Books on Justice & Injustice

James Baldwin said, "It is certain, in any case, that ignorance, allied with power, is the most ferocious enemy justice can have." In this collection, we've compiled texts that explore the idea of what justice is — and how it can thrive.

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Relationships: Teams, Relationships: Family, Natural World: Climate, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Environment, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Relationships: Friendship, Natural World: Place, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction


Publication year 2009

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Emotions/Behavior: Courage

Tags History: U.S., Race / Racism, Social Justice, Civil Rights / Jim Crow, Children's Literature, History: World, Biography


Publication year 1914

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Midlife, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Equality

Tags Irish Literature, Classic Fiction, British Literature, History: World, Arts / Culture


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Aging, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Grandparents, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Fathers, Values/Ideas: Equality, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags African American Literature, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, Action / Adventure, Civil Rights / Jim Crow, History: U.S., Black Lives Matter, Grief / Death, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2004

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Society: Colonialism, Society: Class, Life/Time: The Future, Life/Time: The Past, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Social Justice, Anthropology, Class, Depression / Suicide, Finance / Money / Wealth, Politics / Government, Love / Sexuality, Race / Racism, Sociology, Religion / Spirituality, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World

Cloud Atlas is a 2004 dystopian novel by British author David Mitchell. The sprawling narrative is composed of a series of nested stories, spanning centuries into the past and the future. In addition to winning numerous literary and science fiction awards, the novel was adapted into a 2012 film of the same name. This guide uses the 2014 Sceptre edition of Cloud Atlas.Content Warning: The novel and this guide depict slavery and discuss racism, death... Read Cloud Atlas Summary


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Mothers, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Identity: Femininity, Relationships: Family, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Mythology, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Gender / Feminism, History: World


Publication year 1781

Genre Scripture, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Class, Society: Community, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Crime / Legal, History: Asian, Politics / Government, Religion / Spirituality, Philosophy


Publication year 2013

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Indigenous, Society: Education, Society: Nation, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags History: World, Biography, Military / War


Publication year 2000

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Equality

Tags History: U.S., Race / Racism, Civil Rights / Jim Crow, Cold War, Politics / Government, Education, Education, History: World


Publication year 2002

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Identity: Mental Health, Identity: Race, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: Midlife, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Mothers, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Feminist Theory, Gender Studies, Self Help, Gender / Feminism, Love / Sexuality, Philosophy, Relationships, Women's Studies (Nonfiction)


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Identity: Race, Society: Immigration

Tags Historical Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Realistic Fiction, Race / Racism, Social Justice, Addiction / Substance Abuse, Black Lives Matter, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2010

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Identity: Race, Life/Time: The Past, Society: Class, Society: Community, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags History: U.S., American Civil War, Military / War, History: World, Politics / Government


Publication year 2024

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Society: Colonialism, Society: Economics, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Natural World: Appearance & Reality

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Survival Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2016

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Race / Racism, Relationships, African American Literature, Education, Education, Social Justice, Politics / Government


Publication year 1998

Genre Reference/Text Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Identity: Race, Identity: Sexuality, Natural World: Environment, Society: Class, Society: Colonialism, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Literary Criticism, Philosophy


Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Philosophy, Ancient Greece, Politics / Government, Education, Education, Philosophy, History: World, Classical Period, Classic Fiction

Crito, written by the philosopher Plato, is a dialogue between the famous philosopher Socrates and his friend Crito. This dialogue, which Plato is believed to have published shortly after 399 BCE, is set after the city of Athens has sentenced Socrates to death. Crito takes place after the events of Plato’s Apology, which details Socrates’s defense speech at his trial. Within the corpus of Plato’s many Socratic dialogues, scholars generally group Crito with Euthyphro, Apology... Read Crito Summary


Publication year 2016

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Race, Society: Class, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Race / Racism, Education, Education, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Sociology, Social Justice, Politics / Government


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race, Relationships: Family, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, African American Literature, Race / Racism, Urban Development, History: World


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Teams, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Military / War, Action / Adventure