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 1996

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Siblings, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: Coming of Age

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


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Self Discovery

Tags Historical Fiction, Action / Adventure, Poverty, Animals, Gender / Feminism, Relationships, Science / Nature, Great Depression, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Children's Literature, History: World


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: Politics & Government

Tags Realistic Fiction, Immigration / Refugee, Children's Literature, Social Justice, Modern Classic Fiction, Arts / Culture


Publication year 1874

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family

Tags Historical Fiction, Children's Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Identity: Indigenous, Relationships: Family

Tags Fantasy, Mystery / Crime Fiction, LGBTQ, Magical Realism, Action / Adventure, Grief / Death, Race / Racism, Religion / Spirituality


Publication year 1997

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil

Tags Fantasy, Fairy Tale / Folklore, Romance, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Classic Fiction

Gail Carson Levine’s book Ella Enchanted was awarded the Newbery Honor in 1998 after its publication in 1997. In 2004, a film adaptation was released, though it received criticism for diverging from Levine’s story, including adding new key characters. Ella Enchanted was Levine’s debut. She also wrote Fairest, which retells Snow White’s story and is set in the same world as Ella Enchanted. Some of her other notable works include Dave at Night, The Wish... Read Ella Enchanted Summary


Publication year 2015

Genre Memoir in Verse, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Identity: Language, Society: War

Tags History: World, Latin American Literature, Cold War, Children's Literature, Arts / Culture, Biography


Publication year 1957

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Future, Emotions/Behavior: Regret

Tags Play: Tragedy, Play: Comedy / Satire, Irish Literature, Absurdism, History: World, Drama / Tragedy, French Literature, Classic Fiction

Endgame is a one-act, absurdist play by Samuel Beckett, first performed in 1957. The post-apocalyptic play portrays the farcical, tragic existence of four character who are caught in an unfulfilling routine. Beckett regarded the play as one of his greatest achievements. It has been adapted as an opera and as a short film.This guide uses the 2009 Faber and Faber edition.Plot SummaryThe curtain rises on a nearly bare stage: a room in Hamm’s home, bathed... Read Endgame Summary


Publication year 1995

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Natural World: Environment


Publication year 2001

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Society: Education

Tags Lyric Poem, Education


Publication year 1872

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Society: Colonialism, Society: Politics & Government

Tags Victorian Period, Classic Fiction, Satire, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, British Literature, History: World, Fantasy, Philosophy, Philosophy

Erewhon: or, Over the Range is a satirical novel detailing the adventures of an unnamed narrator into the fictional country of Erewhon. The novel was written by Samuel Butler, though it was published anonymously in 1872. Butler was known for his controversial views on religion and science, wavering between support of and condemnation of both the Church of England and the Darwinian scientists. As such, his own views influence the satire of the novel, and... Read Erewhon Summary


Publication year 1832

Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction

Tags Classic Fiction, Narrative / Epic Poem, Russian Literature, Education, Education, History: World, Romance

Eugene Onegin is a novel in verse by Russian author Alexander Pushkin, first published between 1825 and 1832 in serial form. The title character is a worldly but cynical man who leaves the city of Saint Petersburg after inheriting a large estate in the country. Eugene Onegin has been hailed as a landmark achievement in Russian literature and a demonstration of Pushkin’s mastery of the Russian language. The novel has been adapted for the ballet... Read Eugene Onegin Summary


Publication year 2001

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Society: Community, Relationships: Family

Tags Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Humor

Renowned Canadian/American author Polly Horvath published the middle-grade novel everything on a Waffle in 2001. Over two years, the book received numerous accolades, including Mr. Christie’s Book Award, the Boston Globe Horn Book Award, the ALSC Notable Children’s Book, a Newbery Honor Medal, and the Sheila A. Egoff Children’s Literature Prize. Written in the first person, 11-year-old narrator Primrose tells of her parents disappearing in a typhoon off the coast of British Columbia. Primrose discounts... Read Everything on a Waffle Summary


Publication year 1942

Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Politics & Government, Society: Immigration, Society: War, Identity: Race

Tags Politics / Government, History: U.S., Incarceration, WWII / World War II, Race / Racism


Publication year 1988

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: War, Identity: Mental Health, Relationships: Friendship

Tags Military / War, Historical Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Vietnam War, Education, Education, Realistic Fiction, History: World

Prolific children’s author Walter Dean Myers published his novel Fallen Angels in 1988. The young adult novel tells the story of a 17-year-old African American teenager from Harlem named Richie Perry who enlists in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. The novel follows Perry as he faces the realities of war with his fellow soldiers and transitions into adulthood on the battlefield. The novel contemplates racial and socio-economic issues in the US, the... Read Fallen Angels Summary


Publication year 1914

Genre Poem, Fiction

Tags Lyric Poem, Sociology, Arts / Culture, American Literature, Realism, Food


Publication year 1970

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Natural World: Animals, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

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

Fantastic Mr. Fox (1970) is a children’s novel by British author Roald Dahl. One of Dahl’s most acclaimed and enduring titles, the novel follows an anthropomorphic fox—the titular Mr. Fox—and his animal friends, who live near three cruel farmers. Although the farmers continually attempt to kill the animals, Mr. Fox and his friends are able to outsmart them and steal all the food they want. Fantastic Mr. Fox, like many of Dahl’s works, is a... Read Fantastic Mr Fox Summary


Publication year 2001

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Natural World: Food, Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags Food, Sociology, Education, Education, Science / Nature, Arts / Culture, History: World, Health / Medicine, Agriculture, Business / Economics, Journalism, Politics / Government, Social Justice

IntroductionFast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal is a 2001 nonfiction book by Eric Schlosser that investigates the business practices of the American fast food industry and the associated agricultural industries that supply it. Following the precedent of Upton Sinclair’s famous 1906 work The Jungle, Schlosser provides readers with a glimpse into the questionable ethics of these large food corporations. Schlosser likewise provides brief historical accounts of fast food’s origins and traces... Read Fast Food Nation Summary


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family

Tags Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Sports, Children's Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Immigration

Tags Realistic Fiction, Humor, Romance, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Modern Classic Fiction