The solace and comfort of true friendship — and the pain of its loss — can rival any romantic or familial relationship. In this collection, we present texts that examine the unique qualities and costs of deep friendships.
Publication year 1973
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Gender, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Fear
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, War On Terrorism / Iraq War
Lois Duncan’s I Know What You Did Last Summer (1973) follows a group of teenagers in an American town as they deal with the ramifications of accidentally killing a young boy. The novel was adapted as a major motion picture in 1997. Its themes include guilt, selfishness, and revenge. The novel opens with protagonist Julie James nervously opening a letter. Subverting the reader’s expectations, Duncan makes the letter an acceptance letter from Smith College rather... Read I Know What You Did Last Summer Summary
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Environment, Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Publication year 2015
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction
In a Dark, Dark Wood, by Ruth Ware, is a psychological mystery thriller published in 2015. The story centers around protagonist Leonora Shaw (known as “Nora” in the present day and formerly as “Lee” and “Leo”). The narrative alternates between scenes from the present, with Nora in the hospital after a car accident, and Nora’s spotty recollections of the weekend party that took place in the immediate past. Nora has a head wound and senses... Read In A Dark Dark Wood Summary
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Fate, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Romance, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Magical Realism
Publication year 1953
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Class, Identity: Femininity, Society: Community
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Coming of Age
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction
Publication year 2017
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Disability, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Family
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Diversity, Disability, Bullying, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Humor
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Fate, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Romance, Magical Realism, Modern Classic Fiction, Fantasy
Publication year 1983
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt
Tags Auto/Biographical Fiction, Grief / Death
American author Amy Hempel wrote the minimalist short story “In the Cemetery Where Al Jolson Is Buried” in 1983. The story is dedicated to Jessica Wolfson, Hempel’s friend who died of a terminal illness. Originally published in TriQuarterly, the story appeared in her first short story collection, Reasons to Live, in 1985.The story is written in the first-person point of view, with minimal detail provided about the narrator. The story is presumed to take place... Read In the Cemetery Where Al Jolson Is Buried Summary
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Love
Tags Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Romance, LGBTQ, Fairy Tale / Folklore
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Self Discovery
Tags Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Romance, Addiction / Substance Abuse, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2003
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Fantasy, Animals, Action / Adventure, Relationships, Leadership/Organization/Management, Children's Literature
Publication year 2022
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Identity: Language, Society: Immigration, Identity: Race
Tags Realistic Fiction, Race / Racism, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2017
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Identity: Mental Health
Tags Realistic Fiction, Humor, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery, Identity: Femininity, Life/Time: Midlife, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal
Tags Romance, Humor, LGBTQ, British Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2010
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Natural World: Animals, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Children's Literature, Animals, Realistic Fiction, History: World, Historical Fiction, Action / Adventure
Publication year 1986
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Religion / Spirituality, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Fantasy, Classic Fiction
Stephen King’s 1986 novel It is widely considered to be one of the most frightening stories ever written. The book’s cast of characters clash against a monster that can assume the form of their worst fears, in a town called Derry that is itself a source of evil. It examines themes of friendship, family, grief, fear, and memory.The novel jumps frequently between past and present, but the structure of the story told in It can... Read It Summary
Publication year 2016
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Immigration, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship, Society: War, Relationships: Family
Tags Historical Fiction, Humor, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, History: World
Publication year 2006
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Coming of Age
Tags Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Mental Illness, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Psychology, Psychology, Romance
It’s Kind of a Funny Story was Ned Vizzini’s second Young Adult novel, published by Hyperion in 2006. It is a critically acclaimed Young Adult novel and coming-of-age story that was given a starred review by the American Librarians Association and adapted into a film of the same name (2010).Other work by this author includes the novel, Be More Chill.Content Warning: This novel and study guide include topics and themes that may be sensitive for... Read It's Kind of a Funny Story Summary