By Dylan Sands
High school literature classes are undoubtedly some of the most engaging and thought-provoking classes there are, but they are not without their flaws. It takes a truly good novel for the class to live up to its full potential. A good few of these books can be a make or break for the entire segment of the class, so consider this as your formal and totally unbiased guide for class and book selection!
Just a quick note before we begin, none of these books are completely and totally bad, and this is rated all by my own opinion and enjoyment of them, so take that as you will. I will be adding the names of the classes I read these in for all of you if you feel so inclined to use this to help your decision-making process. These go from lowest to highest ranking, starting with my least favorites, and are divided by class
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - Mark Twain
American Literature // AP Lang
“The book’s narrator is Huckleberry Finn, a youngster whose artless vernacular speech is admirably adapted to detailed and poetic descriptions of scenes, vivid representations of characters, and narrative renditions that are both broadly comic and subtly ironic.”
This is the only book on the list that I actively disliked; despite being impressive and well-written, the prose made it incredibly difficult to read, feeling almost like a chore. The story felt as if it did not conclude in a satisfying way and the characters were not enjoyable, to say the least. Despite it being a well-written book about growing up, racism, and maturity, it overall fails to hit its point home completely in my eyes. Despite all this, I do plan to read it again and I recommend you all read this to see what you think of it.
The Scarlet Letter - Nathaniel Hawthorne
American Literature // AP Lang
“The main character is Hester Prynne, a young woman who has borne a child out of wedlock. Hester believes herself a widow, but her husband, Roger Chillingworth, arrives in New England very much alive and conceals his identity. He finds his wife forced to wear the scarlet letter A on her dress as punishment for her adultery.”
I know how it looks to have 2 different books from the World Literature class back to back, but it is nothing against the class. This book was incredibly well written and featured a complex set of characters. It is no surprise that this book continues to be assigned to students throughout the school years. Personally, this was another slower novel that I felt often like I had to read it, even though I didn’t always want to. The book delivers incredible themes around love, judgment, and justice, and all are assembled in brilliant ways, Once again, another that I would recommend, despite the slower and more arduous reading process.
The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald
American Literature // AP Lang
“The Great Gatsby, a novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, published in 1925 by Charles Scribner’s Sons. Set in Jazz Age New York, it tells the story of Jay Gatsby, a self-made millionaire, and his pursuit of Daisy Buchanan, a wealthy young woman whom he loved in his youth.”
Possibly my favorite on the list, and one of my favorites overall. An incredible display of character writing that still leaves me thinking over it to this day. A complex and detailed story of love, devotion, and the dangers of lust and greed. The roster of characters is nothing short of masterful, all having such deep interpersonal connections that feel so tangible and real. Most definitely a must-read for any literature lover. It was the best novel in World Literature, and one of the reasons we still study literature today.
To Kill A Mockingbird - Harper Lee
American Literature // AP Lang
“To Kill a Mockingbird tells the story of the young narrator’s passage from innocence to experience when her father confronts the racist justice system of the rural, Depression-era South. In witnessing the trial of Tom Robinson, a Black man unfairly accused of rape, Scout, the narrator, gains insight into her town, her family, and herself.”
Another fantastic piece of literature, one that my thoughts still often return to. The subtleties along with the very blatant and obvious theme tie together incredibly well, and the story is one that is masterfully written. It is a tale of racism told through the lens of the adult eyes and from the eyes of a group of children, featuring a sub-plot that directly mirrors the overall plot and theme. A required novel for high school, but also one that should be required to read in general, just for the sake of reading it.
Elements of literature
Lord of The Flies - William Golding
Elements of Literature // AP Literature
“At the dawn of the next world war, a plane crashes on an unchartedisland, stranding a group of schoolboys. At first, with no adult supervision, their freedom is something to celebrate; this far from civilization the boys can do anything they want.”
Once again, a wonderful novel that shows the inner workings of the human mind, portrayed through the eyes of a group of boys who are stranded on an island. The use of theming and imagery to paint a portrait of the dangerous devolution of our minds is one that cannot be understated. The use of items on the island to underline the theme is nothing short of sheer brilliance, Having just read this again for AP Literature, it is fresh on my mind, but despite that, I would most definitely recommend it in either of these classes.
The Giver - Lois Lowry
Elements of Literature
“The Giver is written from the point of view of Jonas, an eleven-year-old boy living in a futuristic society that has eliminated all pain, fear, war, and hatred. There is no prejudice, since everyone looks and acts basically the same, and there is very little competition. Everyone is unfailingly polite. The society has also eliminated choice: at age twelve every member of the community is assigned a job based on his or her abilities and interests.”
Having been a while since reading this, I can’t say I remember the plot perfectly, but I remember enough to say that this is one of the most important books in the history of literature. A complex deep dive into the world of human emotion that keeps viewers on their toes, engaged, and always given twists and turns, forever surprising them. The ending is one that I do often find myself returning to, it is one of the most interesting and ambiguous endings that I have read.
All novel descriptions come from Britannica.com
Animal Farm - George Orwell
Elements of Literature
“The book concerns a group of barnyard animals who overthrow and chase off their exploitative human masters and set up an egalitarian society of their own.”
I cannot remember this one but it was really good I remember that!
Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
World Literature
“Thrown in prison for a crime he has not committed, Edmond Dantès is confined to the grim fortress of If. There he learns of a great hoard of treasure hidden on the Isle of Monte Cristo and he becomes determined not only to escape, but also to unearth the treasure and use it to plot the destruction of the three men responsible for his incarceration.”
Once again, its been a while since I have read this. It was sort of a chore to get through but mostly due to the fact that it was assigned and I could not read it on my own time. This novel features an incredibly complex leading character who’s writing is nothing short of a masterpiece. His entire story is so intricately crafted that it seems almost impossible that this could have been written by a single man. The entire journey of this novel is something that feels so meticulously constructed that the mastermind behind it all closely resembles the main character. A must read as well, but personally I would recommend reading it on your own time, allowing some breaks especially if you read the unabridged version.
Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
AP Literature
“At the centre of this novel is the passionate love between Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff - recounted with such emotional intensity that a plain tale of the Yorkshire moors acquires the depth and simplicity of ancient tragedy.”
Following the theme of complex character writing, we have one of the most shocking and engaging novels I have ever read. The depth at which Bronte personifies these characters feels intimate and personal, crafting such deep interpersonal relationships that they seem unreal. The reactions that these characters have are so human that you just can’t seem to avoid feeling some form of remorse for them. This love story ranging decades features themes of revenge and societal construction, creating a complex and engaging experience that leaves you feeling all the same emotions as Heathcliffe and Catherine.
Frankenstein - Mary Shelley
AP Literature
“Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a combination of Gothic novel and science fiction. It unfolds the story of a scientist Victor Frankenstein who creates a hideous monster from pieces of corpses and brings it to life. But the monster eventually becomes the source of his misery and demise.”
Another strong and engaging novel from AP Literature, thats 2/2 for this list! Once again, a heavy hitting novel about societal expectations and the dangers of treating someone as an outcast. This novel features strong character writing that stretches depths that keep all the characters feeling so alive, even the ones who just figured out how to be alive ;). Overally, another strong contender for the best novel from the literature classes offered at SGA.
The novels featured in this article are not nearly all of which that you will read in your time in high school, but these are all the ones I remembered, for better or worse. There are plenty of short stories and poems and plays littered throughout these classes as well, many of which are noteworthy, such as Othello and The Glass Menagerie. Overall, I hope this list began to inform you on some of the novels that you will encounter, and maybe sway you to take the same classes I did. Literature is one of the most important ways that society carries on its knowledge and lessons, informing future generations to hopefully avoid the mistakes they have made in the past.
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