Science & Nature

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 1996

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Animals

Tags Science / Nature


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Self Discovery

Tags Survival Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Action / Adventure, Animals, Grief / Death, Mental Illness, Parenting, Natural Disaster, Science / Nature, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Children's Literature


Publication year 2007

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Relationships: Family, Society: Class, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags Education, Education, Science / Nature, Social Science, Philosophy, Philosophy, Politics / Government


Publication year 2009

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Relationships: Teams, Identity: Language

Tags Business / Economics, Self Help, Health / Medicine, Psychology, Science / Nature, Leadership/Organization/Management, Psychology


Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Science / Nature, Modern Classic Fiction

Published in 2013, The Circle by Dave Eggers is a dystopian novel set in the near future. It is told from the perspective of protagonist Mae Holland, who has landed a job at The Circle, a monopolistic tech company led by the Three Wise Men: Eamon Bailey, Ty Gospodinov, and Tom Stenton. The Circle has cultivated a positive image through its ostensible missions of improving human rights and democracy and by making it easier for... Read The Circle Summary


Publication year 2022

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Climate, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Science / Nature, Climate Change, Politics / Government, History: World


Publication year 1999

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags History: World, Military / War, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Science / Nature, Technology, Technology


Publication year 2021

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Identity: Gender, Relationships: Teams

Tags Science / Nature, Gender / Feminism, Health / Medicine, Technology, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), History: World, Biography


Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: The Future, Natural World: Climate, Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Natural World: Environment

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Climate Change, Science / Nature, Business / Economics, History: World, Politics / Government


Publication year 2019

Genre Essay Collection, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Identity: Mental Health

Tags Psychology, Mental Illness, Disability, Science / Nature, Health / Medicine, Psychology, Biography


Publication year 1972

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Natural World: Environment, Society: Globalization, Society: Colonialism, Natural World: Flora/plants, Society: Economics, Identity: Indigenous

Tags History: World, Science / Nature, Anthropology, History: U.S., Anthropology, Business / Economics


Publication year 2021

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Self Help, Health / Medicine, Psychology, Science / Nature, Sports, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Mental Illness


Publication year 1994

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Globalization, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Life/Time: Mortality & Death

Tags Health / Medicine, Science / Nature, History: World, Social Justice, LGBTQ, Politics / Government


Publication year 2023

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Globalization, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Life/Time: The Future, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Community

Tags Technology, Science / Nature, Business / Economics, Politics / Government, Technology, Sociology, Philosophy, Philosophy


Publication year 1989

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Natural World: Environment

Tags Science / Nature, History: World

The Control of Nature by John McPhee was published in 1989 and includes three essays/articles reported from different geographic locales that reflect one common theme: man attempting to control nature. McPhee got his start in journalism writing for Time magazine. He has written for The New Yorker for several decades and has published 30 books, including Annals of the Former World, for which he received the Pulitzer Prize. He has also taught writing at Princeton... Read The Control of Nature Summary


Publication year 1912

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Gender, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Objects, Natural World: Place, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags Lyric Poem, Satire, Science / Nature, Technology, Class, Edwardian Era


Publication year 1960

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Music, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Self Discovery, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Place

Tags Children's Literature, Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Animals, Diversity, Science / Nature, Education, Education, Classic Fiction

Trapped in a picnic basket, Chester Cricket travels from his peaceful Connecticut home to the bustling Times Square subway station in George Selden’s classic children’s novel, The Cricket in Times Square (1960). There, Chester makes three good friends who help him navigate—and enjoy—his new city life: Mario Bellini, a young boy whose parents run a struggling newsstand; Tucker, a sociable mouse; and Tucker’s best friend, the cultured Harry Cat. Mishaps in the newsstand set Mama... Read The Cricket In Times Square Summary


Publication year 2021

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Class, Society: Economics, Society: Community

Tags Anthropology, Science / Nature, History: World, Anthropology, Business / Economics, Sociology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Politics / Government


Publication year 2017

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Environment

Tags Science / Nature, Climate Change, History: World

The Death and Life of the Great Lakes is a nonfiction book of science journalism delving into key past and present issues surrounding the ecology, politics, and commerce of the Great Lakes. The book was published in 2017 and was the recipient of the J. Anthony Lukas Award as well as a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Author Dan Egan is a reporter who covers the Great Lakes for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He is... Read The Death and Life of the Great Lakes Summary


Publication year 2018

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Society: Class, Society: Community, Identity: Mental Health, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: The Past, Identity: Disability, Life/Time: The Future, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Society: Education, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth

Tags Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Mental Illness, Science / Nature, Health / Medicine, Education, Education, Parenting, Psychology, Psychology, Self Help