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Required Reading in High School

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20 Indispensable High School Reads

We asked our community which works of literature were must-reads for high schoolers. Here are your top picks.

The more things change, the more they stay the same. The final cut of our list of indispensable high school reads—culled from reader comments—is dominated by perennials like George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four and J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye . The five most popular entries were all published within 15 years of each other, and none were published later than Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird in 1960. Only three of the works on the list could be considered recent, appearing within the last 20 years: Stephen Chbosky’s epistolary novel The Perks of Being a Wallflower (1999); Marjane Satrapi’s graphic memoir Persepolis , about growing up during the Iranian Revolution (2000–03); and Cormac McCarthy’s brutal, dark novel The Road (2006).

The specter of World War II, with its themes of totalitarianism, social fragmentation, mass surveillance, and the decline of individual freedom, looms over many of the novels. Dystopian novels form a major category: Orwell’s Animal Farm , William Golding’s allegory The Lord of the Flies , Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World , Kurt Vonnegut’s absurdist comedy Slaughterhouse-Five , Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale , and McCarthy’s The Road join Nineteen Eighty-Four here. Thinking back on my days as a high school English teacher, it feels like I missed an opportunity to teach dystopia as a theme. There’s a wealth of material to draw from—and it’s both high quality and accessible to a broad range of high school readers.

A recurring pedagogical issue emerged as teachers joined the conversation: How should educators balance challenging books—works by Shakespeare, for example—with the students’ desire for choice? How can teachers ensure rich, shared learning opportunities without putting their students off reading forever? These aren’t idle concerns. If your goal is to nurture a lifelong love of reading, a dogmatic reliance on the classics appears to be catastrophic.

You can read some devastating student feedback about choice-less classrooms in the Edutopia post “ Start a Reading Revolution .” And as literacy educator Kelly Gallagher, the author of Readicide , recently tweeted : “For the 3rd year in a row, 90%+ of my seniors have admitted they have fake read their way to the 12th grade. Schools must change!” I asked a similar question of my freshmen English classes many years ago, and got the same dispiriting response. Almost none of my incoming freshmen had finished a book in the previous three years. For an approach to balancing student choice with curated texts, read Brian Sztabnik’s recent Edutopia post “ Igniting a Passion for Reading .”

The List of Indispensable Books

1. To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee’s seminal coming-of-age story set in the fictional southern town of Maycomb, Alabama. Primary themes of interest to high schoolers: racial injustice, moral and spiritual growth, courage and integrity, innocence and experience.

2. Nineteen Eighty-Four George Orwell’s vision of a totalitarian future, not long after the Atomic Wars have reduced the geopolitical map to three superstates: Eurasia, Oceania, and Eastasia. Primary themes of interest to high schoolers: totalitarianism and state power, surveillance, individual freedom, the nature of truth, the power of propaganda.

3. Lord of the Flies William Golding’s tale of child castaways who establish a violent social order on a deserted island. Primary themes of interest to high schoolers: civilization and governance, social and moral order, savagery and primitivism, cruelty, leadership, injustice.

4. Animal Farm George Orwell’s allegory tracing the formation of Soviet Russia. Primary themes of interest to high schoolers: totalitarianism and state power, individual freedom, the mutability of historical truth, the power of propaganda, the cult of personality.

5. Catcher in the Rye The reclusive J.D. Salinger’s most popular novel, told through the eyes of the notoriously irreverent teenager Holden Caulfield. Primary themes of interest to high schoolers: unreliable narrators, individuality and identity, social alienation and rebellion, social mores and rules.

6. The Grapes of Wrath John Steinbeck’s Depression-era classic, which follows the travels of impoverished Dust Bowl refugees as they flee westward to California. Primary themes of interest to high schoolers: wealth and poverty, injustice, social and political policy and governance, biblical themes such as judgment and redemption.

7. Invisible Man Ralph Ellison’s meditation on the effects of race, told from the perspective of an African American narrator rendered invisible by his skin color. Primary themes of interest to high schoolers: race and racial injustice, identity, ideology and belief systems.

8. The Alchemist Paulo Coelho’s tale of a Spanish shepherd who hopes to find his destiny on a journey to Egypt. Primary themes of interest to high schoolers: adventure and courage, hope, destiny.

9. Slaughterhouse-Five Kurt Vonnegut’s dark, absurdist comedy centered on the devastating firebombing of Dresden, Germany, during World War II. Primary themes of interest to high schoolers: nonlinear narratives, unreliable narrators, existentialism and absurdism, the true nature of warfare.

10. The Handmaid’s Tale Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel depicting the rise, in the United States, of a theocratic government dedicated to the oppression of women. Primary themes of interest to high schoolers: totalitarianism, patriarchy and misogyny, surveillance, politics and governance, gender roles.

11. The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald’s lyrical, Jazz Age novel about the idealist James Gatsby—and the nature of the American Dream. Primary themes of interest to high schoolers: the Jazz Age, the American Dream, wealth and class, idealism.

12. The Bluest Eye Toni Morrison’s story of Pecola Breedlove, a young, often-abused African American girl who dreams of having blue eyes—a tangible sign of acceptance in a world dominated by white conceptions of beauty and belonging. Primary themes of interest to high schoolers: identity, race and racial injustice, the effects of abuse, beauty and ugliness, insanity.

13. Of Mice and Men John Steinbeck’s story of an unlikely—and tragically fated—friendship between two men of remarkably different intellectual abilities. Primary themes of interest to high schoolers: friendship and loyalty, character, cruelty and mercy.

14. Macbeth Shakespeare’s portrait of an ambitious Scottish warrior who wants to be king—and is goaded to murder to achieve his goal. Primary themes of interest to high schoolers: the nature of evil, power and ambition, insanity, chaos and disorder.

15. Brave New World Aldous Huxley’s slim novel envisioning a future “utopia” with perverse qualities—as the human race succumbs to overdoses of pleasure, amusement, and hedonism. Primary themes of interest to high schoolers: genetic manipulation, state power, drug use, individualism and society.

16. The Road Cormac McCarthy’s bleak novel about a boy and his father seeking safety in a post-apocalyptic world. Primary themes of interest to high schoolers: good and evil, death, apocalypse, cruelty, hope and hopelessness.

17. Their Eyes Were Watching God Zora Neale Hurston’s heavily vernacular novel depicting the life of Janie Crawford, an African American woman in the Jim Crow South at the turn of the 20th century. Primary themes of interest to high schoolers: gender roles, race and racial injustice, the effects of abuse, the representation of American dialects, the nature of love.

18. The Perks of Being a Wallflower Stephen Chbosky’s epistolary, coming-of-age novel about an introverted, emotionally scarred high school freshman named Charlie. Primary themes of interest to high schoolers: introverts and extroverts, teen romance, alcohol and drug use, the effects of abuse.

19. Persepolis Marjane Satrapi’s graphic novel, an autobiography that describes growing up in Tehran, Iran, during the era of the 1979 Iranian Revolution. Primary themes of interest to high schoolers: graphic novels, Iranian culture, politics and religion, war.

20. Night Elie Wiesel’s spare memoir-novel based on his experiences in concentration camps during the Holocaust. Primary themes of interest to high schoolers: good and evil, the Holocaust, faith and faithlessness, the Jewish experience.

Please feel free to suggest more indispensable high school reads—we’d love to add to the list. After all, more choice can only assist teachers engaged in the essential, never-ending work of helping students master literacy. And let us know if we should start lists for elementary and middle school too . . . The author of this article is the chief content officer at Edutopia. You can follow him on Twitter @smerrill777 .

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Great reads for High School Freshmen and Sophomores

novel units for high school

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Education.com Blog

10+ novel studies on education.com.

• by Stefany Zagorov
• Posted on March 13, 2023 March 13, 2023

Refresh your language arts curriculum with novel studies from Education.com! We have recently added 3 new novel study sets based on the most popular books read in middle and high school.

Check out our updated novel studies collection and get a head-start on lesson planning for your next class novel!

1. Esperanza Rising

Inspire your students with these novel study worksheets for Pam Muñoz Ryan’s Esperanza Rising , the story of a young girl who flees from Mexico to California during the Great Depression and finds a way to rise above the difficult circumstances she faces.

This novel study set includes a Pre-Reading Activity , Discussion Guides , Post-Reading Activities , and Extension Activities . Students will have the chance to explore different perspectives in the story, and analyze themes by comparing and contrasting Esperanza’s two homes using a visual guide. Your budding authors will also get the opportunity to write a story of their own based on the novel.

2. The Outsiders

Use this novel study set to guide your teaching of The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, a novel that tells the story of Ponyboy Curtis and his struggles with right and wrong. Students will complete a Pre-Reading Activity , several Discussion Guides , and even a Poetry Analysis of Robert Frost’s poem “Nothing Gold Can Stay,” which plays an important role throughout S.E. Hinton’s novel. Also included in the set is a Mirror and Window Activity that helps learners explore themes of identity and belonging in the novel.

3. The Lightning Thief

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan is one of the most beloved books among middle schoolers! Engage students in their reading with several Discussion Guides that lead them through reading comprehension, analyses, and personal connection to various passages throughout the book. Post-reading, they will have the opportunity to respond to thought-provoking Prompts , conduct Additional Research on Greek Mythology , design a Camp Half-Blood T-Shirt , and even Compare the Novel to the Film !

4. The One and Only Ivan

Is your class reading Katherine Applegate’s award-winning novel The One and Only Ivan this school year? Our colorful, creative worksheets will get students excited with Pre-Reading Activities , Discussion Guides , and Post-Reading Writing Prompts . Extension worksheets include a Visual Grid that helps students compare and contrast Ivan’s homes, as well as a Design a Zoo hands-on poster project.

5. The Hunger Games

Prepare your middle schoolers to read the dystopian story of Katniss Everdeen and Panem by first having them Identify their Opinions About Various Societal Topics , such as “rules are important and should always be followed” and “some things are worth dying for.” Then, while reading the novel as a class, pause to re-evaluate these opinions using a total of six different Discussion Guides tailored to the different chapters of the book.

After finishing the book, reflect with print-and-cut Character Archetype Trading Cards and a Costume Symbolism worksheet. Finally, students will have a chance to explore the mindsets of the different districts by writing Journal Entries based on their perspectives.

6. The Giver

Teach your students about this impactful novel, The Giver by Lois Lowry. Designed for seventh- and eighth-grade students, these worksheets feature comprehension and analysis questions that get students thinking deeply about the plot, literary devices, symbolism, and the deeper meaning of the novel.

Unique to this set, we feature a Before and After Colors worksheet where students can draw scenes from Jonas’s life before and after he could see colors. Readers will also have a chance to conduct a Memories Interview with a family member and craft a Memories Multimedia Project .

7. A Wrinkle in Time

Introduce your students to Madeline L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time ! First, use a Pre-Reading Activity worksheet to anticipate students’ prior knowledge of the novel’s themes and build curiosity about what they will read. Then, incorporate a series of Discussion Guides during check-in points throughout the book to help students analyze Meg’s extraordinary adventure with Charles, Calvin, Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which.

After completing the book, students will get to go on their own make-believe adventure and write a Greeting Card from the Universe , as well as Analyze Mrs Who’s Quotes from the story.

8. A Long Walk to Water

Engage your students with these novel study worksheets for Linda Sue Park’s A Long Walk to Water . For this impactful story, told from two in alternating sections, it is helpful to have a guide to make sense of the two different points of view. This novel study set features Pre-Reading Discussion Prompts , three Discussion Guides , Post-Reading Response Prompts , and three bonus worksheets: The Five Senses of the Akobo , Community Project , and Letter from Nya .

9. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

Guide your students through reading the classic novel Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor. This novel is an important part of many language arts curriculums as it teaches students about the racism experienced by a Black family in Mississippi in the 1930s, as well as the survival of the human spirit. This novel study set features an Exploring Symbols grid, a historical analysis worksheet focusing on Boycotts in History , and a Mock Debate Worksheet based on the trial of T.J. Avery.

10. Anne of Green Gables

Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maude Montgomery is a heartwarming coming-of-age story that is beloved by generations of students. Plan out your class’s reading of the novel with a Pre-Reading Worksheet , five Discussion Guides , and Post-Reading Prompts . Additionally, kids will have fun renaming people and places in their lives using playful language, just like Anne did, with The Name Game worksheet! They will also have a chance to conduct a Movie Study and practice their writing with a Story Club worksheet.

We also are developing a series of non-fiction book studies. Our first complete book study, Anne Frank, Diary of a Young Girl , is available now. Keep an eye out for more book studies to come in our Learning Library! 

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Twenty-Three Reads (23 Novel Studies for Middle & High School)

$ 30.00

Description

Looking for a literature-based language arts program?  This is the bundle for someone who wants a little bit of everything!  It includes twenty-three unit studies covering a wide range of topics. Each unit has introductory text, which will give the student basic background information about the topic at hand.  These studies are directed toward upper grades students, but some have resources for younger students so that the whole family can work together.

• There are photographs and illustrations, and we have also included primary documents when available.
• After this text, there are featured videos, which augment the background information and help make the topic more accessible for more visual students.
• You will also find a short list of reading books, including a featured novel that the unit builds upon.
• There are vocabulary words, places, and people to identify.
• Reading comprehension, critical thinking questions, and writing assignments are included.
• We add fun with hands-on activities and extra videos to watch that will bring the era to life.
• Finding Langston & the Poetry of Langston Hughes
• Anne of Green Gables & Canadian Provinces
• Stowaway & Antarctica
• Julie of the Wolves & Alaska
• Blades of Freedom & the Louisiana Purchase
• The Avion My Uncle Flew & France
• Zlata’s Diary & the Slavic Wars
• Freedom Summer & the Summer of 1964
• Treasure Island & Pirates of the Caribbean Sea
• Farenheit 451 & Types of Government
• Red Stars & Russia in World War 2
• The Great Gatsby & the Roaring Twenties
• The Long List of Impossible Things & Post-War Germany
• A Tale of Two Cities & French Revolution
• Witch of Blackbird Pond & Salem Witch Trials
• The World Made New & Early Explorers
• Stitching a Life & Jewish Immigration
• Teetoncey & Lifesaving Skills
• Freak of the Week & Disabilities Awareness
• Island of the Blue Dolphins & Sailing
• The Science of Breakable Things & the Scientific Method
• Frankenstein & Human Anatomy
• Charlie Thorne and the Last Equation & Albert Einstein

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Collection: High School

Our novel units for high school students make it easy to thoroughly teach to state Common Core standards while engaging your students! Help your students enjoy and appreciate literature through high-level activities that will help you reach your professional teaching goals, without sacrificing content.

And it doesn't stop there! We also have a wealth of interesting and engaging essay writing lessons and activities to support your students in mastering their own style and syntax with our many writing products!

Browse our products specifically designed for high school students, or conduct a search if you're looking for something specific, and get ready to teach and inspire!

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