Reminisce on the most popular English class reading assignments from your high school days with these top 10 choices.
We’re taking it all the way back to high school for this round-up. Your English literature class was where your love of books either flourished or went to die. Either way, you got a taste of the classics and you’re better off for it. If you’re feeling nostalgic, here’s your blast from the past — a look at the top ten books for high school required reading.
1. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Under the backdrop of the Roaring 1920s, The Great Gatsby tells the story of self-made millionaire, Jay Gatsby. Narrator Nick Carraway reflects on his time as Gatsby’s neighbor and Gatsby’s passionate pursuit of socialite Daisy Buchanan. With reflections on morals and social norms, many high schoolers find the themes relatable and still relevant today.
2. Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
Pride & Prejudice is a classic of English literature and is renowned writer Jane Austen’s most famous work. Written in 1813 as a commentary on social norms and romance of the time, it tells the story of Elizabeth Bennett and her slow-burn romance with the wealthy landowner Fitzwilliam Darcy. Elizabeth struggles with independence as she experiences the ultimate enemies-to-lovers story with Darcy.
3. The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Written in the form of letters, The Color Purple chronicles the life of Celie, a poor and uneducated Black girl living in rural Georgia. This book doesn’t shy away from the real and often painful realities of living in poverty at the turn of the century. As Celie grows up, she reflects on her own life and paints it against her younger sister, Nettie, as they grow up apart from one another.
4. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
In Depression-era Alabama, six-year-old Scout narrates her life with her brother Jem as their father defends a Black man accused of a crime. With mature themes like racism and rape, To Kill A Mockingbird has found itself on banned book lists across America, but remains one of the most popular books for high school readers.
5. The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
This story is told as a series of poems and short vignettes over a year in the life of the main character, Esperanza. Esperanza is a twelve-year-old Mexican-American girl who has just moved to a Latino neighborhood in Chicago with her family.
The house is a step up from previous living conditions, but it is still not Esperanza’s dream home. As a coming-of-age story with realistic reflections on teenage years, cultural identity, and living in poverty, it’s a tale that many teen readers can relate to.
6. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
In future America, books are banned, and any found are disposed of by burning. Our protagonist, Guy Montag, is a fireman assigned to track down contraband books and facilitate their destruction.
Guy quickly becomes disillusioned with his job and begins to question the government’s power and his own role in the censorship of literature. Told as a cautionary tale, Fahrenheit 451 is a book designed to make young readers question authority and make up their own minds.
7. The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
Anne Frank receives a diary for her 13th birthday and begins recounting her everyday life as a teenager living in 1942, until her Jewish family is forced into hiding during the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam.
This real-life diary tells the story of Anne’s experience during the earliest days of the Holocaust, while still exploring normal teenage revelations like love and puberty.
8. 1984 by George Orwell
In a dystopian future, Winston Smith is a low-level member of the Party, a totalitarian government that rules the nation of Oceania with unquestioning loyalty and cooperation. The Party commands control through constant surveillance, under the watchful eye of Big Brother and the Thought Police.
As Winston grows more and more bitter in his life, he begins to question the ideals of Oceania and embarks on a rebellious exploration of authoritarian ideals and his own morals.
9. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
Okonkwo is the leader of the Igbo tribe in Nigeria. He is wealthy, influential, and revered in his village. As Okonkwo struggles with ideals of masculinity, familial reputation, and culture, he finds himself banished from his village and watches as his own life mirrors the downfall of his tribe. With additional themes of colonialism and race, Things Fall Apart has plenty to reflect on as high school readers forge paths for themselves.
10. Macbeth by William Shakespeare
We couldn’t finish the roundup without including at least one piece from The Bard himself. Macbeth is a Scottish general who receives a prophecy from three future-seeing witches that he will become King of Scotland.
Under the encouragement of his power-hungry wife, Macbeth is willing to do anything to fulfill his destiny and slowly descends into madness and paranoia. With murder and magic, this tale has all the makings of a classic that high schoolers love.
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Carley Bishop
Carley is an editorial lifestyle writer and aspiring novelist. She is based in North Carolina where she resides with her husband and their puppy, Daisy, and is a proud graduate of University of South Carolina. Carley is a lifelong bookworm who enjoys reading everything from the classics to modern romances. When she's not reading or writing, she enjoys traveling, getting outside and trying new recipes at home.
