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 1987
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear
Tags Lyric Poem, Depression / Suicide
Publication year 1695
Genre Play, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Marriage, Identity: Gender, Identity: Sexuality
Tags Play: Comedy / Satire, Love / Sexuality, Restoration, British Literature, History: World, Drama / Tragedy, Classic Fiction
William Congreve (1670-1729) briefly studied law before pursuing a career as a playwright. Love for Love, one of his comedies, was first produced in 1695, and was followed by a string of other works including The Way of the World (1700) until Congreve retired from writing for the stage in 1701. He spent the rest of his life occupying minor government posts and pursuing failed business ventures. He died in 1729 at the age of... Read Love for Love Summary
Publication year 1939
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose
Tags Lyric Poem, Love / Sexuality, Relationships
Publication year 1999
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Society: Politics & Government, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict
Tags Romance, Love / Sexuality, American Literature, Food
Publication year 2001
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Relationships: Grandparents
Tags Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Humor
Publication year -1
Genre Scripture, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Masculinity, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Family, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose
Tags Narrative / Epic Poem, Indian Literature, Mythology, Religion / Spirituality, Philosophy
David R. Slavitt’s 2015 translation of the Mahabharata is an abridged, modern English rendition of the ancient Indian epic. Slavitt, an American poet, novelist, and translator, is experienced in translating classical texts for contemporary audiences. His translation seeks to make this foundational work of South Asian literature accessible to modern readers.The Mahabharata is traditionally attributed to the sage Vyasa and was composed between approximately 400 BCE and 400 CE. As one of the longest epic... Read Mahabharata Summary
Publication year 1990
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Class, Identity: Race, Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death
Tags Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction, Classic Fiction
Published in 1990, Maniac Magee is a Newbery award–winning middle grade novel by renowned children’s author Jerry Spinelli. After his parents die, 11-year-old Jeffrey Lionel Magee runs away from his guardians and a year later ends up in the racially divided Pennsylvania town of Two Mills. Jeffrey, a white boy, finds a home with a Black family, but racial tension and threats send him back on the run. By accepting a host of challenges with... Read Maniac Magee Summary
Publication year 1924
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Philosophy, French Literature, Philosophy, Arts / Culture, Classic Fiction
Publication year 1814
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict
Tags Classic Fiction, History: World, Regency Era, Romance, Historical Fiction, British Literature
Mansfield Park (1814) is the third novel by English novelist Jane Austen (1775-1817). Set in Regency-era England, Mansfield Park is a bildungsroman, charting the life of Fanny Price from childhood to adulthood. At the age of 10, Fanny is sent from her poverty-stricken home to live with her wealthy uncle and aunt, Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram. The narrative follows the protagonist’s struggles adjusting to life at Mansfield Park, her moral challenges, and her secret... Read Mansfield Park Summary
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Siblings, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Identity: Disability, Relationships: Family
Tags Realistic Fiction, Relationships, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Arts / Culture
Publication year 1848
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Femininity, Relationships: Family, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Equality
Tags Classic Fiction, Victorian Period, Historical Fiction, Romance, Class, British Literature, History: World, Victorian Literature / Period
Mary Barton: A Tale of Manchester is the 1848 debut novel of Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell. It tells of the Victorian working class in Manchester, England, from 1839 to 1842, focusing on the story of the eponymous young female heroine. Through the experiences of two families—the Bartons and the Wilsons—it explores contemporary political and domestic issues during a time of increased industrialization and class tensions. As with much of Gaskell’s work, Mary Barton is narrated by... Read Mary Barton Summary
Publication year 2015
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Action / Adventure, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Science / Nature, Education, Technology, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Children's Literature
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Self Discovery
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Humor, Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Grandparents, Relationships: Fathers
Tags Immigration / Refugee, Food, Asian Literature, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, Action / Adventure, Arts / Culture
Publication year 1947
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Place, Society: War, Society: Class, Emotions/Behavior: Love
Tags African Literature, Heinemann African Writers, Historical Fiction, Education, Education, History: World, Classic Fiction
Midaq Alley (1947) is a historical realist novel by Egyptian writer Naguib Mahfouz, the 1988 Nobel Prize laureate in Literature. In this work, Mahfouz addresses the changes taking place in Egyptian society of the 1940s. The book tells the story of a group of neighbors living in Midaq Alley, a bustling market street, in the poor quarter of Cairo’s historic city center. The story is set at the end of World War II, during Britain’s... Read Midaq Alley Summary
Publication year 1871
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Marriage, Society: Community, Society: Class
Tags Classic Fiction, Victorian Period, Historical Fiction, British Literature, History: World, Romance, Victorian Literature / Period
Middlemarch or Middlemarch: A Study of Provincial Life is a Victorian realist novel by George Eliot (the penname of Mary Ann Evans). Published over the course of 1871-72, the novel depicts the trials and tribulations of life in the small English town of Middlemarch. The novel has been hailed as one of the greatest works of English literature and has been adapted for radio, television, theater, and opera. Other works by Eliot include The Lifted... Read Middlemarch Summary
Publication year 2017
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Natural World: Climate, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World
Midnight at the Electric, published in 2017, is a speculative fiction novel written by Jodi Lynn Anderson and is the recipient of multiple awards and nominations. Anderson is an American children’s author who has worked as an editor for HarperCollins and a writing instructor at the University of North Carolina. Midnight at the Electric follows three protagonists across three different timelines. One of these, Adri Ortiz, lives in 2065 and has been accepted into a... Read Midnight at the Electric Summary
Publication year 1981
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Colonialism, Relationships: Family
Tags Magical Realism, Colonialism / Postcolonialism, Poverty, Class, History: World, Religion / Spirituality, Asian Literature, Historical Fiction, Indian Literature, Fantasy, Classic Fiction
Midnight’s Children is a 1981 magical realism novel by British American novelist Salman Rushdie. The story follows Saleem, a child born at the moment of India’s independence who possesses strange powers. The novel won many awards, including the Booker of Bookers Prize, which was awarded to the best all-time winner of the Booker Prize on the award’s 40th anniversary. Midnight’s Children has been adapted for theater, radio, and film. This guide uses the 2006 Vintage... Read Midnight's Children Summary
Publication year 1984
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Society: Immigration, Society: Colonialism
Tags Lyric Poem, Science / Nature, Philosophy