Texts in this collection explore topics like climate change, energy, and humanity's place in the environment through a variety of genres, whether the science fiction of Margaret Atwood's Oryx and Crake or the scientific journalism of Dan Egan's The Death and Life of the Great Lakes.
Publication year 1972
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Environment, Relationships: Fathers, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags Action / Adventure, Animals, Science / Nature, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction
Jean Craighead George’s children’s novel Julie of the Wolves (1972), set in 20th-century Alaska, tells the story of a 13-year-old Inuit girl named Miyax who is lost in the wilderness after escaping a violent husband and a life that does not suit her. Miyax struggles to survive in a harsh environment as she attempts to make her way to San Francisco. A pack of wolves helps her, and she learns to deepen her appreciation of... Read Julie Of The Wolves Summary
Publication year 2015
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Race, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Health / Medicine, Race / Racism, Social Justice, Politics / Government, Science / Nature
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Society: Class
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Allegory / Fable / Parable, Class, Parenting, Science / Nature, Relationships, Futurism, Modern Classic Fiction, Fantasy
Publication year 2016
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Tags Science / Nature, Technology, Biography
Professor Hope Jahren’s 2016 memoir, Lab Girl, chronicles the author’s life and experience as a geobiologist. The memoir contains three parts, each spanning a major period in Jahren’s life. Autobiographical chapters are followed by brief, lyrical chapters examining various plants and their habits. These chapters on plants contain extensive use of personification, relating plant experience to that of humans.Part 1, “Roots and Leaves,” spans Jahren’s childhood to her first teaching job.The author grows up in... Read Lab Girl Summary
Publication year 1960
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Art, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride
Tags Mythology, Ekphrastic, Free verse, Modernism, Grief / Death, Science / Nature
Publication year 1916
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Identity: Language, Life/Time: The Future, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos
Tags Science / Nature, Modernism
Publication year 2005
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Natural World: Environment, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: The Future
Tags Parenting, Education, Psychology, Children's Literature, Education, Science / Nature, Psychology
Publication year 2000
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Climate, Society: Colonialism, Society: Economics
Tags History: World, Politics / Government, Business / Economics, Science / Nature, Sociology, Indian Literature, Chinese Literature
Publication year 2013
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Tags Science / Nature, Journalism, Sports, History: World, Health / Medicine
League of Denial: The NFL, Concussions, and the Battle for Truth is a 2013 work of investigative nonfiction by brothers Mark Fainaru-Wada and Steve Fainaru. The book chronicles the National Football League’s concussion crisis, which came to light with a few career-ending head injuries in the 1990s and became an even more serious issue as numerous deceased former players were found to have developed chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). League of Denial won the PEN/ESPN Award... Read League of Denial Summary
Publication year 1990
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Environment, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Values/Ideas: Fate, Natural World: Place
Tags Lyric Poem, Science / Nature
Publication year 2013
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Natural World: Environment, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Society: Community
Tags Science / Nature, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Biography
Publication year 1615
Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction
Themes Natural World: Space & The Universe, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology
Tags Philosophy, Science / Nature, Religion / Spirituality, Education, Education, History: World, Philosophy
Publication year 2017
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Natural World: Space & The Universe, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil
Tags Philosophy, Business / Economics, Futurism, Science / Nature, Technology, Technology, Philosophy
Publication year 2008
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Society: Politics & Government, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Leadership/Organization/Management, Politics / Government, Science / Nature
Little Brother, a dystopian young adult novel written by Cory Doctorow, was published by Tor Teen books in 2008. The book debuted at number nine on The New York Times Bestseller list and was a finalist for the Hugo Award for Best Novel in 2009. Little Brother also won the 2009 White Pine Award, Prometheus Award, and John W. Campbell Memorial Award. The story takes place in the near future and chronicles the efforts of... Read Little Brother Summary
Publication year 1997
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Food, Natural World: Place, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Economics, Society: Education, Society: War, Society: Nation
Tags Science / Nature, Health / Medicine, Politics / Government, Social Justice, Education, Education, Gender / Feminism
Publication year 2005
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology
Tags Science / Nature, Education, History: World, Travel Literature, Biography
Dava Sobel’s best-selling book Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time tells the story of the 18th-century contest to find a precise way to locate a ship at sea, the clockmaker who built the first timepiece that could do so, and his battle with the astronomers whose alternate method competed for the winning prize. Replete with sea disasters, brilliant scientists, and scheming politicians, Longitude won... Read Longitude Summary
Publication year 2018
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Community
Tags Self Help, Psychology, Mental Illness, Health / Medicine, Sociology, Philosophy, Depression / Suicide, Science / Nature, Psychology, Philosophy
Publication year 2014
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Education, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology
Tags Education, Psychology, Self Help, Science / Nature, Education, Leadership/Organization/Management, Business / Economics, Psychology
Publication year 1993
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Race, Society: Class, Society: Politics & Government
Tags Health / Medicine, Sociology, Race / Racism, Education, Education, Science / Nature, Politics / Government
Publication year 1964
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Mental Health
Tags Psychology, Mythology, Relationships, Science / Nature, Philosophy, Philosophy, Arts / Culture, Psychology, Fantasy, Classic Fiction, Religion / Spirituality