Our Required Reading Lists Collection features poems, fiction, short stories, and other texts frequently studied in academic contexts. With texts spanning from the ancients, such as Plato, through contemporary literary giants, this well-rounded Collection represents the breadth and enduring appeal of literature and its study.
Publication year 1952
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Fate, Self Discovery, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Fantasy, Children's Literature, Religion / Spirituality, Classic Fiction, Action / Adventure, Christian literature
C. S. Lewis’s The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is a fantasy novel for children originally published in 1952 as the third installment of The Chronicles of Narnia series. However, because recent editions of the series tend to number the books in chronological order of storytelling rather than the original order of publication, it is most often counted as the fifth volume in modern printings. The Chronicles of Narnia includes seven novels: The Lion, the... Read The Voyage of the Dawn Treader Summary
Publication year 1915
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Self Discovery, Society: Colonialism, Values/Ideas: Literature, Identity: Gender, Emotions/Behavior: Love
Tags Travel Literature, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, British Literature, Colonialism / Postcolonialism, Edwardian Era, The Bloomsbury Group, Gender / Feminism, History: World, Romance, Classic Fiction
Publication year 1999
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Identity: Gender, Relationships: Marriage
Publication year 1871
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Narrative / Epic Poem, Nonsense verse, Fantasy, Animals, Victorian Period
Publication year 2017
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Mothers
Tags Historical Fiction, WWII / World War II, Military / War, Children's Literature, History: World
The War I Finally Won is a work of historical fiction written by Kimberley Brubaker Bradley. The novel is intended for middle grade readers. It was published in 2017, and has won numerous awards, including qualifying for the New York Times Best Seller list, winning the California Young Reader’s Medal, and being named one of the Washington Post’s Best Children’s Books of the Year. The War I Finally Won is a sequel to Bradley’s highly... Read The War I Finally Won Summary
Publication year 2005
Genre Poem, Nonfiction
Themes Society: War
Tags Lyric Poem, Military / War, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, History: World, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1981
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Society: Education, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags Historical Fiction, Psychology, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World, Psychology, Classic Fiction
The Wave is a 1981 young adult novel by Todd Strasser (originally written under the pseudonym Morton Rhue). A novelization of a teleplay by Johnny Dawkins for the 1981 made-for-TV movie of the same name, the story is a fictionalized account of a 1967 social experiment called “The Third Wave,” which took place at a high school in Palo Alto, California. In the novel, the experiment unfolds at the fictional Gordon High School. The story... Read The Wave Summary
Publication year 1931
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Aging
Tags British Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction
The Waves by Virginia Woolf was published in 1931. Widely considered to be Woolf’s most experimental work, The Waves is a proponent of themes and techniques of modernism, including stream-of-consciousness narration and the use of leitmotifs. Set in England in the first part of the 20th century, the novel explores the lives of six characters from childhood into adulthood, exploring their unique experiences and the relationships between them. Employing a rotational structure of the six... Read The Waves Summary
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Society: Colonialism
Tags Historical Fiction, Mental Illness, Asian Literature, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Asian Literature, History: World, Fantasy
Publication year 1987
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Community, Natural World: Animals, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Values/Ideas: Fate
Tags Mythology, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Animals, Magical Realism, Fantasy
The Whale Rider is a 1987 novel by New Zealand author Witi Ihimaera. A film adaptation was made in 2002 that would go on to win several awards. Throughout the novel, Ihimaera juxtaposes the migration of a herd of whales with the Maori tribe’s search for a male heir. The Whale Rider comprises four major sections, as well as a prologue, epilogue, and glossary. Each section of text is named after one of the seasons... Read The Whale Rider Summary
Publication year 2006
Genre Reference/Text Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Identity: Language
Tags Education, Journalism, Education
Publication year 1971
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Literature, Life/Time: The Past, Values/Ideas: Fate
Tags Lyric Poem, Grief / Death, Arts / Culture, Heinemann African Writers, African Literature
Publication year 1962
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Fathers
Tags Lyric Poem, Parenting, American Literature, Education, Education
Publication year 2009
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Natural World: Environment, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Natural World: Place, Natural World: Climate, Natural World: Objects, Life/Time: The Future
Tags Allegory / Fable / Parable, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Climate Change, Science / Nature, Finance / Money / Wealth
Publication year 1786
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Natural World: Animals
Tags Science / Nature
Publication year 1896
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Fame
Tags Grief / Death
Publication year 1678
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Marriage, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Religion / Spirituality, Love / Sexuality
Publication year 1922
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Emotions/Behavior: Memory
Tags Science / Nature
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Identity: Race, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Fantasy, Fairy Tale / Folklore, Children's Literature, History: African , Race / Racism, African American Literature, Action / Adventure
Publication year 1998
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Gender, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Identity: Race, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Music, Identity: Sexuality
Tags Historical Fiction, LGBTQ, Music, Grief / Death, Race / Racism, Love / Sexuality, Modern Classic Fiction