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.

Publication year 2007

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Aging, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Values/Ideas: Art, Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Love

Tags Lyric Poem, Relationships


Publication year 1982

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Relationships: Friendship

Tags Animals, Fantasy, Children's Literature, Classic Fiction


Publication year 1981

Genre Novel, Fiction

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

Tags Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, Humor, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman

Ramona Quimby, Age 8, (1981) is the sixth book in Beverly Cleary’s middle-grade Ramona series. It follows spirited and curious Ramona as she balances her excitement about entering the third grade with her trepidation over the Quimby family’s financial struggles. Through her misadventures, Ramona learns her place in the family and how to stand up for herself at school using determination and creativity.Known for realistic fiction, Cleary organizes the novel in a series of loosely... Read Ramona Quimby Age 8 Summary


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Fantasy, Romance, LGBTQ


Publication year 2018

Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance

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


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Mothers, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Identity: Race

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


Publication year 1862

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Memory

Tags Grief / Death


Publication year 2015

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Flora/plants, Natural World: Food, Natural World: Objects, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Colonialism

Tags Historical Fiction, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Children's Literature, Animals, Fantasy, Action / Adventure


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Society: Community, Relationships: Grandparents, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Natural World: Animals, Identity: Indigenous

Tags Animals, Health / Medicine, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction


Publication year 1980

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Language, Natural World: Environment

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Disability, Science / Nature, Technology, American Literature

Riddley Walker (1980) is a dystopian science fiction novel by Russell Hoban. The novel is famous for its use of a phonetic, idiosyncratic version of English, spoken by the characters who live in a post-apocalyptic society. Riddley Walker won numerous awards, including the Nebula Award for Best Novel in 1981.Plot SummaryA young boy named Riddley Walker lives in Inland, the name given to the south of England 2,000 years after a nuclear war sent human... Read Riddley Walker Summary


Publication year 2015

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Teams, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Realistic Fiction, Sports, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family

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


Publication year 2002

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Siblings

Tags Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Relationships

Ruby Holler (2002) is a middle grade novel by Sharon Creech. It tells the story of twins, a brother and sister, who are orphaned and live at a children’s home. Their lives change unexpectedly when they are given the opportunity to travel with an elderly couple during their summer vacation.The author of 21 books, Creech was awarded the Newbery Medal for Walk Two Moons (1994) and received a Newbery honor for The Wanderer (2000). Ruby... Read Ruby Holler Summary


Publication year 1969

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Politics & Government, Society: Community, Society: Class, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance

Tags Social Justice, Politics / Government, Psychology, Sociology, History: World, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy


Publication year 1995

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: The Past, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Action / Adventure, Historical Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Children's Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction

Running Out of Time is a 1995 young adult suspense novel by American author Margaret Peterson Haddix. It tells the story of Jessie Keyser, a young girl who believes she is living in 1800s Indiana, only to discover that in reality it is 1996. When a diphtheria epidemic strikes her small town of Clifton, she must venture out into the modern world to save her friends. Haddix also authored the critically acclaimed YA thriller series... Read Running Out Of Time Summary


Publication year 1920

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Play: Drama, Technology, Play: Tragedy, Drama / Tragedy, Education, Education, History: World, Classic Fiction

R.U.R. (Rossum’s Universal Robots) is a play by Karel Čapek. Čapek was a Czech writer who produced work in many genres, including journalism, essays, plays, short stories, novels, and translations of French poetry. R.U.R. premiered in 1921 at Prague’s National Theater. It is based on a short story by Karel Čapek and his brother Josef Čapek called “The System,” which was published in 1908. Čapek categorized R.U.R. as a collective drama, but it is generally... Read R.U.R. Summary


Publication year 1977

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Society: War, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship

Tags Historical Fiction, Children's Literature, Drama / Tragedy, Grief / Death, Education, Education, History: World, Japanese Literature, Classic Fiction

Originally published in 1977, Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes is a middle-grade historical fiction novel written by Eleanor Coerr based on the true story of Sadako Sasaki, a young girl living in Hiroshima, Japan, when the atomic bomb was dropped in 1945. At age 12, Sadako is diagnosed with leukemia, often called “the atom bomb disease.” Inspired by a Japanese legend, Sadako sets out to fold 1,000 origami cranes, hoping she will be granted... Read Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes Summary


Publication year 1923

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Society: Politics & Government, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Gender, Identity: Mental Health

Tags Play: Drama, Play: Tragedy, Play: Historical, Irish Literature, Post-War Era

Saint Joan is a play by playwright George Bernard Shaw that premiered in 1923. The play tells the story of the 15th-century French historical figure Joan of Arc, who was formally canonized as a catholic saint in 1920. The play was a critical success, and, shortly after its premiere, Shaw was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1925. Shaw includes a lengthy preface before the script of the play where he compares the medieval... Read Saint Joan Summary


Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Relationships: Family

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


Publication year 1998

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Humor, Action / Adventure