I spent a majority of my time in High School in an English class. While most kids despised English, I loved it. English teachers were some of the only teachers I actually connected with (besides some of the amazing teachers I had in the social studies department) and English was one of the only classes I looked forward to every single day. It was in English class that I had learned to love reading and that you can find amazing books in an English curriculum. While yes I did not like some of the books I read in English class, here are 10 books that I read in English class that I would read again.
10. "Johnny Got His Gun" by Dalton Trumbo
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I read this novel in an English class my sophomore year of high school, and we read it to go along with our WW1 unit in Social Studies. While the book is heartbreaking and leaves you to think if war is really worth it at all, it is an amazing book that makes you look at a part of war people tend to ignore.
9. "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" by Ken Kesey
This novel shows life inside of a psychiatric hospital which is run by a controlling Nurse Ratched and houses patients like Cheif Bromden, Billy Bibbit, Dale Harding, and Randle McMurphy. Like "Johnny Got His Gun" I read this book in my sophomore English class. From beginning to end this book is a wild ride and is not your typical "insane asylum" depiction.
8. "Where Are You Going Where Have You Been" by Joyce Carol Oates
Although this one is technically a short story, it is on this list because it is truly unforgettable. This short story is unsettling and left me uncomfortable after reading it in one of my English classes senior year. The story forces you to think about what you would do in Connie's situation and the ending is up to interpretation as to what happens to Connie.
7. "Othello" by William Shakespeare
Again this one isn't technically a book I did read it and enjoy it in a high school English class. "Othello" is one of my favorite Shakespeare plays. I read this play in my junior year as a part of an English class that focused on plays. I absolutely love this play and enjoyed reading it.
6. "Kiss the Girls" by James Patterson
"Kiss the Girls" is the second installment of James Patterson's Alex Cross series. In this book detective Ale Cross finds himself chasing two serial killers while trying to rescue his niece Naomi. While Alex Cross is the most annoying main character looking back at it this book was a wild ride. Another unique thing about "Kiss the Girls" is that it is the most graphic book I read in high school.
5. "Hamlet" by William Shakespeare
Hamlet is by far my favorite Shakespeare play. In short, Hamlet is about the revenge that Prince Hamlet seeks for the death of his father caused by his uncle Claudius. The play itself is one of Shakespeare's most iconic plays, more than likely caused by the infamous "to be or not to be" monologue. I loved reading this play and would actually consider reading it again.
4. "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Who hasn't read this book in high school? I feel as if I shouldn't have to summarize this one because either you read this in high school or seen either of the movie adaptations. I was waiting to read this book and enjoyed it when I finally did. It was a lot better than I expected it to be and I would not hesitate reading it again.
3. "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini
This novel centers around the lives of two Afghan women, Mariam and Laila, as they survive in Afghanistan in the 20th and 21st century. I hold this book to a really high standard because it opened my eyes to issues that people, specifically women face in Afghanistan. I loved the characters in this book (minus Rasheed) and the plot never ceased to get boring.
2. "Dracula" by Bram Stoker
"Dracula" is by far one of my favorite books. The novel, which is written in a series of letters and journal entries, focuses on the battle between Dracula and a group of young men and one woman. I enjoyed reading this book in English and honestly who doesn't love a good monster book?
1. "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee
This American classic centers around the life of Scout Finch who lives in Maycomb Alabama. Her father, Atticus Finch, is a lawyer who later in the book defends black man Tom Robinson in a trial accusing Mr. Robinson of rape. Although the book doesn't center around the trial, it is definitely a big part of what the book is. The book reminds you of a simpler time during childhood. I loved this book so much and it remains one of the best books I read in high school.
