back garden—big enough for him to enter the center of the peach and have adventures with the insects who live in there. Dahl is known as one of the 20th century’s greatest... Read James And The Giant Peach Summary
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil
Tags Historical Fiction, Satire, Action / Adventure
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Realistic Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction
Publication year 1991
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Animals, Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Children's Literature, Fantasy, Action / Adventure
Publication year 1994
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Race, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Art, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Society: Class
Tags Realistic Fiction, Arts / Culture, Historical Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Agriculture, Class, History: U.S., Poverty, Race / Racism, Social Justice, Vietnam War
Publication year 1992
Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Future, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags Addiction / Substance Abuse, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World, Classic Fiction
Jesus’ Son (1992) is a collection of short fiction by American writer Denis Johnson, published by Farrar, Strauss, & Giroux. It explores themes of The Slipperiness of Time, Substance Use Disorder, and Violence as Inevitability. In the form of a short story cycle, each of the 11 stories of Jesus’ Son is narrated by the same protagonist, who has a substance use disorder and is referred to in the narrative as “Fuckhead”. The book takes... Read Jesus' Son Summary
Publication year 2001
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Self Discovery, Natural World: Place, Natural World: Animals, Society: Community, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Action / Adventure, Historical Fiction, Children's Literature, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, History: World, Fantasy
Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson is a historical children’s fiction novel published in 2002. The story takes place in the Amazon Basin in the early 1900s and follows Maia, an orphan from England who is invited to live with the Carters, distant relatives who own a rubber farm in Brazil. An English novelist known primarily for her children’s fiction, Ibbotson wrote this adventure story as a tribute to her late husband, who... Read Journey to the River Sea Summary
Publication year 2000
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Siblings
Tags Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, Humor
Publication year 1892
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Fathers, Self Discovery, Relationships: Friendship
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Identity: Gender, Identity: Sexuality, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Mothers, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Society: Nation, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags History: World, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Mythology, LGBTQ, Indian Literature
Publication year 2021
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Coming of Age
Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Humor, Animals, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Relationships, Children's Literature
Publication year 2012
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Society: Community, Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Coming of Age
Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Children's Literature
Publication year 1886
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Coming of Age
Tags Historical Fiction, Action / Adventure, Classic Fiction, History: World
Kidnapped is a historical romance novel by Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson published in 1886. Stevenson was well known for both his travel writing and his adventure stories. Kidnapped was his third novel, a coming-of-age story that follows the adventures of a young heir-apparent after he is abducted and shipwrecked in Scotland. Famous for incorporating real-life events and people into its plot, Kidnapped explores themes of Authority, Treachery, and Justice and The Duality of Human... Read Kidnapped Summary
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Psychological Fiction
Publication year 1978
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community, Society: Education, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Drama / Tragedy, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Education, Education