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 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Family

Tags Historical Fiction, Survival Fiction, WWII / World War II, Holocaust, Children's Literature, Military / War, History: World, Action / Adventure


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

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

Tags Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Relationships, Addiction / Substance Abuse, Grief / Death, Parenting, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World, Historical Fiction, Romance


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Values/Ideas: Literature, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Relationships: Family

Tags Fantasy, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Arts / Culture, Grief / Death, Education, Relationships, American Literature, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, Magical Realism, Action / Adventure


Publication year 1990

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Class, Identity: Race, Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death

Tags Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction, Classic Fiction

Published in 1990, Maniac Magee is a Newbery award–winning middle grade novel by renowned children’s author Jerry Spinelli. After his parents die, 11-year-old Jeffrey Lionel Magee runs away from his guardians and a year later ends up in the racially divided Pennsylvania town of Two Mills. Jeffrey, a white boy, finds a home with a Black family, but racial tension and threats send him back on the run. By accepting a host of challenges with... Read Maniac Magee Summary


Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Siblings, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Identity: Disability, Relationships: Family

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


Publication year 1913

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Family, Society: Colonialism, Society: Community, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance

Maria Chapdelaine (1916) is a novel by Breton author Louis Hémon. Maria Chapdelaine tells the story of its titular protagonist, a young woman who lives on her family’s farm in a remote stretch of Québec wilderness. Against the backdrop of a brutal and unpredictable climate, Maria must choose between three suitors who each represent different lifestyles: A trapper, a farmer, and a factory worker who has emigrated to the United States. Hémon explores The Hardships... Read Maria Chapdelaine Summary


Publication year 2005

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Family

Tags Animals, Modern Classic Fiction, Biography, Humor

Marley and Me: Life and Love with the World’s Worst Dog (2005) is an autobiography by journalist John Grogan. This guide is based on the 2005 first edition. The story was inspired by the overwhelmingly positive reaction to Grogan’s obituary for his dog Marley.The book was adapted into a full-length film in 2008 and has also been adapted into a series of children’s stories about Marley. The title is borrowed from a chapter near the... Read Marley And Me Summary


Publication year 1952

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Marriage, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality


Publication year 1848

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Femininity, Relationships: Family, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Equality

Tags Classic Fiction, Victorian Period, Historical Fiction, Romance, Class, British Literature, History: World, Victorian Literature / Period

Mary Barton: A Tale of Manchester is the 1848 debut novel of Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell. It tells of the Victorian working class in Manchester, England, from 1839 to 1842, focusing on the story of the eponymous young female heroine. Through the experiences of two families—the Bartons and the Wilsons—it explores contemporary political and domestic issues during a time of increased industrialization and class tensions. As with much of Gaskell’s work, Mary Barton is narrated by... Read Mary Barton Summary


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Self Discovery, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Music, Emotions/Behavior: Love

Tags Historical Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Humor, Music, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World


Publication year 1988

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Literature, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance

Tags Fantasy, Classic Fiction, Children's Literature, Bullying, Education, Education, Humor

Roald Dahl’s 1988 children’s fantasy Matilda tells the darkly humorous story of a brilliant and kindly little girl who reads grown-up books, plays pranks on her emotionally abusive parents, and uses her telekinetic ability in her battles with a tyrannical school principal.Dahl is widely considered one the greatest children’s storytellers. His books have sold more than 250 million copies worldwide; they include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, The BFG, and... Read Matilda Summary


Publication year 2025

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Midlife, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Mothers, Values/Ideas: Fame

Tags Memoir / Autobiography


Publication year 1986

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Fate

Tags History: World, WWII / World War II, Holocaust, History: European, Post Modernism, Military / War, Biography

Maus by Art Spiegelman was the first graphic novel to win the Pulitzer Prize. It originally ran in Spiegelman’s Raw magazine between 1980 and 1991 before receiving mainstream attention as two collected volumes, Maus I in 1986 and Maus II in 1991. This guide is based on the 1996 complete edition. This historic memoir interlaces two narratives, one of Spiegelman’s Jewish father as he survives World War II Poland and the Auschwitz concentration camp, and... Read Maus Summary


Publication year 1998

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Literature, Emotions/Behavior: Courage

Tags Action / Adventure, Realistic Fiction, Bullying, Grief / Death, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Relationships, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

Published in 1998, Rodman Philbrick’s Max the Mighty is a novel for middle grade and young adult readers. The sequel to the award-winning book Freak the Mighty, it continues the story of Max Kane, a giant of a 14-year-old who rescues book-loving schoolmate Rachel from her abusive stepfather, after which she and Max go on the run from the authorities.Max the Mighty won a place on the National Council of Teachers of English annual annotated... Read Max the Mighty Summary


Publication year 2015

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Fate

Tags Romance, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Marriage, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Midlife, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Magical Realism, Romance, Fantasy


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Grandparents, Relationships: Fathers

Tags Immigration / Refugee, Food, Asian Literature, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman


Publication year 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Self Discovery, Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Mortality & Death

Tags Romance, Grief / Death, Love / Sexuality, Depression / Suicide, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Drama / Tragedy

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes chronicles the burgeoning romance between Will Traynor, a quadriplegic man, and Louisa Clark, his caregiver. Published in 2012, Me Before You is the first novel in Moyes’s trilogy and is followed by After You (2015) and Still Me (2018). The novel was adapted into a 2016 film starring Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin. Written from various perspectives, Me Before You explores the complexities of disability, love, and euthanasia.This guide... Read Me Before You Summary


Publication year 49

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Identity: Femininity, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Play: Tragedy, Mythology, Ancient Rome, Philosophy, Philosophy, Drama / Tragedy, Classical Period, Fantasy, Classic Fiction


Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Canadian Literature

Richard Wagamese’s Medicine Walk (2014) follows 16-year-old Franklin Starlight on his journey to find the perfect burial site for his terminally ill father, Eldon Starlight, a member of the Ojibway tribe of Indigenous peoples. Frank carries Eldon on horseback into the wilderness where Eldon wishes to die in the traditional manner of Ojibway warriors—facing East so that he can see the last sunrise of his last day on earth.Eldon abandoned Franklin, who goes by Frank... Read Medicine Walk Summary