High school literature has a reputation — and not always a good one. Ask a teenager what they think of reading for English class, and you might get an eye roll, a dramatic groan, or a rant about how Shakespeare should come with subtitles.
But here’s the thing: reading literature in high school doesn’t have to feel like a chore. In fact, this is the sweet spot where books can actually stick with you for life — the characters you meet and the ideas you wrestle with now can shape how you see the world forever.
Why Bother with Literature Anyway?
Sure, students need it to graduate. But beyond the grades and tests, reading literature helps teens:
- Think critically: Analyzing themes, symbols, and characters sharpens the brain like nothing else.
- Understand different perspectives: Good stories let you step into someone else’s shoes, whether that’s a rebellious teenager from the 1950s or an exiled prince in ancient Denmark.
- Communicate better: Discussing books, backing up ideas with evidence, and writing about what you read all build skills that come in handy in college and life.
- Ask big questions: High school is when you start to really wonder — Who am I? What’s right or wrong? Good books don’t give easy answers, but they do help you explore.
What Should High Schoolers Read?
The best reading lists mix classics, modern lit, and diverse voices. Some staples include:
- To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee
- 1984 – George Orwell
- Romeo and Juliet – William Shakespeare (or Macbeth or Hamlet — pick your poison)
- The Great Gatsby – F. Scott Fitzgerald
- Their Eyes Were Watching God – Zora Neale Hurston
- The Crucible – Arthur Miller
- The Catcher in the Rye – J.D. Salinger
- Night – Elie Wiesel
- Things Fall Apart – Chinua Achebe
- The Book Thief – Markus Zusak
And don’t be afraid to mix in contemporary YA or memoirs — books like The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas or Born a Crime by Trevor Noah spark important conversations about the world right now.
How to Make Reading Less Painful (and Maybe Even Fun)
Okay, so not every teen is going to curl up with Shakespeare for fun. But here are a few ways to make literature more engaging:
✅ Connect it to real life: Talk about how a book’s themes show up today — censorship in Fahrenheit 451, power and corruption in Animal Farm, racial injustice in To Kill a Mockingbird.
✅ Debate it: Who’s the real villain? Did the character make the right choice? Let students argue their opinions (respectfully).
✅ Mix up the activities:
- Watch film adaptations and compare them to the book
- Do creative projects — redesign a book cover, write a modern retelling, act out scenes
- Host Socratic seminars where students ask the questions
✅ Offer some choice: If possible, give options. Let students pick from a list of books so they feel some ownership.
✅ Break down the “scary” stuff: Shakespeare and older texts are tough — give students background info, read aloud together, and explain tricky language.
Reading literature in high school shouldn’t just be about memorizing quotes for an essay. It’s a chance to push boundaries, spark new ideas, and see the world through other eyes — even if those eyes belong to a star-crossed lover or a dystopian rebel.
So if you’re a student, give that book a chance (and find a good snack to go with it). If you’re a teacher or parent, remember: the goal isn’t to churn out perfect literary analysts — it’s to help teens discover the power of stories.
