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.

Sister Carrie

by Theodore Dreiser

Publication year 1900

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, American Literature, Gender / Feminism, Naturalism, Education, Education, History: World

Sister Carrie is a novel published in 1900 by the American author Theodore Dreiser. Dreiser uses the story of Caroline Meeber, a naïve young woman who gets caught up in the gaudy venality of the city, to explore the emptiness of materialism, the tension between flesh and spirit, the inevitability of loneliness, and the role of women in the emerging America of the new century. Now recognized as one of the defining expressions of American... Read Sister Carrie Summary

Slacker

by Gordon Korman

Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Society: Community, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict

Tags Realistic Fiction, Humor, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction

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Slider

by Pete Hautman

Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Disability, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose

Tags Realistic Fiction, Humor, Food, Disability, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction

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Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe

by Jo Watson Hackl

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Hope

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Action / Adventure, Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Mental Illness, Arts / Culture

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Small Steps

by Peg Kehret

Publication year 1996

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Disability, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Self Discovery, Relationships: Friendship

Tags Auto/Biographical Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Health / Medicine, Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: World, Biography

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Snapdragon

by Kat Leyh

Publication year 2020

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Race, Identity: Sexuality, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Appearance & Reality

Tags Fantasy, Magical Realism, LGBTQ, Children's Literature

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Snow Treasure

by Marie McSwigan, Illustr. Mary Reardon

Publication year 1942

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: War, Society: Nation, Emotions/Behavior: Courage

Tags Historical Fiction, Children's Literature, Action / Adventure, WWII / World War II

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Solaris

by Stanislaw Lem

Publication year 1961

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Philosophy, Fantasy, Psychological Fiction, Science / Nature, Philosophy, Classic Fiction

Stanisław Lem, a prominent Polish philosopher, essayist, and literary critic who achieved notoriety in the mid-20th century, is best known for his science fiction novels. Among these books, Solaris is regarded by most reviewers and critics as Lem’s masterpiece. Published in Polish in 1961, the English version was translated from the French version in 1970—which Lem allegedly referred to as “poor” (Flood, Alison. “First Ever Direct English Translation of Solaris Published.” The Guardian, 15 June... Read Solaris Summary

Sonnet 73

by William Shakespeare

Publication year 1609

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Aging, Life/Time: Mortality & Death

Tags Lyric Poem, Elizabethan Era

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Sons and Lovers

by D. H. Lawrence

Publication year 1913

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Classic Fiction, Auto/Biographical Fiction, Psychological Fiction, British Literature, History: World, Romance

Sons and Lovers is a 1913 novel by English author D. H. Lawrence. The novel explores the relationship between Gertrude Morel and her son Paul, who live in a small mining town in North England at the turn of the 20th century. Though met with a lukewarm response on release, Sons and Lovers has since been critically reappraised as one of Lawrence’s most important works and has been adapted for film and television. This guide... Read Sons and Lovers Summary

So You Want to Be a Writer?

by Charles Bukowski

Publication year 2002

Genre Poem, Fiction

Tags Lyric Poem, Inspirational

... Read So You Want to Be a Writer? Summary

Spring Awakening

by Frank Wedekind

Publication year 1891

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Identity: Sexuality

Tags Drama / Tragedy, Classic Fiction, Play: Drama, German Literature

Spring Awakening: A Children’s Tragedy is an 1891 bildungsroman by the German playwright Frank Wedekind. The play chronicles a group of teenagers struggling to navigate puberty in the sexually repressive environment of fin-de-siècle provincial Germany. In its indictment of repressive bourgeois mores, the play addresses topics that prevented it from being performed until 1906, including gay relationships, masturbation, suicide, and rape. This foundational work of Modern theater is notable for the amorality of its teenage... Read Spring Awakening Summary

Spring is like a perhaps hand

by E. E. Cummings

Publication year 1923

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Free verse

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Stalking Jack the Ripper

by Kerri Maniscalco

Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Mortality & Death

Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Romance, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Fantasy, History: World

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Stand Tall

by Joan Bauer

Publication year 2005

Genre Novel, Fiction

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

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

... Read Stand Tall Summary

Stand Up, Yumi Chung!

by Jessica Kim

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Relationships: Siblings, Emotions/Behavior: Fear

Tags Realistic Fiction, Humor, Asian Literature, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction

... Read Stand Up, Yumi Chung! Summary

Starfish

by Lisa Fipps

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Friendship

Tags Realistic Fiction, Free verse, Bullying, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Mental Illness

... Read Starfish Summary