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.
Genre Play, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Mothers, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Play: Tragedy, Mythology, Ancient Greece, Classical Period, Drama / Tragedy, Fantasy, Classic Fiction
Libation Bearers is an ancient Greek tragedy by the Athenian playwright Aeschylus, first produced in 458 BCE at the City Dionysia in Athens. Libation Bearers is the second part of the Oresteia, a trilogy exploring the themes of justice, retribution, and the cyclical pattern of bloodshed within the family of the mythical king Agamemnon. Following the events of Agamemnon, the first tragedy of Aeschylus’s Oresteia, the play depicts the murder of Clytaemestra, the queen of... Read The Libation Bearers Summary
Publication year 2006
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: The Past, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Identity: Language, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Teams, Society: Class, Society: Community, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Nation
Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Mystery / Crime Fiction
The Lies of Locke Lamora, written by Scott Lynch and published in 2006, is the first entry in the Gentleman Bastards series. These novels mix caper stories and fantasy stories and include adventure, violence, dark humor, and intimate friendships. The Lies of Locke Lamora is an international best seller and was nominated for multiple awards. The other entries in the series are Red Seas Under Red Skies, The Republic of Thieves, and The Thorn of... Read The Lies of Locke Lamora Summary
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Realistic Fiction, Romance, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Humor
Publication year 1759
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Values/Ideas: Literature, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Birth
Tags Classic Fiction, Satire, Humor, British Literature, Age of Enlightenment, History: World
The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman is a nine-volume novel published between 1759 and 1767 by English novelist Laurence Sterne. The novel is considered by many scholars as an early forerunner of postmodern literature due to its metafictional commentary on its own narrative. Contemporary critics did not view the novel favorably, though its humor and sentimentalism helped it find an audience. The novel has been adapted for radio and opera and as a... Read The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman Summary
Publication year 2025
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Mothers, Society: Education, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Publication year 2005
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Children's Literature, Mythology, Fantasy, Action / Adventure
Book DetailsThe Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, published in 2005, is the first installment in Percy Jackson and the Olympians, a six-book fantasy series for young readers. It was named School Library Journal’s Best Book of 2005, an American Library Association Notable Book (2006), and a New York Times Notable Book (2005). The book follows its young protagonist, Percy Jackson, as he discovers that he is a demigod and embarks on a journey save his... Read The Lightning Thief Summary
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Natural World: Climate, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Grief
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Magical Realism, Fantasy, Climate Change, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2022
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Self Discovery, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Marriage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude
Tags Politics / Government, Social Justice, Self Help, History: U.S., Race / Racism, Diversity, Parenting, Relationships, Inspirational, Biography
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Fathers, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger
Tags Historical Fiction, Incarceration, Mental Illness, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Class, History: World, Action / Adventure
Publication year 2016
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Relationships: Family, Society: Politics & Government, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery, Society: Colonialism, Society: Community, Society: Immigration, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Romance
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Animals, Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Environment
Tags Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Animals, Grief / Death, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Society: Community, Natural World: Space & The Universe
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Action / Adventure, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Children's Literature, Fantasy
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Gender / Feminism, History: World
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age
Tags Realistic Fiction, LGBTQ, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1939
Genre Play, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Identity: Femininity, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal
Tags Play: Drama, Classic Fiction, American Literature, Education, Education, History: World, Drama / Tragedy
Lillian Hellman’s The Little Foxes (1939) is often considered a classic American 20th-century drama. Set in Alabama in 1900, the play explores themes of greed, passive violence, and female agency in the deep south, not yet 50 years removed from the end of the Civil War. The Little Foxes premiered at The National Theatre on Broadway in New York City in 1939 starring Tallulah Bankhead as Regina, before touring for two seasons across the United... Read The Little Foxes Summary
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Family, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Historical Fiction, WWII / World War II, Holocaust, Jewish Literature, Military / War, History: World
Publication year 2007
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Disability, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth
Tags Children's Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction, British Literature, Disability, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
The London Eye Mystery (2007), by Siobhan Dowd, is a novel for young readers about a boy named Ted who teams up with his sister to figure out how their cousin disappeared while riding a giant Ferris wheel.The novel was nominated for a Carnegie Medal, was listed as a 2008 Booklist Children’s Editors’ Choice title, and a School Library Journal Best Book of 2008. It was also shortlisted for many English awards, including the Red... Read The London Eye Mystery Summary
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Self Discovery, Society: Class
Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Fantasy, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, History: World, LGBTQ, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Literature
Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Romance
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Identity: Sexuality, Relationships: Family, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, British Literature, Modern Classic Fiction