I am completely confused by your question. You say that the title of your essay confuses you. Did you not choose the title yourself? Why have you not shared it with us? If you were given a title by an instructor and do not understand it, you need to tell us the title in order for us to be able to help you.
Similarly, you seem to be wondering which novel or novels you could read in order to write an essay on that title, but we still don't know the title, so how can we help?
Unless the two topics you mention -- slavery and prodigal man -- are your possible titles. If you would like to read a novel concerning slavery, try
Beloved by Toni Morrison, which is widely available.
Simone, EssayForum.com