Best School Assigned Books (766 books)

I hated that I had to read it, but grateful that I read them when I did. They stick with you for years and it's fun to look back and see what public school thought every child should read.

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All Votes Add Books To This List

1	To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee 4.26 avg rating — 6,827,264 ratings score: 75,869, and 767 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
2	The Giver (The Giver, #1) by Lois Lowry (Goodreads Author) 4.12 avg rating — 2,787,081 ratings score: 45,366, and 461 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton (Goodreads Author) 4.14 avg rating — 1,584,428 ratings score: 37,451, and 381 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
4	Animal Farm by George Orwell 4.02 avg rating — 4,499,052 ratings score: 34,339, and 352 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	1984 by George Orwell 4.20 avg rating — 5,399,912 ratings score: 32,275, and 333 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald 3.93 avg rating — 5,862,720 ratings score: 31,311, and 324 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
7	Lord of the Flies by William Golding 3.70 avg rating — 3,177,505 ratings score: 29,338, and 303 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank 4.20 avg rating — 4,158,547 ratings score: 28,280, and 293 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare 3.74 avg rating — 2,807,880 ratings score: 26,459, and 275 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	The Hobbit, or There and Back Again by J.R.R. Tolkien 4.30 avg rating — 4,427,898 ratings score: 26,086, and 271 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
11	The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger 3.80 avg rating — 3,868,771 ratings score: 24,510, and 256 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck 3.90 avg rating — 2,812,221 ratings score: 23,852, and 250 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury 3.97 avg rating — 2,805,701 ratings score: 23,748, and 251 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1) by Suzanne Collins 4.35 avg rating — 9,815,708 ratings score: 21,182, and 225 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White 4.21 avg rating — 2,032,333 ratings score: 20,341, and 217 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
16	Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen 4.29 avg rating — 4,757,482 ratings score: 20,077, and 217 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
17	Macbeth by William Shakespeare 3.89 avg rating — 1,013,471 ratings score: 19,606, and 207 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
18	Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë 4.16 avg rating — 2,307,167 ratings score: 19,065, and 203 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
19	Holes (Holes, #1) by Louis Sachar (Goodreads Author) 4.01 avg rating — 1,356,106 ratings score: 18,493, and 196 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
20	Night by Elie Wiesel 4.38 avg rating — 1,355,179 ratings score: 18,457, and 195 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
21	Hamlet by William Shakespeare 4.03 avg rating — 1,043,247 ratings score: 18,056, and 192 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry 4.33 avg rating — 2,449,081 ratings score: 15,970, and 171 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Chronicles of Narnia, #1) by C.S. Lewis 4.24 avg rating — 3,128,506 ratings score: 15,828, and 173 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
24	A Wrinkle in Time (Time Quintet, #1) by Madeleine L'Engle 3.97 avg rating — 1,278,263 ratings score: 15,315, and 164 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
25	Brave New World by Aldous Huxley 3.99 avg rating — 2,062,328 ratings score: 14,473, and 156 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
26	The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne 3.44 avg rating — 914,858 ratings score: 13,728, and 149 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
27	Number the Stars by Lois Lowry (Goodreads Author) 4.19 avg rating — 617,288 ratings score: 13,428, and 145 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
28	The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (Goodreads Author) 4.39 avg rating — 2,857,406 ratings score: 13,219, and 145 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
29	A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare 3.94 avg rating — 576,286 ratings score: 13,089, and 141 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
30	The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Adventures of Tom and Huck, #2) by Mark Twain 3.83 avg rating — 1,333,906 ratings score: 13,037, and 143 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
31	Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë 3.90 avg rating — 2,023,460 ratings score: 12,046, and 134 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
32	The Crucible by Arthur Miller 3.61 avg rating — 461,742 ratings score: 11,574, and 127 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
33	Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Charlie Bucket, #1) by Roald Dahl 4.17 avg rating — 926,624 ratings score: 10,994, and 120 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
34	Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley 3.90 avg rating — 1,861,888 ratings score: 10,856, and 121 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
35	The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein 4.39 avg rating — 1,228,656 ratings score: 10,730, and 120 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
36	The Odyssey by Homer 3.83 avg rating — 1,183,072 ratings score: 10,298, and 114 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
37	Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell 3.88 avg rating — 348,991 ratings score: 9,934, and 109 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
38	Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Harry Potter, #1) by J.K. Rowling 4.47 avg rating — 11,313,417 ratings score: 9,844, and 111 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
39	A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens 3.88 avg rating — 1,008,599 ratings score: 9,594, and 108 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
40	Great Expectations by Charles Dickens 3.80 avg rating — 869,897 ratings score: 8,780, and 99 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
40	The Handmaid’s Tale (The Handmaid's Tale, #1) by Margaret Atwood (Goodreads Author) 4.15 avg rating — 2,396,994 ratings score: 8,780, and 96 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
42	Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (Goodreads Author) 4.05 avg rating — 629,496 ratings score: 8,684, and 96 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
43	Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt 3.91 avg rating — 294,318 ratings score: 8,549, and 96 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
44	The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde 4.17 avg rating — 403,998 ratings score: 8,259, and 93 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
45	Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls 4.13 avg rating — 438,981 ratings score: 7,922, and 90 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
46	The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett 4.17 avg rating — 1,287,691 ratings score: 7,611, and 89 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
47	Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare 3.71 avg rating — 218,505 ratings score: 7,528, and 84 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
48	Watership Down (Watership Down, #1) by Richard Adams 4.09 avg rating — 504,291 ratings score: 7,408, and 83 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
49	Dracula by Bram Stoker 4.02 avg rating — 1,463,768 ratings score: 7,302, and 84 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
50	Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein 4.35 avg rating — 1,501,266 ratings score: 7,292, and 84 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
51	The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck 4.03 avg rating — 988,996 ratings score: 7,173, and 83 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
52	A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens 4.09 avg rating — 922,468 ratings score: 6,921, and 81 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
53	Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky 4.29 avg rating — 1,067,407 ratings score: 6,788, and 75 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
54	The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway 3.81 avg rating — 1,301,299 ratings score: 6,668, and 75 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
55	From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg 4.16 avg rating — 218,712 ratings score: 6,650, and 74 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
56	The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd (Goodreads Author) 4.10 avg rating — 1,348,984 ratings score: 6,499, and 74 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
57	The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin 3.99 avg rating — 233,878 ratings score: 6,481, and 71 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
58	The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain 3.92 avg rating — 1,013,270 ratings score: 6,188, and 74 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
59	Ender’s Game (Ender's Saga, #1) by Orson Scott Card 4.31 avg rating — 1,468,397 ratings score: 6,147, and 70 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
60	The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings, #1) by J.R.R. Tolkien 4.41 avg rating — 3,124,750 ratings score: 5,954, and 68 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
61	A Separate Peace by John Knowles 3.60 avg rating — 231,678 ratings score: 5,879, and 67 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
62	One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey 4.20 avg rating — 777,443 ratings score: 5,730, and 66 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
63	The Cat in the Hat (Cat in the Hat, #1) by Dr. Seuss 4.19 avg rating — 583,714 ratings score: 5,590, and 66 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
64	Anne of Green Gables (Anne of Green Gables, #1) by L.M. Montgomery 4.33 avg rating — 1,105,334 ratings score: 5,294, and 63 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
65	Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes 4.24 avg rating — 787,430 ratings score: 5,217, and 59 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
66	Catch-22 by Joseph Heller 3.99 avg rating — 883,825 ratings score: 5,062, and 60 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
67	Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare 3.96 avg rating — 193,820 ratings score: 5,000, and 58 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
68	Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. 4.10 avg rating — 1,475,687 ratings score: 4,831, and 58 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
69	A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith 4.30 avg rating — 509,658 ratings score: 4,794, and 58 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
70	Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens 3.88 avg rating — 425,962 ratings score: 4,723, and 56 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
71	The BFG by Roald Dahl 4.23 avg rating — 524,293 ratings score: 4,611, and 55 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
72	The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare 3.74 avg rating — 180,093 ratings score: 4,527, and 55 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
73	Othello by William Shakespeare 3.89 avg rating — 434,849 ratings score: 4,498, and 54 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
74	The Iliad / The Odyssey by Homer 4.07 avg rating — 83,410 ratings score: 4,463, and 53 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
75	Beowulf by Unknown 3.50 avg rating — 344,724 ratings score: 4,443, and 56 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
76	The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare 4.03 avg rating — 159,959 ratings score: 4,431, and 52 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
77	Little Women (Little Women, #1) by Louisa May Alcott 4.17 avg rating — 2,440,914 ratings score: 4,399, and 55 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
78	James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl 4.04 avg rating — 513,657 ratings score: 4,213, and 53 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
79	Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe 3.92 avg rating — 242,043 ratings score: 4,166, and 49 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
80	Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse 4.08 avg rating — 870,252 ratings score: 4,140, and 47 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
81	Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare 4.06 avg rating — 257,766 ratings score: 4,124, and 49 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
82	Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad 3.43 avg rating — 555,803 ratings score: 3,937, and 49 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
83	The Good Earth (House of Earth, #1) by Pearl S. Buck 4.01 avg rating — 260,078 ratings score: 3,901, and 46 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
84	Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 173,300 ratings score: 3,808, and 44 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
85	Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien 4.17 avg rating — 184,971 ratings score: 3,786, and 44 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
86	The Inferno by Dante Alighieri 4.03 avg rating — 205,003 ratings score: 3,703, and 44 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
87	The Lottery and Other Stories by Shirley Jackson 4.02 avg rating — 84,270 ratings score: 3,588, and 42 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
88	King Lear by William Shakespeare 3.91 avg rating — 236,530 ratings score: 3,571, and 45 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
89	Walden or, Life in the Woods by Henry David Thoreau 3.77 avg rating — 203,580 ratings score: 3,557, and 45 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
90	Things Fall Apart (The African Trilogy, #1) by Chinua Achebe 3.74 avg rating — 410,542 ratings score: 3,522, and 41 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
91	Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland / Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll 4.06 avg rating — 606,613 ratings score: 3,496, and 43 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
92	The Yellow Wallpaper and Other Stories by Charlotte Perkins Gilman 4.07 avg rating — 353,785 ratings score: 3,442, and 41 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
93	Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston 3.99 avg rating — 384,606 ratings score: 3,441, and 40 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
94	Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer (Goodreads Author) 4.02 avg rating — 1,185,587 ratings score: 3,250, and 41 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
95	Antigone by Jean Anouilh 3.77 avg rating — 30,019 ratings score: 3,182, and 38 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
96	Shakespeare's Sonnets by William Shakespeare 4.25 avg rating — 112,077 ratings score: 3,164, and 40 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
97	The Help by Kathryn Stockett (Goodreads Author) 4.47 avg rating — 3,001,965 ratings score: 3,156, and 39 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
98	Paradise Lost by John Milton 3.85 avg rating — 181,542 ratings score: 3,137, and 40 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
99	Rikki-Tikki-Tavi by Rudyard Kipling 3.91 avg rating — 17,900 ratings score: 3,054, and 37 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
100	The Jungle by Upton Sinclair 3.78 avg rating — 154,155 ratings score: 2,955, and 35 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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766 books · 2,063 voters · list created November 30th, 2010 by Jessica (votes) .

Tags: high-school, junior-high, middle-school, required, school, summer-reading

388 likes · Like

Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.

People Who Voted On This List (2063)

Jessica 3146 books
29 friends

Angie 3800 books
29 friends

Themis-Athena (Lioness at Large) 546 books
365 friends

Elena 536 books
317 friends

Sarahbear 548 books
277 friends

Bridget 1086 books
23 friends

Roxy 4632 books
1946 friends

Sohee 178 books
5 friends

More voters…

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Comments Showing 1-35 of 35 (35 new)

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message 1: by Themis-Athena (Lioness at Large) (new)

Nov 30, 2010 07:21AM

I can't actually say that I hated the books I voted for here, though -- on the contrary, they are those that I liked even when they were high school assignments!

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message 2: by Jessica (new)

Dec 01, 2010 07:32PM

Themis-Athena wrote: "I can't actually say that I hated the books I voted for here, though

Oh yes, most of these I loved! I just didn't like being told what everyone had to read. Esp if I'd already read the book ten times on my own.

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message 3: by Janis (new)

Sep 11, 2012 07:29PM

I didn't hate that I had to read these as I love reading anyway...I loved the ones I voted for and even those I did not choose I liked...

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message 4: by Natalie (new)

Sep 14, 2012 01:21PM

I`ve voted for the books I loved when I read them and think that all of them should be read in school as an inspiration for children.

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message 5: by Natalie (new)

Sep 17, 2012 06:56PM

I voted for books that I either loved, or am glad I have read. There are certain books that everyone should read, and not everyone loves to read like I do. School is a great way to accomplish this.

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message 6: by Christy (new)

Sep 18, 2012 09:40PM

Where went high school didn't read hardly any of the books on this list, but the two I voted for I loved the most out of them.

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message 7: by Patricia (new)

Sep 19, 2012 08:51PM

I voted for the books I loved and hated in school. I've never really regretted reading a book in my life, no matter how much I hated it because I believe every book has something to teach. There are many books on this list that I did read while I was in school that I would have gladly voted for but I read them by choice, they weren't assigned by any of my teachers...I just borrowed them from the library by my own account.

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message 8: by Cheryl (new)

Sep 22, 2012 10:15AM

I have to question the inclusion of some of the books in this list. Seriously, Tessa Dare's, "A Night to Surrender." I can't imagine any teacher choosing a trashy bodice ripper as a reading assignment unless he/she is looking for a new career.

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message 9: by Patricia (new)

Sep 22, 2012 10:20AM

Cheryl wrote: "I have to question the inclusion of some of the books in this list. Seriously, Tessa Dare's, "A Night to Surrender." I can't imagine any teacher choosing a trashy bodice ripper as a reading assig..."

I agree with you. There are certain books that don't really fit into a school reading curriculum. That's why I didn't choose any of those even if I might have read some.

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message 10: by Christian (new)

Sep 22, 2012 02:44PM

I'm jealous of any school that assigns The Hunger Games to their students.

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message 11: by Patricia (new)

Sep 22, 2012 11:52PM

Christian wrote: "I'm jealous of any school that assigns The Hunger Games to their students."

I don't know how to like your comment here, but I completely agree! I wish my teachers would have assigned books like that. The books weren't published while I was in high school so I can't really criticize that much, but there are many books that have a similar feel and I wish they would have assigned more of those.

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message 12: by Polina (new)

Sep 23, 2012 05:10PM

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
by Mark Twain

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message 13: by Themis-Athena (Lioness at Large) (new)

Sep 23, 2012 05:41PM

Polina wrote: "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
by Mark Twain"

You can add it by using the tab up top next to "all votes."

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message 14: by Gabby (new)

Sep 24, 2012 03:09AM

Whoa, i havn't read any of these books for school...yet.

We read, Deadly Unna? and Anna's Story
fun (-.-)

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message 15: by Fatin (new)

Sep 27, 2012 01:29PM

I hated the books I read in class, only to go back to them and fall in love with them all on my own. Could this be because my teachers weren't...inspiring and open to the opinions of others? Probz.

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message 16: by Sparrowlicious (new)

Sep 28, 2012 03:19AM

I hope you guys don't mind that I voted here even though the books I had to read for school are neither on this list, nor relevant to this list (we never had to read any english classics so I read some of them by myself in the last few years. It's seriously more fun if no one forces you to read something.)

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message 17: by Fatin (new)

Sep 28, 2012 07:49AM

Sparrowlicious wrote: "I hope you guys don't mind that I voted here even though the books I had to read for school are neither on this list, nor relevant to this list (we never had to read any english classics so I read ..."

But...you're contaminating the list...you could have just added the books you read in school.

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message 18: by Themis-Athena (Lioness at Large) (new)

Sep 28, 2012 12:07PM

Fatin wrote: "Sparrowlicious wrote: "I hope you guys don't mind that I voted here even though the books I had to read for school are neither on this list, nor relevant to this list (we never had to read any engl..."

As far as I can see, she only voted for books so far ahead of everything else that I'd hardly speak of "contaminating" anything.

That said, @Sparrowlicious, you really should feel encouraged to just vote for what you read and liked in school. The more the merrier, you know! Also, if you take a look beyond page 1 of this list, you'll see plenty of books that others have added just because they read and liked them, not because they thought those books would ever reach page 1 (or even page 2). Many of those books are foreign, too, but that really isn't the point ... it's NOT about the (perceived or real) classics of English literature!

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message 19: by Pam (new)

Sep 29, 2012 07:32PM

I read several of these books in high school. I do have to say though that I am surprised by some on the list. I by no means am a book snob, but there some that leave me scratching my head. I mean the list is supposed to be books we were assigned to read in school.

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message 20: by Gabby (new)

Oct 12, 2012 12:32AM

Nic wrote: "The Hunger Games was taught at school???"

I wouldn't recommend it for a school setting...

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message 21: by Gabby (new)

Oct 12, 2012 12:36AM

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message 22: by Shanna (new)

Dec 15, 2012 05:01PM

The Hunger Games is no worse than the often required Lord of the Flies or Of Mice and Men regarding curriculum.

Any book that makes people interested in reading IMO is a good thing, all about stimulating discussion in the school curriculum.

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message 23: by [deleted user] (new)

Jun 14, 2013 08:27PM

Gabby wrote: "Nic wrote: "The Hunger Games was taught at school???"

I wouldn't recommend it for a school setting..."

I agree. That seems a very odd choice to me for required reading. Most of these books were not in existence when I was in high school so I am very surprised that they are required. Some of them I read over the summer on my own and liked them much better. Many of the required ones I barely remember at all.

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message 24: by Aleksandra (new)

Nov 09, 2013 07:07AM

It was very interesting to see what kids on the other edge of the world had to read. I appreciate especially the inclusion of non-fiction books as well as contemporary literature.

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message 25: by Jennifer (new)

Jan 12, 2014 10:58PM

Nic wrote: "Gabby wrote: "Nic wrote: "The Hunger Games was taught at school???"

I wouldn't recommend it for a school setting..."

It's a little too much, although it would most likely make the pupils more int..."

My son just had to read Divergent for a high school honors class (he liked the Hunger Games, which he had read on his own but hated Divergent; he also hated the Giver, which was last years' honors reading fare). Then they took them on a field trip to see Catching Fire in the movie theatre. So in answer to you question, yes, some schools assign books with questionable literary value as a part of their curriculum. (Don't get me wrong, I like the Hunger Games, but I have to question its value in a school setting when other classics are available and more in depth.)

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message 26: by Azur (last edited Jan 25, 2014 12:45PM) (new)

Jan 25, 2014 12:40PM

I'm also astonished at some of the books in this list (mainly the manga).I don't know how this is handled in other countries. In Germany the curriculum often defines certain books, but sometimes just certain authors or topics/genres. Depending on the progress teachers are allowed to choose extra books that are not part of the curriculum. Some teachers choose their favourite books and others let the students decide which books they want to read. I had one teacher who rushed through the assigned books and took much more time to discuss books which he thought were important/interesting. (This had its good and bad aspects.) Maybe this could explain some of the unusual books in this list. Or those are just books they read for a book report.

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message 27: by Paul (new)

Oct 18, 2014 07:01AM

Checked for duplicates: three books removed.

Somebody needs to identify the many books on this list that were never assigned reading, so that they can be removed. I get the impression that many of the books here are books that people think should be, assigned reading.

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message 28: by Norah (new)

Jul 31, 2015 08:53PM

It is actually quite funny as I had already read the majority of the assigned high school books listed here, before I started high school! :D

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message 29: by Catherine (last edited Aug 26, 2015 03:23AM) (new)

Aug 26, 2015 03:21AM

The Help! Hunger Games! Divergent! Harry Potter! John Grisham!! Terry Pratchett!!! There are some school teachers out there who need to be fired.

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message 30: by Beatrice (new)

Jun 09, 2016 12:23PM

I was curious to learn what books are considered required reading these days. How many books are actually discussed in class in a particular year? One a month, two a month? How many and which books are considered a core of literary education in high school? Many books are considered to be fundamental are included in the list, however if one has a choice a student can avoid it altogether. Is ther any agreement as to the must read list, say 10 books that everyone reads so there is a common point of reference for future students and readers alike?

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message 31: by Elisa (last edited Jan 24, 2017 08:38AM) (new)

Jan 24, 2017 08:31AM

I voted according to my Italian experience. I hope you don't mind.
I envy people who got to read Lord of the Rings for their English Lit course at university. I'm not saying Frankenstein and Tempest were awful... but I had to endure Manfred and The Cenci.

Catherine wrote: "The Help! Hunger Games! Divergent! Harry Potter! John Grisham!! Terry Pratchett!!! There are some school teachers out there who need to be fired."
If you want young people to love reading instead of, say, videogames, choosing boring, heavy, sad and please-slit-my-throat-right-now stories (I'm looking at you, Kafka!) is probably not the best path.

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message 32: by Jackson (new)

Jan 26, 2018 07:28AM

i like books i read books i eat book i love book

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message 33: by Karen (new)

Jun 29, 2021 01:43PM

Most of the books on this list were ones that my year 11 English Literature teacher told me "were a waste of time reading, as she didn't consider books like The Hobbit worth reading".

Of the top 100 books, only The Crucible was one of my assigned books - and the teacher did her best to ruin that. Thankfully I was already a great reader before she got her claws into me... I dread to think how many kids she put off with her attitude.

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message 34: by Donne (new)

Nov 25, 2023 07:19PM