This thematic collection covers texts that investigate the particularly fraught dynamics and divisions of class, including Upton Sinclair's The Jungle and Ernesto Galarza's Barrio Boy.
Publication year 2011
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Values/Ideas: Fate, Society: Class
Tags Romance, Southern Literature, Love / Sexuality, Modern Classic Fiction, Drama / Tragedy
The Best of Me (2010) is a love story by the best-selling American author Nicholas Sparks. It was adapted into a feature film by the same name in 2014. The novel is about the conflict-ridden love story between Dawson Cole and Amanda Colliers, high school lovers who were separated by social circumstances. Twenty-five years later, they get together to honor the memory of Tuck Hostetler, a father-figure who was their silent supporter and well-wisher. Once... Read The Best of Me Summary
Publication year 1827
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Marriage, Society: Class, Society: Community, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction, Romance, Italian Literature, History: World
The Betrothed (I Promessi Sposi), published in 1827 and revised in 1842, is a historical novel by Italian author Alessandro Manzoni. The novel follows two young lovers, Renzo and Lucia, in 1600s Lombardy; their courtship is derailed by a jealous plot to prevent their marriage, ultimately leading them to the plague-stricken city of Milan, where they face many struggles. The Betrothed is heralded as one of the most important and widely read Italian novels. This... Read The Betrothed Summary
Publication year 2004
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Society: Class
Tags History: European, Health / Medicine, Science / Nature, Medieval Literature / Middle Ages, History: World, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 1967
Genre Novella, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Society: Class
Tags Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Relationships, Religion / Spirituality, American Literature, Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: World, Action / Adventure
American author Scott O’Dell’s The Black Pearl is a young adult novel and bildungsroman (coming-of-age story) that was first published in 1967. The Black Pearl was a runner-up for the Newbery Medal, which recognizes distinguished American children’s literature. The work’s literary influences include Herman Melville’s Moby Dick, and John Steinbeck’s The Pearl—another novel set among the pearl divers of La Paz. Scott O’Dell is best known for historical children’s fiction and his novel Island of... Read The Black Pearl Summary
Publication year 1979
Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Gender, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Marriage, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Publication year 2014
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Gender, Identity: Indigenous, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Future, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Climate, Society: Class, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Magical Realism
The Bone Clocks (2014) is a work of literary fantasy and the sixth novel by English author David Mitchell. It was longlisted for the 2014 Man Booker Prize, and also received the 2015 World Fantasy Award.Spanning nearly 60 years and featuring five different narrators, The Bone Clocks follows Holly Sykes, a young woman from Kent, England, who becomes embroiled in a secret war between two groups of immortal beings called the Horologists and the Anchorites... Read The Bone Clocks Summary
Publication year 1987
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Race, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Satire, Class, Race / Racism, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World, Humor, Classic Fiction
Tom Wolfe’s The Bonfire of the Vanities, published in 1987, is a critically acclaimed, sprawling saga of the vivid world of New York City in the 1980s. Modeled after Charles Dickens’s socially realistic novels, the book is a satire on the excesses and disparities of New York society. Powered by diverse, opinionated characters and iconic locations, the plot follows the wealthy, married Manhattan investment broker Sherman McCoy as his American Dream begins to unravel. Sherman’s... Read The Bonfire of the Vanities Summary
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Identity: Race, Life/Time: The Future, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Class, Society: War
Tags Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Romance
Publication year 1952
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Society: Class, Relationships: Family
Tags Classic Fiction, Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, British Literature
Introduction Written by British author Mary Norton in 1952, The Borrowers is the first in a five-part series along with The Borrowers Afield (1955), The Borrowers Afloat (1959), The Borrowers Aloft (1961), and The Borrowers Avenged (1982). The book follows the story of the Clock family, a trio of tiny people who live beneath the kitchen floorboards in a large house in the British countryside. Norton was born in London in 1903 and grew up... Read The Borrowers Summary
Publication year 2024
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Disability, Relationships: Teams, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Society: Education, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Society: Class, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Family
Tags Realistic Fiction, Indian Literature, Children's Literature, Poverty, Grief / Death, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Class, Religion / Spirituality, Disability, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2009
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Grandparents, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Teams, Identity: Disability, Identity: Indigenous, Identity: Gender, Identity: Race, Society: Immigration, Society: Class, Society: Community, Society: Education, Society: War, Society: Nation, Self Discovery, Society: Politics & Government, Natural World: Place, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Life/Time: Aging, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: The Past, Life/Time: Midlife, Life/Time: Mortality & Death
Tags Historical Fiction, Children's Literature, Sports, Realistic Fiction, History: World
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Fathers, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Romance, Action / Adventure, Modern Classic Fiction, Fantasy
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Natural World: Place, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Society: Colonialism, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Fantasy, History: World
Publication year 2025
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Society: Class
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction
Publication year 1836
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Society: Class, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Classic Fiction
The Captain’s Daughter (1836) is a work of historical fiction by Russian writer Alexander Pushkin. Written in the form of a memoir, it tells the story of 16-year-old nobleman Pyotr Grinyov, who is sent to serve as a military captain at a remote outpost on the Kirghiz steppe in 1773. While there, he falls for the daughter of the fort’s captain, Maria Ivanovna. He is separated from his beloved when the fort is attacked by... Read The Captain's Daughter Summary
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: War, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Disability, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Historical Fiction, Southern Literature, Southern Gothic, Korean War
Publication year 1836
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Humor, Russian Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2007
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Relationships: Family, Society: Class, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology
Tags Education, Education, Science / Nature, Social Science, Philosophy, Philosophy, Politics / Government
Publication year 1926
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Society: Class, Society: Politics & Government
Tags Classic Fiction, Class, Politics / Government, Modernism, Absurdism, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, History: World, Philosophy, Philosophy
The Castle (Das Schloss) by Franz Kafka was published in Germany in 1926. Kafka had expressed the wish that his books not be published, but his friend Max Brod ignored this after the writer’s death in 1924. The Castle did not sell well initially and its availability was restricted by Nazi efforts to ban works by German Jews like Kafka. One Jewish publisher, Schocken Verlag, was permitted to continue publishing Jewish works on the condition... Read The Castle Summary