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.

War with the Newts

by Karel Čapek

Publication year 1936

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: War, Society: Politics & Government, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Classic Fiction, Fantasy, Humor, Military / War, History: World

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Waverley

by Sir Walter Scott

Publication year 1814

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: The Past, Society: War

Tags British Literature, History: World, Historical Fiction, Action / Adventure, Classic Fiction

Sir Walter Scott’s Waverley; or, ’Tis Sixty Years Since, first published anonymously in 1814, was Scott’s first novel. Often comical and with aspects of a picaresque novel, Waverley depicts the travels of the English soldier Edward Waverley during the Jacobite uprising of 1745. Scott was a celebrated poet and writer of works such as Ivanhoe and The Lady of the Lake. He is best known for his nuanced depictions of Scottish life. Waverley was wildly... Read Waverley Summary

Ways to Make Sunshine

by Renée Watson

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Mothers, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Natural World: Food, Values/Ideas: Equality, Relationships: Fathers, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Relationships: Grandparents

Tags Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, African American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction

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We Are Not Free

by Traci Chee

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Politics & Government, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Family

Tags Historical Fiction, WWII / World War II, Asian Literature, Race / Racism, Military / War, Modern Classic Fiction, Asian Literature, History: World

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We Are Not from Here

by Jenny Torres Sanchez

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Immigration, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Relationships: Family

Tags Realistic Fiction, Immigration / Refugee, Race / Racism, Social Justice, Modern Classic Fiction, Action / Adventure

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Weasel

by Cynthia DeFelice

Publication year 1990

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Historical Fiction, Action / Adventure, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Children's Literature, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, History: World

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We Dream of Space

by Erin Entrada Kelly

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Natural World: Space & The Universe, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Siblings, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags Historical Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, History: World

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We Hunt the Flame

by Hafsah Faizal

Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Fate, Relationships: Friendship, Identity: Gender, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Love

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Action / Adventure

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We Lived Happily During the War

by Ilya Kaminsky

Publication year 2013

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Society: War, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict

Tags Lyric Poem, Military / War, American Literature

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We're Not from Here

by Geoff Rodkey

Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Natural World: Space & The Universe

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Humor, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature

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We Wear the Mask

by Paul Laurence Dunbar

Publication year 1895

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Lyric Poem, Race / Racism, African American Literature, Classic Fiction

“We Wear the Mask” is one of Paul Laurence Dunbar’s most influential works. Appearing in 1895 in his second poetry volume Majors and Minors, the poem reflects an unspecified collective, a “we” hiding behind a “mask,” which is used throughout the poem as an extended metaphor for survival tactics against oppression. “We Wear the Mask” stands as a poem about racism and oppression and the marginalized.Dunbar’s voice as a major American writer is varied and... Read We Wear the Mask Summary

What I Carry

by Jennifer Longo

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness

Tags Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Romance, Realistic Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Modern Classic Fiction

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What If It's Us

by Adam Silvera, Becky Albertalli

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Fate, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Hope

Tags Romance, LGBTQ, Realistic Fiction

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When Death Comes

by Mary Oliver

Publication year 1991

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death

Tags Lyric Poem, Science / Nature

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When Giving is All We Have

by Alberto Ríos

Publication year 2014

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Teams, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Tags Inspirational

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When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd

by Walt Whitman

Publication year 1865

Genre Poem, Fiction

Tags Lyric Poem, Grief / Death, Modernism, American Civil War, Transcendentalism, Education, Education, Classic Fiction

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When Stars Are Scattered

by Omar Mohamed, Victoria Jamieson

Publication year 2020

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope

Tags Immigration / Refugee, Auto/Biographical Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, Biography

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When the Angels Left the Old Country

by Sacha Lamb

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Identity: Gender, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Self Discovery, Society: Immigration, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Tags Fantasy, LGBTQ, Jewish Literature, History: World, Historical Fiction, Religion / Spirituality

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