School Book List Titles

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