Family

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 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Siblings

Tags Realistic Fiction, LGBTQ, Parenting, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 1933

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Self Discovery, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Natural World: Animals, Society: Community

Tags Classic Fiction, Children's Literature, Historical Fiction, Agriculture, Animals, History: U.S., Parenting, Religion / Spirituality, Science / Nature, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, History: World


Publication year 1999

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Indian Literature, Asian Literature, Asian Literature, Arts / Culture

Fasting, Feasting is divided into two parts: Part I, set in a strict and authoritarian household in India and Part II, set in a cold and isolating home in the Massachusetts suburbs. Both sections of the novel are told in third-person-limited-omniscient point of view, chronicling two members of the same Indian family. In Part I, the narrator, through flashback, explores Uma’s quest to find independence and identity within the repressive and regimented household atmosphere of Mama... Read Fasting, Feasting Summary


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family

Tags Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Sports, Children's Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2023

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Mothers

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Drama / Tragedy, Play: Drama, LGBTQ, Humor


Publication year 1950

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Masculinity, Natural World: Environment

Tags Western


Publication year 1987

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Fathers, Society: Colonialism


Publication year 1984

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Identity: Race, Society: Class, Society: Community, Society: Education, Relationships: Family

Tags Gender / Feminism, Philosophy, Race / Racism, Politics / Government, Social Justice, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Philosophy


Publication year 2000

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Birth, Relationships: Family

Tags Historical Fiction, Colonial America, Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: World, Action / Adventure

Set during Philadelphia’s yellow fever outbreak, Fever 1793 is a young adult, historical fiction novel written by Laurie Halse Anderson and first published in 2000. Anderson is a recipient of the Margaret A. Edwards Award for her contribution to young adult literature, and Fever 1793 is an American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults and a New York Public Library Best Book for Teens. Other works by Anderson include Chains (2008), Wintergirls (2009), and... Read Fever 1793 Summary


Publication year 1989

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory

Tags Lyric Poem, African American Literature


Publication year 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Relationships: Family

Tags Romance, Love / Sexuality, New Adult, Modern Classic Fiction

Published in 2011, Fifty Shades Darker is E. L. James’s second installment in the Fifty Shades trilogy which includes Fifty Shades of Grey (2011) and Fifty Shades Freed (2012). Anastasia Steele has ended her relationship with entrepreneur Christian Grey after feeling daunted by his specific tastes and shady secrets. However, when Christian proposes a new arrangement, Ana cannot help herself, and they rekindle their romance. As Christian grapples with his inner demons, Ana must face... Read Fifty Shades Darker Summary


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Relationships: Family

Tags Realistic Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Mental Illness


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Identity: Language

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Gender / Feminism, Humor, Canadian Literature


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Society: Immigration

Tags Children's Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction, Arts / Culture, Realistic Fiction


Publication year 2015

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Relationships: Mothers, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Literature

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction


Publication year 2019

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Mortality & Death

Tags Inspirational, Parenting, Religion / Spirituality, Biography


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Literature, Relationships: Marriage

Tags Historical Fiction, Auto/Biographical Fiction, Relationships, History: World


Publication year 2001

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Music, Relationships: Family

Tags Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Psychology, Psychology, Biography

Finding Fish is a 2001 memoir by Antwone Fisher, a Hollywood screenwriter. The memoir begins in Cleveland in 1959, when Eddie Elkins is shot and killed by his girlfriend. Shortly after, Antwone Fisher is born to Eva Gardner, whom Eddie dated briefly. The Elkins family never speaks about the tragic incident.Antwone’s first memory is looking out of a window at the home of his foster parents, the Picketts. Though he meets his biological mother once... Read Finding Fish Summary


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Language, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Food, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Grandparents, Society: Immigration, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Children's Literature, Military / War, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World, Historical Fiction, Mental Illness, Realistic Fiction, Korean War


Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Values/Ideas: Music, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Family

Tags Historical Fiction, Children's Literature, History: World

Finding Langston, Lesa Cline-Ransome’s debut novel for middle-grade readers, is the story of an 11-year-old boy named Langston who loses his home but finds himself. The book received numerous accolades following its publication in 2018, including the Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction. In 2020 Cline-Ransome published Leaving Lymon, a companion novel to Finding Langston that tells the story of Langston’s bully Lymon. This study guide refers to the 2018 Holiday House edition.Plot SummaryFinding Langston... Read Finding Langston Summary