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.

We Lived Happily During the War

by Ilya Kaminsky

Publication year 2013

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Society: War, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict

Tags Lyric Poem, Military / War, American Literature

... Read We Lived Happily During the War Summary

We're Not from Here

by Geoff Rodkey

Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Natural World: Space & The Universe

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Humor, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature

... Read We're Not from Here Summary

We Wear the Mask

by Paul Laurence Dunbar

Publication year 1895

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Lyric Poem, Race / Racism, African American Literature, Classic Fiction

“We Wear the Mask” is one of Paul Laurence Dunbar’s most influential works. Appearing in 1895 in his second poetry volume Majors and Minors, the poem reflects an unspecified collective, a “we” hiding behind a “mask,” which is used throughout the poem as an extended metaphor for survival tactics against oppression. “We Wear the Mask” stands as a poem about racism and oppression and the marginalized.Dunbar’s voice as a major American writer is varied and... Read We Wear the Mask Summary

What I Carry

by Jennifer Longo

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness

Tags Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Romance, Realistic Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Modern Classic Fiction

... Read What I Carry Summary

What If It's Us

by Adam Silvera, Becky Albertalli

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Fate, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Hope

Tags Romance, LGBTQ, Realistic Fiction

... Read What If It's Us Summary

When Death Comes

by Mary Oliver

Publication year 1991

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death

Tags Lyric Poem, Science / Nature

... Read When Death Comes Summary

When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd

by Walt Whitman

Publication year 1865

Genre Poem, Fiction

Tags Lyric Poem, Grief / Death, Modernism, American Civil War, Transcendentalism, Education, Education, Classic Fiction

... Read When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd Summary

When Stars Are Scattered

by Omar Mohamed, Victoria Jamieson

Publication year 2020

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope

Tags Immigration / Refugee, Auto/Biographical Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, Biography

... Read When Stars Are Scattered Summary

When the Angels Left the Old Country

by Sacha Lamb

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Identity: Gender, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Self Discovery, Society: Immigration, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Tags Fantasy, LGBTQ, Jewish Literature, History: World, Historical Fiction, Religion / Spirituality

... Read When the Angels Left the Old Country Summary

When You Are Old

by William Butler Yeats

Publication year 1893

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Aging

... Read When You Are Old Summary

When You Trap a Tiger

by Tae Keller

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family

Tags Magical Realism, Fantasy, Children's Literature

... Read When You Trap a Tiger Summary

Where I'm Calling From

by Raymond Carver

Publication year 1982

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt

Tags Addiction / Substance Abuse, History: U.S., American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World, Classic Fiction

... Read Where I'm Calling From Summary

White Fang

by Jack London

Publication year 1906

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature

Tags Animals, Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature

White Fang (1906) is a short novel by American author Jack London. The novel explores themes of survival, nature versus nurture, and improving oneself through discipline and adaptability. White Fang’s protagonist is a wild-born wolfdog named White Fang whose struggle for survival and eventual domestication comprise the novel’s narrative arc. London’s novel challenges humanity’s claim to superiority over nature and celebrates animals’ resilience, simple logic, and instinct. White Fang has been adapted into over a... Read White Fang Summary

Who Was King Tut

by Roberta Edwards

Publication year 2006

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Place, Society: Class, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: World, Biography

... Read Who Was King Tut Summary

Who Was Neil Armstrong?

by Roberta Edwards

Publication year 2008

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Natural World: Space & The Universe, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Teams, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags Science / Nature, History: U.S.

... Read Who Was Neil Armstrong? Summary