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 1678

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Society: Community

Tags Classic Fiction, Christian literature, Allegory / Fable / Parable, Religion / Spirituality

The Pilgrim’s Progress was written by John Bunyan and published in 1678. The work is a religious allegory that is among the most famous works of English literature; many critics also consider it the first English example of the novel genre. Like Christian, the main character in Part 1, Bunyan’s path to Christianity was a journey. After rejecting religion early in his life, Bunyan devoted himself to God and became a Puritan. He believed the... Read The Pilgrim's Progress Summary


Publication year 1976

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Siblings

Tags Disability, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 1881

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Identity: Femininity, Relationships: Marriage, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Historical Fiction, Romance, History: U.S., British Literature, American Literature, Italian Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction

The Portrait of a Lady, by Henry James, is considered one of the most important novels written in English. It was published first in serial form between 1880 and 1881, and later revised for another edition in 1908. The novel details the experience of a young American woman, Isabel Archer, who travels to Europe. She is committed to her freedom, rejecting two marriage proposals. After she inherits an unexpected fortune, she falls victim to the... Read The Portrait of a Lady Summary


Publication year 1940

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Fate, Society: Community, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Colonialism

Tags Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Addiction / Substance Abuse, Religion / Spirituality, Class, Politics / Government, Poverty, British Literature, Christian literature, History: World

Graham Greene’s The Power and the Glory (originally published in 1940) recounts the tragic story of the whisky priest. His religion has been outlawed, his faith shattered, and his history—like his name—all but erased. He’s relentlessly pursued by the lieutenant, whose secular beliefs are as passionate as others’ spiritual beliefs. The priest’s mere presence endangers those he once served, and he constantly struggles to fulfill his duty to bring comfort and absolution to others at... Read The Power and the Glory Summary


Publication year 1532

Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Politics & Government, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags History: European, Politics / Government, Philosophy, Class, Italian Literature, Renaissance, Education, Education, History: World, Philosophy

The Prince is a 16th-century political treatise of the Renaissance period written by Italian diplomat and philosopher Niccolò Machiavelli. The work, which was likely distributed for years prior to its official publication in 1532, is one of the most influential works of political philosophy in human history. Machiavelli wrote The Prince as a guide for new and future rulers, instructing them on how to seize and hold onto power, frequently citing specific examples from history... Read The Prince Summary


Publication year 1881

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction, Children's Literature, Action / Adventure, American Literature, History: World

The Prince and the Pauper: A Tale for Young People of All Ages is Mark Twain’s first historical fiction novel, published in 1881 in Canda and in America the following year. Set in 16th-century England during the reigns of King Henry VIII and Edward VI, the novel revolves around two identical boys: Henry’s heir, Prince Edward, and Tom Canty, a London beggar. After a chance meeting, the two decide to exchange roles, leading to a... Read The Prince and the Pauper Summary


Publication year 1824

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Tags Classic Fiction, Gothic Literature, Religion / Spirituality, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, British Literature, History: World, Historical Fiction


Publication year 1925

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Identity: Masculinity, Values/Ideas: Beauty

Tags Classic Fiction, American Literature

The Professor’s House by Willa Cather depicts the inner struggles of Godfrey St. Peter, a history professor struggling to understand his identity in middle age. Published in 1925, the novel moves from the fictional college town of Hamilton, Michigan, to the deserts of the American Southwest, where St. Peter’s most brilliant student, the late Tom Outland, had discovered the ruins of an ancient pueblo village. Haunted by the missed opportunities of the past, St. Peter... Read The Professor's House Summary


Publication year 1906

Genre Book, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Society: Class, Relationships: Friendship

Tags Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction, Children's Literature, Class, British Literature, History: World, Action / Adventure


Publication year 1915

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Femininity, Society: Class, Identity: Sexuality

Tags Classic Fiction, Love / Sexuality, British Literature, Modernism, History: World, Historical Fiction, Romance

The Rainbow (1915) by D. H. Lawrence follows three generations of the Brangwen family in Nottinghamshire, England, during the Second Industrial Revolution. The novel covers approximately 65 years in the Brangwens’ agricultural dynasty and explores how each generation changes in the face of modernity and industrial progress. The novel’s depiction of sexual desire and its role in the protagonists’ relationships and spiritual lives led to The Rainbow being the center of an obscenity trial a... Read The Rainbow Summary


Publication year 1951

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: War, Society: Community, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Philosophy, Politics / Government, Absurdism, French Literature, History: World, Philosophy, Classic Fiction


Publication year 2013

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags History: U.S., Race / Racism, Politics / Government, Gender / Feminism, Social Justice, History: World, Biography


Publication year 1895

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: War, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride

Tags Military / War, American Literature, Historical Fiction, History: U.S., American Civil War, Naturalism, Education, Education, History: World, Classic Fiction

The Red Badge of Courage was written in 1895 by Stephen Crane, a novelist, poet, and journalist well known for his naturalist style and for incorporating the inner lives of common and marginalized people. The novel won wide acclaim for Crane, though his life after the book’s publication was distinguished by scandal and money troubles. Its themes reframe the concept of military duty as a rite of passage, detailing a highly individual and self-searching act... Read The Red Badge of Courage Summary


Publication year 2014

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Mothers, Society: Immigration


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Friendship

Tags Realistic Fiction, Action / Adventure, Philosophy, Children's Literature, Grief / Death, Modern Classic Fiction


Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Philosophy, Politics / Government, Ancient Greece, Education, Education, Philosophy, History: World, Classical Period, Classic Fiction

The Republic is a work written by ancient Greek philosopher Plato (427-347 BC) in 375 BC. In it, the central character Socrates talks with several other Greeks, including Plato’s brothers, about the nature of morality. The main question they ask is whether a moral life is its own reward. Does being moral intrinsically benefit people? In doing this, they also explore the nature of the ideal society. They look at the laws this society would... Read The Republic Summary


Publication year 1890

Genre Poem, Fiction

Tags Lyric Poem, Religion / Spirituality, Grief / Death


Publication year 1878

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Class, Relationships: Marriage, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Fate, Natural World: Appearance & Reality

Tags Classic Fiction, British Literature, Victorian Period, Historical Fiction, Romance, History: World, Victorian Literature / Period

Thomas Hardy’s novel The Return of the Native was published serially in Belgravia magazine in 1878. Its setting, the formidable and unforgiving Egdon Heath, is based on the Wessex region of England where Hardy was born. Hardy provides a map that gives the locations that his love- and grief-driven characters visit as the story unfolds. The novel explores the themes of class, chance, fate, superstition, and social upheaval. This guide references the 2008 Oxford World’s... Read The Return of the Native Summary


Publication year 1998

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Fear

Tags Lyric Poem, Relationships, Gender / Feminism, Depression / Suicide


Publication year 1917

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Society: Immigration, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction, Auto/Biographical Fiction, Education, Education, Jewish Literature, American Literature, Religion / Spirituality