Guided reading level t books

The "golden age" of Anglo-Saxon literature before the invasion of the Normans - the era of Alfred the Great, the conqueror of the Danes, who devastated Britain for almost two centuries. Alfred did a lot to restore the destroyed culture, to raise education, he himself was a writer and translator (translated, among other things, into Anglo-Saxon Bede's Church History, written in Latin). Wikipedia.

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15 books in English to level up

English teachers - and we too - do not get tired of repeating that reading books in the original is a great way to expand vocabulary and improve the language . In addition, you combine business with pleasure.

We made a selection of books in English by levels - they will help you learn the language. You won't find hackneyed Gatsby or cereal chasms here: we have tried to include unusual and rarely mentioned works in English in the list. The article has three sections for three levels of English - choose yours and go ahead. And at the end of the most patient readers, a mini-surprise awaits.

Tip: if you're not sure what level you are, read our article . It will help you decide which part of the list to look at.

It's never too early to start reading books in the original. Even if you can only speak on simple topics so far, you can already try to master simple novels and short stories. With a dictionary, of course.

Detective novel by British writer Mark Haddon.

Plot : One morning, autistic teenager Christopher finds a dog killed with a pitchfork in his backyard. The dog belonged to the boy's neighbors, and despite his father's protests, the child decides to start his own investigation into the brutality. However, the detective path does not lead the protagonist to what he expected.

English in the book : The novel is written for teenagers, so the language is quite simple. In addition, the book is generously illustrated with pictures, graphs and diagrams that will help you understand the text if it is not very clear. And Haddon also has such a style that on one page you will first laugh hysterically, and on the next you will struggle with a lump in your throat.

Quote from : People think that alien spaceships would be solid and made of metal and have lights all over them and move slowly through the sky because that is how we would build a spaceship if we were able to build one that big. But aliens, if they exist, would probably be very different from us. They might look like big slugs, or be flat like reflections. Or they might be bigger than planets. Or they might not have bodies at all. They might just be information, like in a computer. And their spaceships might look like clouds, or be made up of unconnected objects like dust or leaves.

Other adaptations : Based on the book, a play was made at the Royal National Theatre, London. Also Warner Bros. wanted to make a film, but production never started.

One of the books in the Mrs. Murphy series by American writer Rita May Brown.

Plot : Winter has come to Virginia. The small town of Crozet is gearing up for the Silver Linings' annual gala, but the holiday spirit won't last long. Two foundation mentors are found dead. The circumstances of death are, of course, mysterious and somehow connected with the events of 25 years ago. The main character Harry and her faithful assistants take on the investigation of the case: the cat Mrs. Murphy, the kitten Pyauter and the corgi Tee Tucker (What? Yes).

English in the book : The novel is written in the genre of "cozy detective story" in which the main characters are animals, so May Brown's presentation will be understandable even to beginners. The main characters are listed at the beginning of the book, and there will be no problems remembering all the nicknames. This work will be an excellent start to get acquainted with how the natives talk, using the example of simple dialogues between cats and corgis.

Quote : Jessica dutifully investigate the contents: one Case pocket knife, a folded cotton handkerchief, twenty-two dollars in small bills, one dog cookie.

Harry pointed out the cookie. “Never know when I might get hungry.”

The ladies laughed again as Alicia walked to the large triple-sash windows. “Girls, we're in for it.”

Other adaptations of : An audio version of is available on audible.com .

Other adaptations of : In 2017, the book was made into a film of the same name with Owen Wilson, Julia Roberts and Jacob Tremblay. Directed by Stephen Chbosky.

Novel by American writer Paul Auster.

Plot : Mr. Seltz is almost an ordinary dog. “Almost” because, unlike other dogs, Mr. Seltz can understand English and carry out the narration in his own head. Shaggy lives on the streets of Brooklyn with his man Willy. True, Willie did not have to live very long: because of the hard life of a homeless man, he developed a terrible cough, which is getting worse every day. Willie decides to do one last good deed in this world and sets out to find a new home for Mr. Zelts. The faithful dog recounts their final adventure from his canine perspective.

English in the book : Dogs are rarely followers of Immanuel Kant or Arthur Schopenhauer, so their speech is usually quite simple. Paul Auster gives Mr. Seltz (originally Mr. Bones) easy English with short sentences and clear constructions. The only thing you should be afraid of is drowning in tears after reading this book.

Quote : That's all I've ever dreamed of, Mr. Bones. To make the world a better place. To bring some beauty to the drab, humdrum corners of the soul. You can do it with a toaster, you can do it with a poem, you can do it by reaching out your hand to a stranger. It doesn't matter what form it takes. To leave the world a little better than you found it. That's the best a man can ever do.

Other adaptations: In 2009, Audible.com released the Timbuktu audiobook.

Do you know that in addition to audio books there are also audio series? Now you know. Read our article to find out about the coolest of them .

Students with an intermediate level of the language have more books in the original available, but complex manifestos and encyclopedias are not yet worth taking. You can read the works that English-speaking students go through in high school.

Bestselling novel by Stephen Chbosky.

Plot of : The book tells the coming-of-age story of Charlie, a 15-year-old introverted teenager who is going through depression. At school, he meets older guys Sam and Patrick and, together with their company, learns the world of alcohol, first sexual contact and drugs. “It’s good to be quiet” is a kind of “Catcher in the Rye” of our time, which skillfully describes the spiritual throwing of adolescents and the problems that accompany the process of growing up.

English in the book : Chbosky's prose is light and captivating from the first sentences. In the book, you can find idioms and slang familiar to students who are already a little savvy in English, but in general, beginners can try to read the work.

Quote : I remembered this one time that I never told anybody about. The time we were walking. Just the three of us. I was in the middle. I don't remember where we were walking to or where we were walking from. I just remember the season. I just remember walking between them and feeling for the first time that I belonged somewhere.

Other adaptations of : In 2012, the movie of the same name was released starring Emma Watson, Logan Lerman and Ezra Miller. Also directed by Stephen Chbosky, the film was a worldwide success.

Novel by Australian writer Markus Zusak.

Plot of : Death Itself tells the reader the story of nine-year-old Liesel. In the courtyard of the Second World War, the girl is forced to leave her family and settle in a waiting room. On the way to a new home, Liesel's brother dies, and during his funeral, the heroine steals her first book. Then Death tells about the horrors of war that the child and her entourage have to go through. But in addition to suffering, the girl is also waiting for new friends, discoveries and stolen books - they become the main inspirers and support of Liesel.

English in the book : Despite the fact that the novel is about a nine-year-old girl, the book cannot be called a children's book. Death in Zusak's work does not skimp on the details of the description of the nightmares of war, the atmosphere of fear and hatred. In addition, the novel is quite voluminous - almost 600 pages. However, for students who have already approached the Intermediate, all these pages will fly by in one breath - the story of Liesel and her struggle for a normal existence will resonate with any reader who is not devoid of empathy. And it's hard not to fall in love with Death, with his witty remarks and revealing comments.

Quote from : I wanted to tell the book thief many things, about beauty and brutality. But what could I tell her about those things that she didn't already know? I wanted to explain that I am constantly overestimating and underestimating the human race-that rarely do I ever simply estimate it. I wanted to ask her how the same thing could be so ugly and so glorious, and its words and stories so damning and brilliant.

Other adaptations of : Released in 2013 film of the same name with Geoffrey Rush and Emily Watson.

The first novel of the dystopian tetralogy of the same name by the American writer Louis Lowry.

Plot of : 12-year-old Jonas lives in an isolated Community, whose existence is based on a huge number of rules and unshakable order. Every member of society has an assigned role, and one cannot disobey or think "differently". Because Jonas is a bright and respected young man, he is assigned the prestigious job of Receiving Memory. The previous position holder begins to teach the boy about human experience. He learns what love, friendship, grief and emotions are. After that, Jonas realizes that he no longer wants to live in a Community where there is only dullness, but wants to go in search of a place where colors exist.

English in the book : Lowry's book is intended for high school students, but because the book deals with social issues, it can also appeal to adults. The novel contains complex constructions and philosophical terms, so it is great for people with intermediate English who want to expand their vocabulary.

Quote : ‘I liked the feeling of love,’ [Jonas] confessed. He glanced nervously at the speaker on the wall, reassuring himself that no one was listening. ‘I wish we still had that,’ he whispered. ‘Of course,’ he added quickly, ‘I do understand that it wouldn’t work very well. And that it's much better to be organized the way we are now. I can see that it was a dangerous way to live.’

…’Still,’ he said slowly, almost to himself, ‘I did like the light they made. And the warmth.

Other adaptations : The book was filmed in 2014 as The Initiate . The film stars Jeff Bridges, Meryl Streep, Alexander Skarsgård and Katie Holmes.

Sci-fi novel by Mike Carey.

Plot : Twenty years ago mankind was struck by the Ophiocordyceps unilateralis virus. Because of him, people became incredibly carnivorous and began to - guess what - that's right, bloodthirstyly devour those around them. But this is not another basic zombie horror. The main character in it is a zombie. A small group of survivors is developing a vaccine based on the study of the "second wave" infected - children who contracted the virus while in the womb. They are also carnivorous, but more intelligent, and scientists smear themselves with a special substance that suppresses human smell in order to interact with and study children. One of the test subjects, a girl named Melanie, shows special abilities and curiosity. She is unaware of her infection, and her talents give scientists confidence that a working vaccine is at hand. What they don't know, however, is that the survival of humanity no longer depends on vaccination.

English in the book : There are almost no complex temporary structures in this work - the narration is conducted in Present Simple, that is, here and now. However, the book is filled with medical terms and modern idioms, making the novel useful for expanding vocabulary at the Intermediate and above levels.

Quote from : Denial is a stage she goes through very quickly indeed, because her reason strikes down the demeaning, treacherous thought as quickly as it rises. There's no point in denying the truth when the truth is self-evident. There's no point in denying the truth even if you have to wade through thorn thickets and minefields to get to it. The truth is the truth, the only prize worth having. If you deny it, you're only showing that you're unworthy of it.

Other adaptations of : In 2016, the film of the same name was released , which was positively received by critics and won several prizes and nominations.

Other adaptations of : In 2002, the book was released into the movie of the same name with Hugh Grant and Nicholas Hoult. Despite the positive assessments of critics, many note that the picture and the short story are very different.

With the Advanced language level and above, you are no longer limited in choosing “what to read in English”. Therefore, we offer several books in the original, which are rarely found in similar collections, but definitely deserve attention for various reasons.

A novel by Neil Gaiman.

Plot of : Shadow Moon is released early from prison and rushes to his wife's home. Only to find out that his beloved had died in a car accident a few days before his release. Moreover, with Shadow's best friend - these two had an affair. Heartbroken from betrayal and death, a man accidentally meets the mysterious Mr. Wednesday and agrees to be his bodyguard. Pretty quickly, the protagonist realizes that his new employer is the embodiment of the Scandinavian god Odin, and in general, a whole diaspora of gods from different pantheons and myths lives in the USA. Mr. Wednesday is obsessed with the idea of ​​​​gathering them all and rebelling against the gods of the new time: the god of globalization, Mr. World, Techno-Boy, the goddess of Media and other incarnations of modern technology.

English in the book : Gaiman's English is not the most difficult in the world, but all his works are distinguished by a huge amount of detail and content. In addition, the writer loves references to gothic novels, myths and fairy tales, which makes his style diverse and a little difficult for students with beginner levels of the language.

Quote : We do not always remember the things that do no credit to us. We justify them, cover them in bright lies or with the thick dust of forgetfulness. All of the things that Shadow had done in his life of which he was not proud, all the things he wished he had done otherwise or left undone, came at him then in a swirling storm of guilt and regret and shame, and he had nowhere to hide from them. He was as naked and as open as a corpse on a table, and dark Anubis the jackal god was his prosecutor and his prosecutor and his persecutor.

Other adaptations of : In 2017, based on the novel, the first season of of the same name was released, and in 2019 - the second.

Other adaptations of : The novel has been repeatedly named the best work of science fiction and has inspired many people, including directors, writers and game designers. The work has quite a decent number of adaptations. In 1984, David Lynch directed the and films . A number of games are also based on this universe: Dune 1992 developed by Cryo Interactive, Dune 2000 by Intelligent Games , released in 1998, and many others. And Denis Villeneuve is currently working on a new adaptation of the novel , and the trailer for the film starring Timothée Chalamet is already available online.

Thriller novel by British writer Angela Marsons.

Plot of : Rumor has it that a very valuable ancient treasure is buried on the territory of a burnt house in the vicinity of Birmingham. Archaeologists are eager to unearth it, but the city authorities do not give permission to work. And then the former employees of this orphanage begin to die one by one. Police Inspector Kim Stone, at his own peril and risk, decides to find out the details of this strange case and comes to the conclusion that the territory of the institution keeps a terrible secret that they tried to bury in the fire, but could not. And now this secret continues to kill everyone involved in it in the past.

English in the book : Marsons is quite advanced and florid, but quite understandable for Upper-Intermediate and above students. Since the writer is originally from the UK, there is quite a lot of British slang and expressions in the book, so if you want to speak more like a cockney than like a redneck, then this book is a must read.

Quote from : Despite Bryant's warning, she had never possessed the ability to adapt her behavior to accommodate other people. Even as a child Kim had been unable to assimilate herself into any kind of collective. She possessed no ability to hide her feelings, her innate reactions having a habit of claiming her face before she had a chance to control it.

Other adaptations of : An audio version of is available on audible.com .