This novel is a coming-of-age story about a young boy grappling with his homosexuality in the repressive 1950s America. It follows his journey from his midwestern childhood, through his expulsion from a military academy and his escapades in the seedy underbelly of New York City. As he navigates through his adolescence, the protagonist battles with self-loathing and isolation due to his burgeoning sexuality, providing a poignant exploration of the pain and confusion of growing up.

The book follows the life of a young boy who survives a terrorist bombing at an art museum, which kills his mother. In the confusion following the explosion, he steals a priceless Dutch painting, The Goldfinch, which becomes his secret treasure and eventually draws him into the criminal underworld. The narrative explores themes of loss, survival, and the power of art to shape human destiny.

Set in a poor rural community in Mississippi, this novel follows the story of a pregnant teenage girl named Esch and her three brothers as they navigate their lives in the days leading up to Hurricane Katrina. Their mother is dead and their father is a neglectful alcoholic, leaving the siblings to fend for themselves. The book explores themes of poverty, racism, and survival, showcasing the resilience and strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

This novel follows the poignant journey of two teenagers, both cancer patients, who meet in a support group and fall in love. Their shared experiences and unique outlook on life and death bring them closer together, and they embark on a trip to Amsterdam to meet a reclusive author they both admire. Through their journey, they explore the harsh realities of living with a terminal illness while also experiencing the beautiful and tragic aspects of first love.

The novel is a deeply moving portrayal of four friends in New York City, spanning over several decades. It primarily focuses on Jude, a man with a mysterious and traumatic past, who struggles with physical disability and emotional trauma. The story explores themes of friendship, love, trauma, suffering, and the human will to endure in spite of life's hardships. It is an epic tale of heartbreak and despair but also of resilience and enduring love.

"Machine Dreams" is a novel that explores the lives of the Hampson family, set against the backdrop of major American events from the Great Depression through the Vietnam War. Told from different perspectives, the book delves into the individual and collective experiences of the family, their relationships, and their struggles. It provides an intimate look at the impact of war, economic hardship, and societal changes on a typical American family.

The novel explores the journey of a 13-year-old boy, his drug-addicted mother, and his baby sister as they travel through Mississippi to pick up their white father from the state penitentiary. The story is steeped in the harsh realities of poverty, racism, and struggle, and is further complicated by the presence of a ghost from the family's past. It's a haunting tale about the legacy of trauma and the power of family ties.

"The Last Gentleman" is a novel about a disoriented and confused man from the South who suffers from a "nervous condition" that causes him to forget who he is. When he meets a young man dying from a brain tumor, he decides to leave his home in New York and travel with the man and his family back to the South. Throughout his journey, he attempts to discover his own identity and grapples with existential questions about life, love, and death.

"Normal People" is a novel that explores the complex relationship between two high school students from different social classes in a small town in Ireland. Despite their contrasting backgrounds, they form a strong bond that continues into their university years at Trinity College. The narrative follows their journey, filled with misunderstandings, miscommunications, and emotional intimacy, as they navigate their way through love, friendship, mental health issues, and the struggles of growing up.

The novel revolves around the complex relationship between Benna Carpenter, an aerobics instructor and Gerard, a college professor. Benna constantly imagines different scenarios and alternate lives for herself and Gerard, including one where they have a daughter. The narrative structure of the book is unique, with each chapter presenting a different 'anagram' or version of Benna's life, reflecting her chaotic and imaginative inner world.

"Moon Palace" tells the story of Marco Stanley Fogg, an orphaned young man in New York City who embarks on a journey of self-discovery. As he ventures into the American West and delves into his family's past, he encounters a series of adventures and misadventures that challenge his understanding of identity, love, and the very nature of reality. The novel is a complex and symbolic exploration of American mythology, weaving together themes of solitude, survival, and the pursuit of the American Dream.

This novel explores the lives and struggles of three African American sisters from the South as they pursue their individual paths towards self-discovery and empowerment. Each sister embodies distinct artistic and cultural identities, with one becoming a weaver, another a dancer, and the third a musician and writer. Their stories, rich with elements of folklore and spirituality, weave together themes of family, heritage, and the quest for personal and artistic freedom. Through their journeys, the sisters confront issues of race, gender, and sexuality, navigating the complexities of love, responsibility, and the bonds that tie them to each other and their shared past.

Set in the 1960s, the novel follows Wittman Ah Sing, a fifth-generation Chinese-American and recent Berkeley graduate who dreams of becoming a playwright. As he navigates the counterculture of San Francisco and the Beatniks, he grapples with his identity as an American of Chinese descent. The novel is a deep exploration of Asian American identity, the immigrant experience, and the cultural clashes between East and West.

A teenage boy navigates the complexities of life after his mother is brutally attacked on their reservation in North Dakota. As the legal system fails to bring justice due to jurisdictional issues, the boy takes matters into his own hands. The novel explores themes of tribal law, justice, and the transition into adulthood, all set against the backdrop of Native American culture and history.

The book is a semi-autobiographical novel that follows a Native American teenager who leaves his school on the Spokane Indian Reservation to attend an all-white high school in a neighboring town. The protagonist grapples with his own identity, the perceptions and prejudices of his new classmates, and the harsh realities of life on the reservation. Throughout the story, he uses humor and his passion for drawing cartoons to navigate the challenges he encounters.

The novel follows Billy Lynn, a 19-year-old soldier, who, along with his fellow soldiers in Bravo Squad, becomes a hero after a harrowing Iraq battle and is brought home temporarily for a victory tour. During the tour, they're honored at a Dallas Cowboys game, which exposes the commercialization and shallow appreciation of their sacrifices. Amidst the celebration, Billy grapples with his understanding of heroism, patriotism, family, and the stark contrast between the realities of war and America's perceptions.

"Home" is a deeply emotional narrative that explores the themes of faith, redemption, and the complexity of family relationships. The story revolves around the Boughton family, particularly the prodigal son, Jack, who returns home after twenty years. His struggle to fit into the family and society, and his sister Glory's attempts to help him, form the crux of the story. The book delves into their past, revealing secrets and regrets, and provides a profound reflection on love, loss, and forgiveness.

"The Last Samurai" is a unique, intellectual novel that follows the life of a young boy named Ludo, who is raised by his single mother, Sibylla. Sibylla, a freelance transcriber, educates Ludo in various subjects from Greek to mathematics, using the film "The Seven Samurai" as a moral compass. As Ludo grows older, he embarks on a quest to find his father, using clues from his mother's past. His journey leads him to several men who could potentially be his father, each encounter teaching him more about the world and himself.

A high school freshman becomes a social outcast after calling the police to break up a summer party and refuses to explain why. As she navigates the challenges of high school, she struggles with a traumatic event from the party that has left her feeling silenced. Throughout the year, she slowly regains her voice and confronts her attacker, ultimately revealing the truth about what happened that night.

The novel revolves around a woman named Alison, who was once a fashion model in Paris and New York during the 1980s. The story is told in a non-linear fashion, flashing back and forth between her glamorous past and her present life as a middle-aged, low-paid office worker suffering from Hepatitis C. She reflects on her complex and toxic friendship with the titular character, Veronica, an older, eccentric woman who eventually dies from AIDS. The book explores themes of beauty, youth, mortality, and the harsh realities of life.

"The Art of Fielding" is a tale centered around a college baseball star who seems destined for the big leagues but abruptly loses his ability to throw accurately. The story explores the aftermath of his downfall, the impact on his relationships with his teammates, roommates, and a college president, and the struggle of self-discovery and acceptance. It's a tale of friendship, ambition, and the pressures of expectation, all set against the backdrop of America's beloved pastime.

"Black Tickets" is a collection of short stories that explore the complexities of life through a diverse range of characters and situations. The stories delve into themes such as love, loss, identity, and the human condition. The narratives oscillate between the perspectives of troubled adolescents, middle-aged men and women grappling with life's disappointments, and the elderly reflecting on their past, providing a comprehensive exploration of human experiences.

"There There" by Tommy Orange is a powerful and poignant novel that follows the lives of twelve Native American characters living in Oakland, California. As their stories intertwine and converge, the novel explores themes of identity, community, and the effects of historical trauma on Native American people. Through vivid and lyrical prose, Orange gives voice to a group of individuals who have long been marginalized and overlooked in American society, creating a compelling and unforgettable portrait of contemporary Native American life.

"Swamplandia!" is a darkly humorous and poignant story about a family of alligator wrestlers living in the Florida Everglades. The family's way of life is threatened when their mother dies, their tourist attraction business starts to fail, and a rival theme park opens nearby. The novel follows the three children as they struggle to keep their family together and their world intact, embarking on perilous journeys through the swamp and into the underworld.

Set in the 1980s at a small, affluent liberal arts college in New England, the novel captures the lives of a group of self-absorbed, hedonistic students as they navigate a world of casual sex, drug use, and apathy. Through a series of first-person narratives that often overlap and contradict each other, the story delves into the disaffected and aimless existence of these young adults, exploring themes of unrequited love, the search for identity, and the meaninglessness of the college social scene. The characters' intertwining relationships and the consequences of their actions paint a bleak picture of the disillusionment and moral ambiguity of the era.