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 2012
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Relationships: Siblings
Tags Addiction / Substance Abuse, Surrealism
Publication year 1854
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Gender, Society: Class, Emotions/Behavior: Love
Tags Victorian Period, Industrial Revolution, Historical Fiction, Romance, Class, History: World, Victorian Literature / Period, Classic Fiction
North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell debuted in Charles Dickens’s magazine Household Words, appearing in 20 weekly installments between September 1854 and January 1855. The novel was later published in two volumes. Dickens heavily edited the novel and changed the title from Margaret Hale to North and South. In the novel, Gaskell draws on her personal experience of being married to a Unitarian minister, a role that brought her into contact with all levels of... Read North and South Summary
Publication year 1817
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Society: Class, Relationships: Marriage
Tags Classic Fiction, Romance, Historical Fiction, Satire, Gothic Literature, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, British Literature, History: World
Northanger Abbey is an early novel by Jane Austen. Though it wasn't published until after her death in 1817, Austen wrote the novel in 1803, intending it as a satire of the gothic novels that were popular during this period. Northanger Abbey follows the life and loves of its unlikely heroine, seventeen-year-old Catherine Morland, a naïve young woman away from her family for the first time and trying to navigate the world and the heart—with... Read Northanger Abbey Summary
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Self Discovery, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Place
Tags Historical Fiction, Action / Adventure, Survival Fiction, Children's Literature, History: World
Publication year 1864
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Society: Community
Tags Classic Fiction, Philosophy, Psychological Fiction, Russian Literature, History: World, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy
Notes from Underground (sometimes translated as Notes from the Underground) is an 1864 novella by Russian writer Fyodor Dostoevsky. Dostoevsky was a novelist, journalist, and short story author. His novels are deeply rooted in philosophy and politics and explore the experiences and repercussions of his 19th-century Russian sociopolitical context. Dostoevsky is also the author of Crime and Punishment, The Idiot, Demons, and The Brothers Karamazov. His writing influenced many other writers and philosophers, including existentialists... Read Notes from Underground Summary
Publication year 1923
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Environment
Tags Lyric Poem, Science / Nature, Modernism, American Literature, Education, Education, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: Coming of Age
Tags Romance, Realistic Fiction, Religion / Spirituality, Gender / Feminism, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1913
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: Aging
Tags Lyric Poem, Science / Nature, Grief / Death, American Literature
Publication year 2016
Genre Poem, Fiction
Tags Lyric Poem
Publication year 401
Genre Play, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Life/Time: Aging, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Future, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Classical Period, Play: Tragedy, Mythology, Ancient Greece
Oedipus at Colonus is an ancient Athenian tragedy composed by Sophocles in (it is widely believed) the last year of his life, approximately 406 BC. His grandson, who was named Sophocles after him, first produced the play in 401 BC at the Festival of Dionysus, also known as the Great Dionysia. Along with Oedipus Rex and Antigone, it is one of three surviving tragedies by Sophocles, known as the Theban plays, that retell episodes from... Read Oedipus at Colonus Summary
Publication year 2016
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Natural World: Space & The Universe
Publication year 1962
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Nation
Tags Russian Literature, Historical Fiction, Auto/Biographical Fiction, Classic Fiction, Education, Education, History: World
One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, first published in 1962 in the USSR, is a novel by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. It follows the protagonist, Ivan Denisovich Shukhov, during a typical day in the forced labor camp where he is imprisoned. The novel explores the human cost of Stalinism in Soviet Russia. Shukhov and the other prisoners waver between unity and division as they attempt to survive in the labor camp, which is situated far... Read One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich Summary
Publication year 2013
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Identity: Language, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Life/Time: The Future, Life/Time: The Past, Society: Community, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Equality
Tags LGBTQ, Politics / Government, Immigration / Refugee
Publication year 1859
Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Nation
Tags Philosophy, Politics / Government, Arts / Culture, History: European, British Literature, Victorian Period, Business / Economics, History: World, Philosophy, Classic Fiction
On Liberty is a philosophical essay on ethics, society, and politics published in 1859 by the English philosopher John Stuart Mill. His work on the subject matter extended back several years, through an illustrious career as a politician and philosopher. Mill’s ideas center on the concept of utilitarianism, which emphasizes efficiency and collective well-being. The book remains in print in the 21st century.SummaryOn Liberty is divided into five chapters: an introduction; “On the liberty of... Read On Liberty Summary
Publication year 1817
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: Aging
Tags Lyric Poem, Romanticism / Romantic Period, Ancient Greece, Classic Fiction
Publication year 1937
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Natural World: Environment, Society: Community, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth
Tags Historical Fiction, Auto/Biographical Fiction, Children's Literature, American Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2008
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Courage
Tags Fantasy, Christian literature, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 1990
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Environment
Tags Action / Adventure, Survival Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Animals, Children's Literature, Science / Nature, Classic Fiction
Publication year 1887
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Society: Class
Tags Philosophy, German Literature, Education, Education, History: World, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Classic Fiction, Politics / Government
Friedrich Nietzsche’s On the Genealogy of Morals: A Polemic (1887) is an analysis of the development of morality in human history. The renowned 19th-century philosopher wrote On the Genealogy of Morals to entice readers to his larger works. In it, he challenges traditional ideals about Christian morality and the origin of virtue and ethics. Nietzsche argues that moral values are products of social power. Qualities which society has deemed virtues—such as honesty, meekness, patience, and... Read On the Genealogy of Morals Summary
Publication year 1913
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Natural World: Place, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Society: Community
Tags Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, American Literature, Love / Sexuality, History: World, Western