Literary theme analysis, by a book like {foo}
Books about Compassion
The Giving Tree
by Shel Silverstein
A timeless tale of love and selflessness between a boy and a tree.
"Once there was a tree...and she loved a little boy." So begins a story of unforgettable perception, beautifully written and illustrated by the gifted and versatile Shel Silverstein. Every day the ... (Goodreads)
Of Mice and Men
by John Steinbeck
Two migrant workers in Depression-era California, struggling against forces of fate.
Two migrant field workers in California on their plantation during the Great Depression—George Milton, an intelligent but uneducated man, and Lennie Small, a bulky, strong man but mentally disabled ... (Wikipedia)
The Year of Magical Thinking
by Joan Didion
A woman's reflections on life and death after the sudden loss of her husband.
'An act of consummate literary bravery, a writer known for her clarity allowing us to watch her mind as it becomes clouded with grief.' From one of America's iconic writers, a stunning book of ... (Goodreads)
All Things Bright and Beautiful
by James Herriot
A heartwarming memoir of a veterinarian's journey in the Yorkshire countryside.
A tie-in to the upcoming PBS Masterpiece series and Christmas special., The second volume in the multimillion copy bestselling series. Millions of readers have delighted in the wonderful storytelling ... (Barnes & Noble)
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
by John Boyne
A young boy's innocent friendship with a Jewish prisoner leads to a powerful moral awakening.
Bruno is a 9-year-old boy growing up during World War II in Berlin . He lives with his parents, his 12-year-old sister Gretel, whom he describes as 'A Hopeless Case,' and maids, one of whom is named ... (Wikipedia)
Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis
by J.D. Vance
An exploration of the struggles of working-class Americans, and the power of family and culture to shape one's life.
Hillbilly Elegy is a passionate and personal analysis of a culture in crisis—that of white working-class Americans. The disintegration of this group, a process that has been slowly occurring now for ... (Goodreads)
The Boxcar Children
by Gertrude Chandler Warner
Four orphaned siblings find adventure and solace in a deserted boxcar, learning the value of family and friendship.
The Aldens begin their adventure by making a home in a boxcar. Their goal is to stay together, and in the process they find a grandfather. ... (Goodreads)
Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History
by Art Spiegelman
A graphic novel depicting the traumatic experiences of a Holocaust survivor and his son.
The first installment of the Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel acclaimed as “the most affecting and successful narrative ever done about the Holocaust” (Wall Street Journal) and “the first ... (Goodreads)
To Kill a Mockingbird
by Harper Lee
A young girl learns about morality, justice, and courage by witnessing the trials of the people of her small town.
The story, told by the six-year-old Jean Louise Finch, takes place during three years (1933–35) of the Great Depression in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama, the seat of Maycomb County. ... (Wikipedia)
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine
by Gail Honeyman
An introverted woman's journey to finding her voice, opening up to the beauty of life.
Librarian's note: An alternative cover edition can be found, here, No one’s ever told Eleanor that life should be better than fine Meet Eleanor Oliphant: she struggles with appropriate social skills ... (Goodreads)
The Green Mile
by Stephen King
A prison guard discovers the power of redemption, and miracles, when he meets a mysterious inmate.
Featuring a first-person narrative told by Paul Edgecombe, the novel switches between Paul as an old man in the Georgia Pines nursing home writing down his story in 1996, and his time in 1932 as the ... (Wikipedia)
Salt to the Sea
by Ruta Sepetys
Vivid tale of a group of refugees struggling to survive in WWII Europe.
New York Times, Bestseller and winner of the Carnegie Medal! ,"Masterfully crafted",—,The Wall Street Journal,For readers of, Between Shades of Gray, and, All the Light We Cannot See, Ruta Sepetys, ... (Barnes & Noble)
All the Light We Cannot See
by Anthony Doerr
Two young lives intertwine during World War II, spanning continents and cultures.
Marie-Laure lives in Paris near the Museum of Natural History, where her father works. When she is twelve, the Nazis occupy Paris and father and daughter flee to the walled citadel of Saint-Malo, ... (Goodreads)
My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry
by Fredrik Backman
An imaginative quest to uncover the truth behind a beloved grandmother's mysterious stories.
The story takes place in Sweden and follows Elsa, a 7-year-old who knows she is different from other children her age. Elsa has a habit of correcting others' grammar, she is smart for her age, and is ... (Wikipedia)
Columbine
by Dave Cullen
Investigation into the 1999 Columbine High School massacre, exploring the perpetrators and the aftermath.
"The tragedies keep coming. As we reel from the latest horror . . . " So begins a new epilogue, illustrating how Columbine became the template for nearly two decades of "spectacle murders." It is a ... (Goodreads)
A Christmas Carol
by Charles Dickens
A timeless tale of redemption and transformation, set during the Christmas season.
The book is divided into five chapters, which Dickens titled " staves ". A Christmas Carol opens on a bleak, cold Christmas Eve in London, seven years after the death of Ebenezer Scrooge 's business ... (Wikipedia)
Tell the Wolves I'm Home
by Carol Rifka Brunt
A young girl's journey of grief and healing as she discovers the secrets of her beloved uncle's life.
June Elbus is a 14-year-old girl living in Westchester in 1986. She is in love with her gay uncle, Finn Weiss, a fact she is scared to admit even to herself. Finn is dying of AIDS. Being a ... (Wikipedia)
Cutting for Stone
by Abraham Verghese
A sweeping journey of two twin brothers and their search for identity, belonging and family.
The story is told by the protagonist, Marion Stone. He and his conjoined twin Shiva are born at Mission Hospital (called "Missing" in accordance with the local pronunciation), Addis Ababa , in ... (Wikipedia)
The Complete Maus
by Art Spiegelman
A graphic novel depicting a Jewish survivor of the Holocaust and his son's journey to understand the past.
On the occasion of the twenty-fifth anniversary of its first publication, here is the definitive edition of the book acclaimed as “the most affecting and successful narrative ever done about the ... (Goodreads)
A Fatal Grace
by Louise Penny
An intricate murder mystery set in a small Canadian town, as the investigating detective unravels truth and justice.
Inspector Gamache investigates after CC de Poitiers, a sadistic socialite, is fatally electrocuted at a Christmas curling competition in the small Québécois town of Three Pines. CC, who had a ... (Wikipedia)
Les Misérables
by Victor Hugo
Epic tale of love, loss, and redemption set against the backdrop of 19th-century France.
The story begins in 1815 in Digne , as the peasant Jean Valjean , just released from 19 years' imprisonment in the Bagne of Toulon —five for stealing bread for his starving sister and her family and ... (Wikipedia)
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe
by Fannie Flagg
A nostalgic tale of friendship, courage and resilience set in the American South.
Throughout the novel the narrator and time period change, and the reader relies on the chapters' headings to establish the date and the source of the chapter. Some of the narration comes in the form ... (Wikipedia)
Guess How Much I Love You
by Sam McBratney
A tender story of a hare and a rabbit who compete to express their love for each other.
Guess How Much I Love You follows the story of two hares , Big Nutbrown Hare and Little Nutbrown Hare. The two are never stated to be father and son in the original storybooks, though are referred to ... (Wikipedia)
Schindler's List
by Thomas Keneally
Story of a German businessman who saved hundreds of Jews during the Holocaust.
This novel tells the story of Oskar Schindler , self-made entrepreneur and, bon viveur, who almost by default found himself saving Polish Jews from the Nazi death machine. Based on numerous ... (Wikipedia)
The Cider House Rules
by John Irving
A moral journey through the rural landscape of 1940s Maine, exploring issues of responsibility, family, and love.
Homer Wells grows up in an orphanage where he spends his childhood trying to be "of use" as a medical assistant to the director, Dr. Wilbur Larch, whose history is told in flashbacks : After a ... (Wikipedia)
A Prayer for Owen Meany
by John Irving
A boy's search for faith, set against a backdrop of unlikely events.
The story is narrated by John Wheelwright, a former citizen of New Hampshire who has become a voluntary expatriate from the United States, having settled in Toronto , Ontario , Canada and taken on ... (Wikipedia)
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
by Mark Haddon
A young autistic boy's investigation of a crime, and personal journey of understanding.
Christopher John Francis Boone is a fifteen-year-old boy who is implied to be on the autism spectrum , who lives with his father, Ed. He explains in his narration that his mother, Judy, died two ... (Wikipedia)
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
by Rebecca Skloot
A riveting exploration of the power of medical science and its implications for medical ethics.
Her name was Henrietta Lacks, but scientists know her as HeLa. She was a poor Southern tobacco farmer who worked the same land as her enslaved ancestors, yet her cells—taken without her ... (Goodreads)
Sarah, Plain and Tall
by Patricia MacLachlan
A story of a family's journey to find love and acceptance in a new home.
This beloved Newbery Medal–winning book is the first of five books in Patricia MacLachlan's chapter book series about the Witting family. Set in the late nineteenth century and told from young Anna's ... (Goodreads)
Sense and Sensibility
by Jane Austen
The contrasting fortunes of two sisters, and the love and heartbreak that ensue.
Henry Dashwood, his second wife, and their three daughters live for many years with Henry's wealthy bachelor uncle at Norland Park, a large country estate in Sussex. That uncle decides, in late life, ... (Wikipedia)
Attachments
by Rainbow Rowell
A budding online romance between two co-workers, hindered by an unlikely obstacle.
"Hi, I'm the guy who reads your e-mail, and also, I love you..." Beth Fremont and Jennifer Scribner-Snyder know that somebody is monitoring their work e-mail. (Everybody in the newsroom knows. It's ... (Goodreads)
The Name of the Wind
by Patrick Rothfuss
A young man's journey from humble beginnings to become a powerful wizard.
The Kingkiller Chronicle takes place in the fictional world of Temerant, a large continent of which the known part, called the Four Corners of Civilization, is divided into several distinct nations ... (Wikipedia)
The Brothers Karamazov
by Fyodor Dostoevsky
A philosophical exploration of morality, faith, and family dynamics among a group of brothers.
The Brothers Karamazov is a murder mystery, a courtroom drama, and an exploration of erotic rivalry in a series of triangular love affairs involving the “wicked and sentimental” Fyodor Pavlovich ... (Goodreads)
Wonder
by R.J. Palacio
A charming story of a boy with facial deformities navigating the complexities of school life.
The book begins with the words: "You could say I'm just like any normal kid. I have a family, I have a computer, I have an Xbox ". August "Auggie" Pullman then talks about his family, and then it ... (Wikipedia)
Between Shades of Gray
by Ruta Sepetys
A young girl's story of survival and resilience in the face of oppression during World War II.
Lina is just like any other fifteen-year-old Lithuanian girl in 1941. She paints, she draws, she gets crushes on boys. Until one night when Soviet officers barge into her home, tearing her family ... (Goodreads)
Will Grayson, Will Grayson
by John Green
Two teenage boys with the same name discover each other and form an unlikely friendship.
Will Grayson meets Will Grayson. One cold night, in a most unlikely corner of Chicago, two strangers are about to cross paths. From that moment on, their world will collide and lives intertwine. It's ... (Goodreads)
The Rainbow Fish
by Marcus Pfister
A fish learns the importance of friendship and sharing after being gifted a pair of glittering scales.
The story is about The Rainbow Fish , a fish with shiny, multi-coloured scales . He has blue, green, purple, and pink scales. Interspersed with these colorful scales are shiny, holographic scales ... (Wikipedia)
The Art of Happiness
by Dalai Lama XIV
A spiritual guide to finding lasting joy and contentment.
An updated edition of a beloved classic—the original book on happiness, with new material from His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Dr. Howard Cutler,Nearly every time you see him, he's laughing, or at ... (Barnes & Noble)
Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln
by Doris Kearns Goodwin
A comprehensive study of the presidency of Abraham Lincoln, and the unique cabinet he assembled.
Winner of the Lincoln Prize Acclaimed historian Doris Kearns Goodwin illuminates Lincoln's political genius in this highly original work, as the one-term congressman and prairie lawyer rises from ... (Goodreads)
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Two teenage boys explore friendship, identity, and family, with unexpected results.
The book is divided into six sections. In each part we see the two main characters, Aristotle and Dante, discovering more about themselves, more Aristotle than Dante. 15-year-old Aristotle "Ari" ... (Wikipedia)
Blindness
by José Saramago
A society is plunged into chaos when everyone suddenly loses their sight.
Blindness is the story of an unexplained mass epidemic of blindness afflicting nearly everyone in an unnamed city, and the social breakdown that swiftly follows. The novel follows the misfortune of a ... (Wikipedia)
The Red Tent
by Anita Diamant
A tale of the powerful women of the Old Testament, uncovering their traditions and struggles.
Dinah opens the story by recounting for readers the union of her mother Leah and father Jacob , as well as the expansion of the family to include Leah's sister Rachel , and the handmaids Zilpah and ... (Wikipedia)
The Hiding Place: The Triumphant True Story of Corrie Ten Boom
by Corrie ten Boom
A remarkable testament to faith and courage in the face of unfathomable odds and unspeakable horrors.
The book begins with the ten Boom family celebrating the 100th anniversary of the family business; they sell and repair watches under the family's elderly father, Casper ten Boom . The business takes ... (Wikipedia)
The Art of Racing in the Rain
by Garth Stein
An uplifting story of a race car driver and the bond between humans and animals.
Enzo knows he is different from other dogs: a philosopher with a nearly human soul (and an obsession with opposable thumbs), he has educated himself by watching television extensively, and by ... (Goodreads)
A Dog's Purpose
by W. Bruce Cameron
A dog's journey to discovering its true purpose, through multiple lifetimes and owners.
The narrator first starts out as a feral Beagle / German Shepherd / terrier mix puppy. A few weeks later, after being nursed by their mother, a feral as well, the dog and his siblings Fast, Sister, ... (Wikipedia)
The Lost Boy
by Dave Pelzer
A heart-wrenching story of a boy's survival of extreme childhood abuse and neglect.
The book continues after the ending of the previous book,, A Child Called "It", with David Pelzer, 9 years old, running away from his home in Daly City, California . He ends up in a bar, getting ... (Wikipedia)
A Child Called "It"
by Dave Pelzer
True story of a child's unbearable suffering at the hands of an abusive parent.
Also see: Alternate Cover Editions for this ISBN [ACE], ACE #1, This book chronicles the unforgettable account of one of the most severe child abuse cases in California history. It is the story of ... (Goodreads)
Charlotte's Web
by E.B. White
A young farm girl and a brave pig form an unlikely friendship, teaching us all about love and loyalty.
After a little girl named Fern Arable pleads for the life of the runt of a litter of piglets, her father gives her the pig to nurture, and she names him Wilbur. She treats him as a pet, but a month ... (Wikipedia)
Beastly
by Alex Flinn
A modern retelling of "Beauty and the Beast" following a high school student's transformation.
Kyle Kingsbury is rich, handsome, and popular; he is also selfish, shallow, and cruel. He plays a mean practical joke on an outcast girl in his class. The girl is really a witch named Kendra in ... (Wikipedia)
Ordinary Grace
by William Kent Krueger
A Midwestern family's journey of grief and healing, grappling with tragedy and the power of grace.
“That was it. That was all of it. A grace so ordinary there was no reason at all to remember it. Yet I have never across the forty years since it was spoken forgotten a single word.” New Bremen, ... (Goodreads)
The Golem and the Jinni
by Helene Wecker
Two supernatural creatures from different mythologies, living in New York City, find companionship and friendship in each other.
In the Polish town of Konin at the end of the 19th century, a corrupt kabbalist named Yehudah Schaalman creates a golem in the shape of a woman at the request of young Otto Rotfeld, who seeks a ... (Wikipedia)
Me Before You
by Jojo Moyes
A woman and a disabled man form an unlikely bond as she helps him rediscover the joy of life.
From the #1, New York Times, bestselling author of, The Giver of Stars, discover the love story that captured over 20 million hearts in, Me Before You,, After You, and, Still Me,. They had nothing in ... (Goodreads)
The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts
by Gary Chapman
Understanding individual love language to strengthen relationships and build lasting love.
Over 12 million copies sold! ,, A, New York Times, bestseller for 10 years running., Falling in love is easy. Staying in love—that’s the challenge. How can you keep your relationship fresh and ... (Barnes & Noble)
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma
by Bessel van der Kolk
Examining the physical, psychological and emotional effects of trauma, and how to heal.
A pioneering researcher and one of the world’s foremost experts on traumatic stress offers a bold new paradigm for healing. Trauma is a fact of life. Veterans and their families deal with the painful ... (Goodreads)
Man's Search for Meaning
by Viktor E. Frankl
Holocaust survivor's exploration of resilience, suffering and how to find meaning in life.
Psychiatrist Viktor Frankl's memoir has riveted generations of readers with its descriptions of life in Nazi death camps and its lessons for spiritual survival. Based on his own experience and the ... (Goodreads)
The Four Loves
by C.S. Lewis
Examination of the four kinds of love, exploring their origins and characteristics.
A repackaged edition of the revered author's classic work that examines the four types of human love: affection, friendship, erotic love, and the love of God—part of the C. S. Lewis Signature ... (Goodreads)
The Story of My Life
by Helen Keller
The extraordinary account of a woman overcoming physical and cognitive obstacles to live an inspiring life.
When she was 19 months old, Helen Keller (1880–1968) suffered a severe illness that left her blind and deaf. Not long after, she also became mute. Her tenacious struggle to overcome these ... (Goodreads)
Uncle Tom's Cabin
by Harriet Beecher Stowe
An anti-slavery novel exploring themes of morality, faith, and justice.
The book opens with a Kentucky farmer named Arthur Shelby facing the loss of his farm because of debts. Even though he and his wife Emily Shelby believe that they have a benevolent relationship with ... (Wikipedia)
Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus
by John Gray
A look at the different ways men and women communicate and interact.
Once upon a time Martians and Venusians met, fell in love, and had happy relationships together because they respected and accepted their differences. Then they came to Earth and amnesia set in: they ... (Goodreads)
Middlesex
by Jeffrey Eugenides
A multigenerational story of a hermaphrodite's journey to discovering his identity.
"I was born twice: first, as a baby girl, on a remarkably smogless Detroit day of January 1960; and then again, as a teenage boy, in an emergency room near Petoskey, Michigan, in August of l974. . . ... (Barnes & Noble)
Winter of the World
by Ken Follett
Epic saga of war, family, and love during the tumultuous times of the 20th century.
The story follows characters from Germany , Britain , the United States and the Soviet Union , who become linked by events leading to World War II , and continues through the war and its immediate ... (Wikipedia)
If I Stay
by Gayle Forman
Young girl must decide between life and death after a devastating car accident.
On a snowy day in Portland, Oregon , Mia, her mother, her father, and her little brother, Teddy, decide to go for a morning drive. The snow causes their car to swerve into another lane where a car ... (Wikipedia)
Horton Hears a Who!
by Dr. Seuss
An elephant embarks on a mission to save a small planet, proving the power of friendship.
The book tells the story of Horton the Elephant , who, while splashing in a pool, hears a small speck of dust talking to him. Horton surmises that a small person lives on the speck and places it on a ... (Wikipedia)
The Housekeeper and the Professor
by Yōko Ogawa
A gentle story of friendship and understanding between a brilliant mathematician and his housekeeper.
The narrator's housekeeping agency dispatches her to the house of the Professor, a former mathematician who can remember new memories for only 80 minutes. She is more than a little frustrated to find ... (Wikipedia)
How the Light Gets In
by Louise Penny
Detective Armand Gamache investigates a murder in a small Canadian town, uncovering secrets and lies.
Christmas is approaching, and in Québec it's a time of dazzling snowfalls, bright lights, and gatherings with friends in front of blazing hearths. But shadows are falling on the usually festive ... (Goodreads)
We Need to Talk About Kevin
by Lionel Shriver
A mother's struggle to come to terms with the monstrous acts of her disturbed son.
In the wake of a school massacre conducted by Kevin Khatchadourian, the 15-year-old son of Franklin Plaskett and Eva Khatchadourian, Eva begins writing letters to Franklin in November 2000. She ... (Wikipedia)
The Forty Rules of Love
by Elif Shafak
A story of romance and spiritual enlightenment, exploring the teachings of a Sufi master.
Ella Rubenstein is forty years old and unhappily married when she takes a job as a reader for a literary agent. Her first assignment is to read and report on Sweet Blasphemy , a novel written by a ... (Goodreads)
Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption
by Bryan Stevenson
A powerful true story of justice and redemption, exposing the flaws of America's criminal justice system.
In 1989, idealistic young Harvard law graduate Bryan Stevenson travels to Alabama hoping to help fight for poor people who cannot afford proper legal representation. Teaming with Eva Ansley, he ... (Wikipedia)
The Truth About Forever
by Sarah Dessen
A teenage girl's journey to self-acceptance and the power of friendship.
Macy is still recovering from the sudden loss of her father. Since he died during one of their habitual morning runs, Macy gives up running and keeps all of her feelings to herself. This results in ... (Wikipedia)
Old Yeller
by Fred Gipson
A boy and his dog's adventure of loyalty and courage during the Wild West.
In the late 1860s in the fictional town of Salt Licks, Texas, young Travis Coates has been working to take care of his family ranch with his mother and younger brother, Arliss, while his father goes ... (Wikipedia)
Losing Hope
by Colleen Hoover
A journey of healing and redemption as a broken couple finds their way back to each other.
#1, New York Times, bestselling author Colleen Hoover held readers spellbound with her novel, Hopeless, the story of what happened when a troubled girl named Sky encountered a long-lost childhood ... (Barnes & Noble)
This Is How You Lose Her
by Junot Díaz
A collection of stories about young love, heartache, and the struggle to find one's place in the world.
On a beach in the Dominican Republic, a doomed relationship flounders. In the heat of a hospital laundry room in New Jersey, a woman does her lover’s washing and thinks about his wife. In Boston, a ... (Goodreads)
We Are Okay
by Nina LaCour
A teenage girl's journey to confront her past and find closure.
You go through life thinking there’s so much you need…,Until you leave with only your phone, your wallet, and a picture of your mother. Marin hasn’t spoken to anyone from her old life since the day ... (Goodreads)
Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World
by Tracy Kidder
A story of one man's journey to fight poverty, illness, and injustice around the world.
At the center of Mountains Beyond Mountains stands Paul Farmer. Doctor, Harvard professor, renowned infectious-disease specialist, anthropologist, the recipient of a MacArthur "genius" grant, ... (Goodreads)
The Longest Ride
by Nicholas Sparks
A bittersweet love story between two very different people, discovering that age is just a number.
Professional bull rider Luke Collins ( Scott Eastwood ) meets Sophia Danko ( Britt Robertson ), an art student at Wake Forest University , after she attends a show. On the way home from their first ... (Wikipedia)
A Voice in the Wind
by Francine Rivers
A Christian-inspired story of love, hope, and courage in the face of persecution.
“The city was silently bloating in the hot sun, rotting like the thousands of bodies that lay where they had fallen in street battles.” With this opening sentence, A Voice in the Wind transports ... (Goodreads)
The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter
by Carson McCullers
Exploring the lives of diverse characters in a small Southern town, unearthing secrets and desires.
The book begins with a focus on the relationship between two close friends, John Singer and Spiros Antonapoulos, deaf-mutes who have lived together for several years. Antonapoulos becomes mentally ... (Wikipedia)
The Gift of the Magi
by O. Henry
A young couple's story of love and sacrifice as they give up their most prized possessions for one another.
On Christmas Eve , Della Young discovers that she has only $1.87 to buy a present for her husband Jim. She visits the nearby shop of a hairdresser, Madame Sofronie, who buys Della's long hair for ... (Wikipedia)
Curious George Goes to the Hospital
by Margret Rey
A lovable monkey helps a friend in need by using his courage and kindness.
George wakes up to find a box labeled "surprise" on the desk, it contains a jigsaw puzzle. George takes a puzzle piece out, and thinking it is a piece of candy, he swallows it. The Man with the ... (Wikipedia)
North and South
by Elizabeth Gaskell
A tale of two contrasting worlds, exploring the divisions of the industrial revolution.
Nineteen-year-old Margaret Hale has lived for almost 10 years in London with her cousin Edith and her wealthy Aunt Shaw, but when Edith marries Captain Lennox, Margaret happily returns home to the ... (Wikipedia)
Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness
by Susannah Cahalan
A journalist's journey of survival and recovery from a rare autoimmune disorder.
An award-winning memoir and instant New York Times bestseller that goes far beyond its riveting medical mystery, Brain on Fire is the powerful account of one woman’s struggle to recapture her ... (Goodreads)
The Story of Ferdinand
by Munro Leaf
A gentle bull refuses to fight, instead choosing to sit in a field and smell the flowers.
Young Ferdinand does not enjoy butting heads with other young bulls , preferring instead to sit under a cork tree smelling the flowers. His mother is concerned that he might be lonely and tries to ... (Wikipedia)
Just Listen
by Sarah Dessen
A young girl's journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance, navigating the complexities of teenage life.
Annabel Greene is a girl who has it all—at least, that's how it seems on TV commercials. Annabel's life is far from perfect. , Her friendship with her best friends Clarke and Sophie ended bitterly. ... (Wikipedia)
This is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor
by Adam Kay
A candid and darkly humorous account of a doctor's time working in the NHS.
Welcome to the life of a junior doctor: 97-hour weeks, life and death decisions, a constant tsunami of bodily fluids, and the hospital parking meter earns more than you. Scribbled in secret after ... (Goodreads)
Let the Right One In
by John Ajvide Lindqvist
A vampire and preteen boy form an unlikely bond while struggling against loneliness and persecution.
It is autumn 1981 when the inconceivable comes to Blackeberg, a suburb in Sweden. The body of a teenage boy is found, emptied of blood, the murder rumored to be part of a ritual killing. ... (Goodreads)
Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea
by Barbara Demick
Exploration of the lives of North Koreans during the famine and repression of the 1990s.
Nothing to Envy follows the lives of six North Koreans over fifteen years—a chaotic period that saw the death of Kim Il-sung, the unchallenged rise to power of his son Kim Jong-il, and the ... (Goodreads)
Flowers for Algernon
by Daniel Keyes
A mentally-challenged man's journey to become a genius, only to fall into despair.
The story of a mentally disabled man whose experimental quest for intelligence mirrors that of Algernon, an extraordinary lab mouse. In diary entries, Charlie tells how a brain operation increases ... (Goodreads)
Clifford the Big Red Dog
by Norman Bridwell
A lovable giant red dog who experiences adventures and learns lessons about life.
Emily Elizabeth describes the activities she enjoys with her very big red dog and how they take care of each other. ... (Goodreads)
The Indian in the Cupboard
by Lynne Reid Banks
A magical story of a boy and his beloved toys coming to life in unexpected ways.
On Omri’s ninth birthday, his best friend Patrick gives him the disappointing gift of a small plastic Indian figurine. Omri also receives a white metal medicine cupboard from his brother. The only ... (Wikipedia)
The Tale of Despereaux
by Kate DiCamillo
An epic adventure of an unlikely hero, on a quest to save his kingdom and restore justice.
A noble mouse named Despereaux saves a princess named Princess Pea. Book one tells a story about a small, sickly mouse named Despereaux who was born in a castle with his eyes open. Despereaux, unlike ... (Wikipedia)
Change of Heart
by Jodi Picoult
A convicted murderer is granted a reprieve when a victim's mother makes an extraordinary plea.
A man, Jack, is killed by an impaired driving, leaving his wife, June, and his daughter, Elizabeth behind. At the scene of the accident, June meets Kurt Nealon, a police officer, who becomes a close ... (Wikipedia)
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
by Kate DiCamillo
Edward, a china rabbit, embarks on a journey of self-discovery, learning the power of love.
Edward Tulane is a china rabbit given to a ten-year-old girl named Abilene , by her grandmother in the 1930s. He enjoys a pleasant but vain life with his young mistress, who treats him with the ... (Wikipedia)
A Walk to Remember
by Nicholas Sparks
A romantic narrative of two high school students whose love story transcends tragedy.
The story starts with a prologue from Landon Carter at age 57. , The remainder of the story takes place when Landon is a 17-year-old high school senior. , Landon lives in the small, religious town of ... (Wikipedia)
Sybil: The Classic True Story of a Woman Possessed by Sixteen Personalities
by Flora Rheta Schreiber
A psychological case study of the effects of dissociative identity disorder.
Here is the unbelievable yet true story of Sybil Dorsett, a survivor of terrible childhood abuse who as an adult was a victim of sudden and mysterious blackouts. What happened during those blackouts ... (Goodreads)
Love Does: Discover a Secretly Incredible Life in an Ordinary World
by Bob Goff
An inspiring journey through life, full of stories and lessons on how to live an extraordinary life.
The runaway New York Times bestseller! Can a simple concept shift your entire world? Bob certainty thinks so. When it comes to loving your neighbors, rather than focusing on having the "right ... (Barnes & Noble)
A Bend in the Road
by Nicholas Sparks
A story of redemption and healing, as a man and woman find a way to move past their shared tragedy.
Miles Ryan's life seemed to end the day his wife Missy was killed in a hit-and-run accident two years ago. As deputy sheriff of New Bern, North Carolina , he not only grieves for her and worries ... (Wikipedia)
You Are Special
by Max Lucado
A parable about unconditional love, teaching children to appreciate their unique qualities.
Max was interested in helping children understand their value - not from the world's perspective, but from God's. Wemmicksville is a land created by Eli, the "God" figure of the story. He creates ... (Goodreads)
The Sea of Tranquility
by Katja Millay
A young woman's journey of healing and redemption, as she confronts her traumatic past.
A, School Library Journal, Best Book of 2013, An ALA/YALSA Alex Award Winner, I live in a world without magic or miracles. A place where there are no clairvoyants or shapeshifters, no angels or ... (Barnes & Noble)
The Next Always
by Nora Roberts
Romance blooms between two people in a small town, as their lives intertwine.
The historic hotel in Boonsboro has endured war and peace, changing hands, even rumored hauntings. Now it’s getting a major facelift from the Montgomery brothers and their eccentric mother. Beckett ... (Goodreads)
This Is How It Always Is
by Laurie Frankel
A family's journey of acceptance and love, as they navigate their child's gender identity.
New York Times, Bestseller The Reese Witherspoon x Hello Sunshine Book Club Pick ,“Every once in a while, I read a book that opens my eyes in a way I never expected.” —Reese Witherspoon (Reese’s Book ... (Barnes & Noble)
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