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 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

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

Tags Romance, LGBTQ, Realistic Fiction


Publication year 1991

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death

Tags Lyric Poem, Science / Nature


Publication year 1865

Genre Poem, Fiction

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


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


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


Publication year 1893

Genre Poem, Fiction

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


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family

Tags Magical Realism, Fantasy, Children's Literature


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


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


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


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Climate, Self Discovery

Tags Action / Adventure, Survival Fiction, Natural Disaster, Children's Literature, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Realistic Fiction


Publication year 2004

Genre Poem, Fiction

Tags Lyric Poem, Science / Nature


Publication year 1891

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Sexuality

Tags Love / Sexuality, Lyric Poem, Education, Education, American Literature, LGBTQ, Classic Fiction


Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Natural World: Animals, Society: Community, Relationships: Family

Tags Animals, Realistic Fiction, Action / Adventure, Grief / Death, Children's Literature, Science / Nature


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Animals

Tags Fantasy, Animals, Children's Literature, Science / Nature


Publication year 1919

Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction

Themes Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Family, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Tags Classic Fiction, American Literature, Modernism, History: U.S., History: World

Originally published in 1919, Winesburg, Ohio: A Group of Tales of Ohio Small Town Life, is a short story cycle by American author Sherwood Anderson. Anderson drew inspiration from the Ohio town of Clyde, where he spent his childhood. By the late 20th century, many scholars considered Winesburg, Ohio a seminal text of American Modernist literature.Winesburg, Ohio focuses on the people who inhabit the eponymous town at the dawn of the Industrial Revolution. Among them... Read Winesburg, Ohio Summary


Publication year 1973

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Mothers

Tags Parenting, African American Literature, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Gender / Feminism, History: World, Arts / Culture, Politics / Government, Religion / Spirituality


Publication year 1920

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Sexuality, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Masculinity

Tags Romance, Classic Fiction, Relationships, British Literature, History: World

IntroductionWomen in Love by D. H. Lawrence was written from 1913-1917 and published in America in 1920, though it wasn’t published in Britain until 1921. The novel’s publishing was delayed due to its prequel, The Rainbow, being banned. The Rainbow and Women in Love were originally intended to be two parts of one novel, but the publisher ultimately decided to publish them separately. Both novels feature conversations about sexuality that were considered explicit in their... Read Women In Love Summary


Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Identity: Masculinity, Values/Ideas: Fate

Tags Classic Fiction, Play: Tragedy, Ancient Greece, Religion / Spirituality, Drama / Tragedy, Classical Period, Fantasy

Women of Trachis is a classical Greek tragedy composed by Sophocles (circa 496-406 BCE). The play’s precise dating is unknown, but it is believed to have been produced sometime during the 440s, among Sophocles’ earliest surviving plays, and to have been performed at the City Festival of Dionysus, held in March in Athens. The play itself subverts traditional heroic themes, notably the homecoming hero, the unknowability of the gods, and the importance of pity.Sophocles is... Read Women of Trachis Summary


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Language, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: Education, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance

Tags Historical Fiction, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Military / War, History: World