With classics like J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan and contemporary hits like Min Jin Lee's Pachinko, this collection gathers texts that grapple with the complex and archetypal role of the mother.
Publication year 2012
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Mothers, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family
Tags Fantasy, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Magical Realism, Action / Adventure
A loose adaptation of Homer’s Odyssey, Guadalupe Garcia McCall’s Summer of the Mariposas (2012) follows five Mexican American sisters on an epic journey from Texas to Mexico. Drawing deeply from Mexican folklore, the book’s genre blends magical realism and fantasy. The book was a 2013 Andre Norton Award Nominee, won the Westchester Fiction Award, and made the list of 2012 School Library Journal Best Books. Guadalupe Garcia McCall was born in Piedras Negras in Coahuila... Read Summer of the Mariposas Summary
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: Midlife, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Mothers, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos
Tags Romance, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2002
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Grandparents, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Siblings, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Society: Education, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos
Tags Realistic Fiction, Humor, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction
Surviving the Applewhites is a children’s novel written by American author Stephanie S. Tolan and was first published in 2002.The narrative follows Jake Semple, a troubled teenager forced to move in with the unconventional and eccentric Applewhite family following an incident at school. Jake struggles to fit in at first but gradually sheds his past transgressions and undergoes a transformative journey toward self-discovery and redemption. The novel touches on Personal Growth and Transformation, Individuality Versus... Read Surviving the Applewhites Summary
Publication year 2015
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Mothers
Tags Race / Racism, Depression / Suicide, African American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Drama / Tragedy
Publication year 2016
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Femininity, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Mothers, Self Discovery, Society: Colonialism, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal
Tags Music, Realistic Fiction, British Literature, Arts / Culture, Class, Finance / Money / Wealth, Gender / Feminism, History: African , History: European, Love / Sexuality, Race / Racism, Social Justice, Modern Classic Fiction
Swing Time (2016) is renowned author Zadie Smith’s fifth novel. Inspired by classic movie musicals and Smith’s childhood passion for musical theater, Swing Time is a story about women, how forms of privilege warp our worldviews, and the ways in which history informs our present. The novel is divided into seven parts, each narrated by the same unnamed protagonist sometimes as a child and sometimes as an adult.One of the most respected literary voices of... Read Swing Time Summary
Publication year 2011
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Education, Identity: Race, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Siblings, Society: Class, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Historical Fiction, Social Justice, WWII / World War II, Children's Literature, Military / War, History: World, Arts / Culture
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Relationships: Mothers, Society: Class
Tags Historical Fiction, African American Literature, Race / Racism, Social Justice, History: World
Publication year 2021
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Mothers, Society: Colonialism
Tags Food, Colonialism / Postcolonialism, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Military / War, History: World, Mental Illness, Biography
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Gender, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Mothers, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Romance, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Mothers, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Relationships: Teams
Tags History: World, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Action / Adventure
Publication year 2015
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Mothers
Tags LGBTQ, Gender / Feminism, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Biography
Writer and professor Maggie Nelson’s The Argonauts, originally published in 2015, is a work of “autotheory”— it combines Nelson’s personal experiences of marriage and motherhood with reflections on the writing process, queer and feminist theory, and psychoanalysis and developmental psychology. This blending of genres gives the book its unconventional form; unlike a more traditional memoir, The Argonauts jumps backwards and forwards in Nelson’s life as she explores ideas and images related to pregnancy, sexuality, identity... Read The Argonauts Summary
Publication year 1956
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Sexuality, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Mothers, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Psychology, Philosophy, Self Help, Love / Sexuality, Relationships, Sociology
Publication year 1678
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Literature, Identity: Gender, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Relationships: Mothers
Tags Lyric Poem, Colonial America, Gender / Feminism
Publication year 1899
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Music, Relationships: Mothers, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos
Tags Gender / Feminism, Classic Fiction, American Literature, Depression / Suicide, Naturalism, Education, Education, History: World, Historical Fiction
The Awakening is Kate Chopin’s second novel. It was first published in 1899 and is considered one of the first examples of feminist fiction.The novel opens in the 1890s Louisiana, at Grand Isle, a summer holiday resort popular among wealthy Creoles who live in nearby New Orleans. Edna Pontellier, her husband, Léonce, and their two children are vacationing at the cottages of Madame Lebrun. Léonce is a kind and devoted husband, but he is often... Read The Awakening Summary
Publication year 1922
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Mothers, Emotions/Behavior: Love
Tags Narrative / Epic Poem, Poverty, Gender / Feminism
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Indigenous, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Siblings, Society: Globalization, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Canadian Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Mothers
Tags Fantasy, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, LGBTQ, Gothic Literature
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Siblings, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Relationships: Mothers
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Relationships: Mothers, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Family
Tags Historical Fiction, Military / War, American Civil War, History: World
Publication year 1988
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Mothers, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Literature, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Identity: Disability
Tags Historical Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Modern Classic Fiction