In The First Day by Edward P. Jones we have the theme of connection, desperation, love, pride, authority and fear. Narrated in the first person by a young five year old black girl the reader realizes after reading the story that Jones may be exploring the theme of connection. The narrator’s mother longs to bring […]

In Septimus by John Wickham we have the theme of sorrow, poverty, struggle, responsibility, happiness, selflessness and kindness. Narrated in the first person by a female narrator (Septimus’ sister) the reader realizes from the beginning of the story that Wickham may be exploring the theme of sorrow. Septimus’ mother is crying because Septimus is happy […]

In The Teacher Who Changed My Life by Nicholas Gage we have the theme of struggle, conflict, freedom, hostility, inspiration, hard work, acceptance and pride. Narrated in the first person by Gage himself the reader realizes from the beginning of the story that Gage may be exploring the theme of struggle. Gage and his siblings […]

In Lather and Nothing Else (or Just Lather, That’s All) by Hernando Téllez we have the theme of duty, violence, honour, loyalty and conflict. Narrated in the first person by an unnamed man (the barber) the reader realizes after reading the story that Téllez may be exploring the theme of duty. The narrator feels as […]

In Scared by Anthony Horowitz we have the theme of isolation, bullying, bribery, selfishness, struggle and hate. Taken from his collection of the same name it becomes clear to the reader after reading the story that Horowitz may be exploring the theme of isolation. Pye Hall is isolated from everywhere else and Gary doesn’t like […]

In The Oval Portrait by Edgar Allan Poe we have the theme of art, reality, creativity, selfishness and obsession. Taken from his Poetry and Tales collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realizes that Poe may be exploring the theme of reality. […]

In What Happened by Austin Clarke we have the theme of racism, love, friendship, education, idealism, realism and anger. Taken from his When He Was Free and Young and He Used to Wear Silks collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realizes […]

In Blankets by Alex la Guma we have the theme of poverty, inequality, deprivation, apartheid, control and paralysis. Taken from his A Walk in the Night and Other Stories collection the story is narrated, by way of flashbacks, in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realizes that […]

In Little Brother by Bruce Holland Rogers we have the theme of longing, struggle, control, consumerism, materialism and innocence. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realizes from the beginning of the story that Rogers may be exploring the theme of longing. For as long as he can remember Peter has […]

In The Jam by Henry Slesar we have the theme of addiction, struggle, friendship, loyalty, control and responsibility. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realizes from the beginning of the story that Slesar may be exploring the theme of addiction. The reason Stukey is driving so fast and erratic is […]

In Rain by Richard Rive we have the theme of love, betrayal, selfishness, innocence, hope, desperation and compassion. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator it becomes clear to the reader after reading the story that Rive may be exploring the theme of love. Siena is desperate to find Joseph. She has heard […]

In Nostalgia by C.A. Davids we have the theme of abuse, bitterness, selfishness, letting go, ignorance, paralysis and acceptance. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realizes after reading the story that Davids may be exploring the theme of abuse (sexual). Ella has been abused by her father when she was […]

In Disappearing by Monica Wood we have the theme of confidence, insecurity, obsession, acceptance, pride, change and control. Narrated in the first person by an unnamed woman the reader realizes after reading the story that Wood may be exploring the theme of confidence. The narrator is overweight and very conscious of it. In fact she […]

In It Used to be Green Once by Patricia Grace we have the theme of shame, appearance, poverty, pride, good fortune and change. The story itself is a memory piece and is narrated in the first person by a woman who recalls events from her childhood and from the beginning of the story it is […]

In Going for Bread by Patricia Grace we have the theme of fear, bullying, ignorance, anger, racism, conflict, struggle and love. Narrated in the third person by an unknown narrator the reader realizes from the beginning of the story that Grace may be exploring the theme of fear.  Mereana is afraid to walk down the […]

In Meeting Elise by Nam Le we have the theme of pride, success, mortality, friendship, connection, acceptance, jealousy and redemption. Taken from his The Boat collection the story is narrated in the first person by a man called Henry Luff and from the beginning of the story the reader realizes that Le may be exploring […]

In Hiroshima by Nam Le we have the theme of spirituality, conflict, propaganda, control, loyalty, innocence and honour. Taken from his The Boat collection the story is narrated in the first person by an eight year old girl called Mayako and from the beginning of the story the reader realizes that Le may be exploring […]

In The Hole That Jack Dug by Frank Sargeson we have the theme of hard-work, struggle, connection, trust, independence and respect. Narrated in the first person by a man called Tom, who is helping Jack to dig the hole, the reader realizes from the beginning of the story that Sargeson may be exploring the theme […]

In Your Shoes by Michèle Roberts we have the theme of grief, loss, blame, responsibility, sadness, innocence, communication, hope and control. Narrated in the first person by an unnamed woman, a mother, the reader realizes from the beginning of the story that the narrator is grieving a loss. A loss that we is discover is […]