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.

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man

by James Joyce

Publication year 1916

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Coming of Age, Religion & Spirituality, Art, Language

Tags Classic Fiction, Coming of Age, Life-Inspired Fiction, Irish Literature, Modernism, Education, Education, World History

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

As I Lay Dying

by William Faulkner

Publication year 1930

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Death, Mothers

Tags Southern Gothic, American Literature, Classic Fiction, Grief & Death, Parenting, Education, Education, Southern Literature, World History

As I Lay Dying is a Southern Gothic novel by William Cuthbert Faulkner, 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), Light in August (1932), Absalom, Absalom (1936), and As I Lay Dying (1930)... Read As I Lay Dying Summary

A Simple Heart

by Gustave Flaubert

Publication year 1877

Genre Novella, Fiction

Themes Death, Social Class, Religion & Spirituality

Tags Realism, Realistic Fiction, French Literature, Education, Education, World History, 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

A Single Shard

by Linda Sue Park

Publication year 2001

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Childhood & Youth, Family, Art, Beauty, Fear

Tags Historical Fiction, Children`s Literature, Asian Literature, Realistic Fiction, Arts & Culture, Asian History, Poverty, American Literature, Education, Education, World History

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

A Vision

by William Butler Yeats

Publication year 1925

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Literature, Religion & Spirituality, Self Discovery, Art

Tags Philosophy, Classic Fiction, Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, Irish Literature

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Ban This Book

by Alan Gratz

Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Literature, Friendship, Community, Siblings, Childhood & Youth, Family, Education, Guilt, Fear, Trust & Doubt, Politics & Government, Perseverance, Conflict

Tags Realistic Fiction, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction

... Read Ban This Book Summary

Barakah Beats

by Maleeha Siddiqui

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Music, Religion & Spirituality, Family, Coming of Age, Friendship

Tags Realistic Fiction, Children`s Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Music, Religion & Spirituality

... Read Barakah Beats Summary