Every April, we honor our planet on Earth Day with a selection of works celebrating the natural world. With titles ranging from stories of wilderness survival to nonfiction works about conservation and sustainability, this Collection features a broad spectrum of ideas regarding nature and our role within it.
Publication year 2012
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Life/Time: Birth, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Mothers, Society: Globalization, Natural World: Environment
Tags Climate Change, Science / Nature, Modern Classic Fiction
Barbara Kingsolver’s 2012 novel Flight Behavior presents a symbolic connection between Dellarobia Turnbow, an unhappy farm wife who secretly dreams of running away from it all, and a surprising migration of monarch butterflies that alight upon her in-laws’ property in Feathertown, Tennessee. As the butterflies struggle to survive and reproduce to continue their species, Dellarobia struggles in her efforts to deal with the consequences of her past decisions and the possibility of her new life... Read Flight Behavior Summary
Publication year 2015
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Natural World: Environment
Tags Lyric Poem, Inspirational, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 2017
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Identity: Mental Health, Natural World: Environment, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction
Force of Nature (2017) is a thriller by Australian author Jane Harper. Following The Dry (2016) and preceding Exiles (2022), it is the second in a three-book series of novels featuring federal investigator Aaron Falk. In this installment, Falk joins the state police in their investigation of a missing woman who has been a key point of contact for his investigation into possible embezzlement and fraud at a prominent accounting firm. While the woman’s fate... Read Force of Nature Summary
Publication year 1954
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Identity: Disability, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Race, Natural World: Environment, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Teams, Society: Colonialism, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags History: World, Biography, Children's Literature, History: U.S., Historical Nonfiction, American Civil War
Publication year 1999
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Environment, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Natural World: Animals
Tags Action / Adventure, Animals, Children's Literature, Science / Nature, Realistic Fiction, Classic Fiction
Publication year 1986
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Environment, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Lyric Poem, American Literature, Food
Publication year 1971
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Environment, Values/Ideas: Art
Tags Poetry: Dramatic Poem
Publication year 2012
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Natural World: Environment
Tags Journalism, Politics / Government, Science / Nature, History: World, Health / Medicine, Biography
Full Body Burden: Growing up in the Nuclear Shadow of Rocky Flats is a 2012 nonfiction account by Kristen Iversen. Half memoir, half investigative journalism, the book covers Iversen’s life in a town near Denver, Colorado, as well as Rocky Flats—the nearby nuclear production facility. Quiet, observant, and adventurous, Iversen is the oldest of four children. The family keeps many pets, and Iversen adores horseback riding on their pasture at a new neighborhood near Rocky Flats... Read Full Body Burden Summary
Publication year 2021
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Animals, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Values/Ideas: Equality
Tags Science / Nature, Animals, Crime / Legal, Humor, History: World
Publication year 2015
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Environment, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Natural World: Food, Natural World: Animals, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Society: Education, Society: Globalization, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Self Discovery, Life/Time: The Future, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Action / Adventure, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Survival Fiction, Natural Disaster, Science / Nature, Children's Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Realistic Fiction
In Newbery medalist Louis Sachar’s sci-fi thriller Fuzzy Mud (2015), Tamaya and Marshall cut through the restricted woods behind their school to avoid a bully—but encounter a strange mud that has the potential to destroy nearly all life on Earth. While Marshall struggles with the emotional effects of being bullied, Tamaya develops an unusually aggressive rash from the mud and worries that in protecting Marshall she has gravely injured Chad. Each character faces difficult ethical... Read Fuzzy Mud Summary
Publication year 2012
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Community, Natural World: Environment
Tags Business / Economics, Climate Change, Science / Nature, Social Science, Sociology, History: World
Garbology: Our Dirty Love Affair with Trash is a 2012 non-fiction book by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Edward Humes. Garbology is an analysis of American consumption, trash production, and what happens to everything in our disposable economy after we discard it. Through statistical analysis, interviews, and personal stories, Humes tells the story of our largest export—our trash—and how trash came to be synonymous with American life.Humes divides Garbology into three sections: first, an analysis of our... Read Garbology Summary
Publication year 1979
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Life/Time: Aging, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Environment, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Music, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Identity: Gender, Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Sexuality, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Teams, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Equality
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 1862
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Food, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Society: Community, Society: Education, Relationships: Siblings, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose
Tags Narrative / Epic Poem, Allegory / Fable / Parable, Gothic Literature, History: World, Fantasy, Fairy Tale / Folklore, Victorian Literature / Period, Classic Fiction
Enigmatic and strange, English poet Christina Rossetti’s “Goblin Market” has sparked multiple interpretations since its publication in 1862. The poem helped launch her career and expand the Pre-Raphaelite art movement into literature.The long narrative poem centers on Lizzie’s rescue of her sister from an enchantment cast by malicious goblins. Fairy tales and folklore inspired many Victorian writers, who felt weary about England’s increasing industrialization.Often seen as an allegory, scholars have posited that the poem’s characters... Read Goblin Market Summary
Publication year 1981
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Space & The Universe, Identity: Gender, Life/Time: The Future, Natural World: Environment, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, Philosophy, Philosophy, Classic Fiction
Publication year 1918
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Religion / Spirituality, Victorian Period, Industrial Revolution, Education, Education
Publication year 2024
Genre Essay Collection, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Food, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology
Publication year 1990
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Natural World: Environment, Society: Community, Society: Economics, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Business / Economics, Politics / Government, Sociology, Philosophy
Publication year 1985
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Identity: Masculinity, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Environment
Tags Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Education, Education
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Flora/plants, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Historical Fiction, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Science / Nature, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Climate, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Identity: Race
Tags Historical Fiction, Magical Realism, Indian Literature, Climate Change, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Asian Literature