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 1916
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Art, Identity: Language
Tags Classic Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Auto/Biographical Fiction, Irish Literature, Modernism, Education, Education, History: World
A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is the 1916 debut novel by Irish author James Joyce. The novel tells the story of Stephen Dedalus, a thinly-veiled alter ego for Joyce, who embarks on a journey of artistic awakening. As a landmark novel in the history of literary modernism, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man has been hailed as one of the most important works of the 20th century and... Read A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man Summary
Publication year 1921
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Natural World: Climate, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Values/Ideas: Beauty
Tags Lyric Poem
Publication year 2001
Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Equality, Society: Nation, Society: Community
Tags Race / Racism, Social Justice, September 11 Attacks
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Children's Literature, Fantasy, Action / Adventure, History: Asian
Publication year 1930
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Mothers
Tags Southern Gothic, American Literature, Classic Fiction, Grief / Death, Parenting, Education, Education, Southern Literature, History: World
As I Lay Dying is a Southern Gothic novel by William Cuthbert Faulkner, which he published in 1930. The story follows a poor, rural family’s journey across Mississippi to bury their dead matriarch and is marked by dark humor and stream-of-consciousness style narration.Faulkner (1897-1962) was a writer from Oxford, Mississippi. His novels and works of short fiction, including The Sound and the Fury (1929) and As I Lay Dying (1930), earned him the Nobel Prize... Read As I Lay Dying Summary
Publication year 1877
Genre Novella, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Realism, Realistic Fiction, French Literature, Education, Education, History: World, Classic Fiction
A Simple Heart is a novella by Gustave Flaubert that appeared in his book Three Tales. The title has also been translated as A Simple Soul. The story follows the kind and loving maidservant Félicité from her youth to her death and details the many loves that she loses along the way, exploring themes of The Power of Social Class, The Value of a Personal Relationship With God, and The Omnipresence of Death. This guide... Read A Simple Heart Summary
Publication year 2001
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Emotions/Behavior: Fear
Tags Historical Fiction, Children's Literature, Asian Literature, Realistic Fiction, Arts / Culture, History: Asian, Poverty, American Literature, Education, Education, History: World
A Single Shard (2001) is an award-winning, middle-grade historical novel by Korean American author Linda Sue Park. Park has written multiple children’s books, picture books, and volumes of poetry. Some of her better-known titles include A Long Walk to Water (2010), The Thirty-Nine Clues series in nine volumes (2010), and Prairie Lotus (2020). Much of her historical fiction is based on Korean history.A Single Shard is intended for readers in grades 5 to 7, though... Read A Single Shard Summary
Publication year 1855
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Society: Community, Society: Nation, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Lyric Poem, Technology
Publication year 2015
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory
Tags Social Justice, African American Literature
Publication year 2010
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Siblings
Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Fairy Tale / Folklore, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Children's Literature
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Family, Society: Colonialism, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal
Tags Fantasy
Publication year 1871
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Relationships: Friendship, Natural World: Appearance & Reality
Tags Fantasy, Classic Fiction, Christian literature, Fairy Tale / Folklore, Children's Literature, Victorian Literature / Period, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 2002
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Beauty
Tags Sports
Publication year 1925
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Art
Tags Philosophy, Classic Fiction, Religion / Spirituality, Philosophy, Irish Literature
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Magical Realism, Asian Literature, Children's Literature, Asian Literature
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Animals
Tags Children's Literature, Science / Nature, Animals, Action / Adventure, Survival Fiction
Publication year 2017
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community, Relationships: Siblings, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Family, Society: Education, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Society: Politics & Government, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict
Tags Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Music, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Music, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Society: War
Tags Historical Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Military / War, Latin American Literature, Children's Literature, History: World
Publication year 1853
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness
Tags American Literature, Classic Fiction, Education, Education, History: U.S., History: World
Herman Melville’s short story “Bartleby, the Scrivener” was published anonymously in 1853 to little recognition. Today it is considered a masterpiece. Some critics view “Bartleby” as a precursor to absurdist literature like Franz Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis,” highlighting the incredibly modern nature of this mid-19th-century short story. Others read “Bartleby” as commentary on poverty and the harsh nature of menial work on Wall Street, or as an allegory for Melville’s own frustrations with writing. This guide... Read Bartleby, the Scrivener Summary