Browse a Collection of texts frequently assigned in literature classrooms, including well-studied classics and contemporary literature. Representitive of the breadth of the literary tradition, the School Book List Titles Collection features texts for readers of all age levels, from children's literature to plays and novels centered on adult themes.
Publication year 1919
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Grief / Death, Race / Racism, Colonialism / Postcolonialism, African American Literature, Harlem Renaissance, Education, Education, Classic Fiction
Publication year 1860
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Society: Nation, Society: Community, Relationships: Teams, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Emotions/Behavior: Love
Tags Lyric Poem, Modernism, American Literature, Education, Education, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2015
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Space & The Universe, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Romance, Fantasy, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Action / Adventure, Grief / Death
Publication year 1891
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Values/Ideas: Fame, Natural World: Animals
Tags Lyric Poem, American Literature, Children's Literature, Classic Fiction
Publication year 1913
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Natural World: Objects
Tags Classic Fiction, Education, Education
Publication year 2012
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Relationships: Fathers, Society: Colonialism, Society: Immigration, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Immigration / Refugee
Publication year 1953
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Class, Identity: Femininity, Society: Community
Publication year 2003
Genre Novel, Fiction
Tags Fantasy, Magical Realism, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Action / Adventure, German Literature, Children's Literature
Cornelia Funke’s Inkheart (2003) is a novel of magical realism—the story takes place in the real world, but magic figures into the plot and character development. Funke went on to write other books in the Inkworld series: Inkspell (2005), and Inkdeath (2007). A fourth, The Colour of Revenge, will be released in October 2023. A movie adaption of Inkheart, produced by Funke, was released in 2008. Inkheart has received numerous literary accolades, including the 2004... Read Inkheart Summary
Publication year 2017
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Natural World: Environment, Emotions/Behavior: Hope
Tags Lyric Poem
Publication year 2015
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Indigenous, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Grandparents, Society: Colonialism, Society: Community
Tags Children's Literature, History: World, Historical Fiction, Realistic Fiction
Publication year 2017
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Life/Time: The Future, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Literature, Society: Community, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Immigration, Identity: Race, Identity: Language, Natural World: Place, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Hope
Tags Lyric Poem, Diversity, Social Justice, History: U.S., Black Lives Matter, Immigration / Refugee, American Literature
Publication year 1988
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Art, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Lyric Poem, Arts / Culture, American Literature
Publication year 1972
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Colonialism, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Values/Ideas: Literature
Tags Fantasy, Magical Realism, Italian Literature, History: Asian, History: European, Arts / Culture, Classic Fiction
Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino (1923-1985) was originally published in 1972 in Italian and translated into English in 1974. Calvino’s ninth novel, it received a Nebula Novel Award nomination in 1975.According to New York Times reviewer Joseph McElroy, Calvino already had the reputation of being Italy’s “most original storyteller” for his use of fantastical and fabulist motifs to explore philosophical and scientific themes such as evolution (McElroy). Invisible Cities continues this trend by using the... Read Invisible Cities Summary
Genre Play, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Identity: Gender, Society: Nation
Tags Play: Tragedy, Mythology, Classic Fiction, History: World, Drama / Tragedy, Fantasy
... Read Ion Summary
Publication year 410
Genre Play, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Society: Community, Society: War
Tags Drama / Tragedy, Military / War, Mythology, Classical Period, Fantasy, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Gender, Identity: Sexuality, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil
Tags Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Action / Adventure, Historical Fiction, Romance, LGBTQ
Publication year 1860
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict
Tags Lyric Poem, Social Justice, Grief / Death, Poverty, American Literature
Publication year 1960
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Self Discovery, Natural World: Place, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Environment, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Historical Fiction, Action / Adventure, Survival Fiction, Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: World, Classic Fiction
Originally published in 1960, Scott O’Dell’s Island of the Blue Dolphins is a middle grade historical fiction/adventure novel. Karana, the protagonist and narrator, is only 12 when hunters land on her peaceful island home and kill many of her people, including her father. When the remaining villagers leave the island in search of a safe place to rebuild their lives, she stays behind and must learn to survive on her own. O’Dell drew inspiration from... Read Island of the Blue Dolphins Summary
Publication year 2017
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Society: Colonialism, Society: War
Tags Historical Fiction, Children's Literature, Military / War, History: World, American Revolution, Action / Adventure
Publication year 2015
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags Historical Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Action / Adventure, Survival Fiction, Natural Disaster, Children's Literature, History: World