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 2021
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Indigenous, Relationships: Family, Society: Colonialism, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, History: World
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
Publication year 1979
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Fate
Tags Historical Fiction, African American Literature, Afrofuturism, American Literature, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Race / Racism, History: World, Fantasy, Classic Fiction
The 1979 novel Kindred was written by Octavia E. Butler, a Black author from California who wrote science fiction that challenged white hegemony. The novel tells the story of Edana “Dana” Franklin, a young Black woman in 1976 whose connection to a young white boy named Rufus Weylin allows her to time travel to 1800s Maryland. As she jumps between 1976 and the 1800s, she learns how she and Rufus are connected, and she must survive... Read Kindred Summary
Publication year 1985
Genre Play, Fiction
Themes Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Race, Relationships: Family, Society: Community, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Play: Drama, Historical Fiction, African American Literature, Race / Racism, American Literature, Drama / Tragedy, Classic Fiction
August Wilson’s King Hedley II premiered in 1999 and opened on Broadway in 2001. It is the ninth installment in Wilson’s Pittsburgh Cycle (also known as the Century Cycle), a series of 10 plays that examine the experiences of Black Americans during the 20th century. It was nominated for multiple awards including a Tony and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Wilson won two Pulitzer Prizes for other Pittsburgh Cycle plays, Fences in 1987... Read King Hedley II Summary
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Fate, Society: War, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Marriage, Self Discovery, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government
Tags Fantasy, Romance
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Romance, New Adult, Fantasy
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Romance, Modern Classic Fiction, Fantasy
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Marriage, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Identity: Race, Relationships: Family
Tags Romance, New Adult
Publication year 2004
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Siblings, Society: Class, Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Historical Fiction, Grief / Death, Asian Literature, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Realistic Fiction, Civil Rights / Jim Crow, History: U.S., Parenting, Race / Racism, American Literature, Children's Literature, History: World
Cynthia Kadohata’s first novel, Kira-Kira (2004), is a historical coming-of-age novel for middle-grade readers. The novel tells the story of the Japanese American Takeshima family, who live in the Chesterfield, Georgia, in the 1950s. The protagonist and first-person narrator is the younger daughter, Katie. The narrative spans seven years, involving the family’s move from Iowa to the South, where Katie’s parents become workers in the poultry industry. The narrative follows Katie as she awakens to... Read Kira-Kira Summary
Publication year 2014
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Love
Tags Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Immigration / Refugee, Vietnam War
Publication year 1998
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Society: Colonialism
Tags Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Animals, Love / Sexuality, LGBTQ, History: World, Historical Fiction, Canadian Literature
Publication year 1995
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Identity: Gender, Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Teams, Society: Class, Society: Community, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Psychological Fiction
Publication year 2015
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Food, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Food
Kitchens of the Great Midwest (2015) by J. Ryan Stradal is an immersive novel delving into the rich heritage and lifestyles of Midwestern Americans who are descendants of Norwegian immigrants navigating the challenges of the Dakota prairies and open country. The narrative unfolds as they forge a living, experience love, endure financial setbacks, and persevere in an unforgiving territory. This culinary journey serves as a window into the heart of the Midwest, capturing traditions like... Read Kitchens of the Great Midwest Summary
Publication year 2013
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Fathers, Identity: Masculinity, Relationships: Family
Tags Race / Racism
Publication year 1968
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family
Tags Lyric Poem, Food, Religion / Spirituality, African American Literature
Publication year 1996
Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction
Themes Identity: Femininity, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Family
Tags Historical Fiction, Survival Fiction, Gender / Feminism, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1920
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Identity: Gender, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Marriage, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction, Scandinavian Literature
Kristin Lavransdatter is a trilogy of historical novels by Norwegian author and Nobel Prize winner Sigrid Undset. Published between 1920 and 1922, the trilogy consists of The Wreath (see the comprehensive SuperSummary guide to The Wreath here), The Wife, and The Cross. The novels chronicle Scandinavian life during the Middle Ages. They follow the eponymous protagonist, Kristin Lavransdatter, a woman living in 1300s Norway. The trilogy is generally considered Undset’s magnum opus. This guide is... Read Kristin Lavransdatter Summary
Publication year 1986
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Teams, Self Discovery
Tags Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Friendship, Identity: Femininity, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict
Tags Chinese Literature, Historical Fiction
Publication year 2006
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Society: Immigration, Relationships: Teams, Relationships: Siblings, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Fathers, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Realistic Fiction, Action / Adventure, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Immigration / Refugee, Education, Education, Historical Fiction, Arts / Culture