High level reading books
Challenging Books for Young Advanced Readers
Are you trying to find books for your elementary age or middle school age reader who reads at a high school level? It’s tricky! Because it’s important to find a book that is both challenging but also age-appropriate.
Here’s a list of books that are above a 1000 Lexile Measure and appropriate for young advanced readers. All books listed are at a reading level above Lexile 1000. (I used various websites to verify.) This number, the Lexile Measure, indicates the text complexity, more or less. Generally speaking, books that are above 1000 are around upper middle school to high school reading level.
Challenging Books for Young Advanced Readers
I’ve split up these high level books into genre classifications so that your readers can find their favorites.
- fantasy / sci-fi
- historical fiction
- memoir, biographies, and nonfiction
- classics
The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien
The classic Tolkien from which everything begins . . . it’s wordy and descriptive and wonderful. Epic fantasy stories weave together a world of magical creatures where evil is threatening the land. The writing is complex, detailed, and intense.
Outcast of Redwall by Brian Jacques
If you like epic fantasy adventures, this is the series for you.
From The Publisher: Abandoned as an infant by his father, the evil warlord Swartt Sixclaw, Veil is raised by the kindhearted Bryony. Despite concerns from everyone at Redwall, Bryony is convinced that Veil’s goodness will prevail. But when he commits a crime that is unforgivable, he is banished from the abbey forever. Then Swartt and his hordes of searats and vermin attack Redwall, and Veil has to decide: Should he join Swartt in battle against the only creature who has ever loved him? Or should he turn his back on his true father?
Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley
A great girl-power novel.
From The Publisher: Although she is the daughter of Damar’s king, Aerin has never been accepted as full royalty. Both in and out of the royal court, people whisper the story of her mother, the witchwoman, who was said to have enspelled the king into marrying her to get an heir to rule Damar-then died of despair when she found she had borne a daughter instead of a son. But none of them, not even Aerin herself, can predict her future-for she is to be the true hero who will wield the power of the Blue Sword…
Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
This book was my all-time favorite in high school! It’s science-fiction canon.
From The Publisher: Douglas Adams’s mega-selling pop-culture classic sends logic into orbit, plays havoc with both time and physics, offers up pithy commentary on such things as ballpoint pens, potted plants, and digital watches . . . and, most important, reveals the ultimate answer to life, the universe, and everything.
Now, if you could only figure out the question. . . .
Sabriel by Garth Nix
Teens love this book, and so do I. You need to know that it’s about a necromancer so decide if her personal relationship with death and other themes may be too advanced for younger readers. It depends on the reader!
From The Publisher: Sent to a boarding school in Ancelstierre as a young child, Sabriel has had little experience with the random power of Free Magic or the Dead who refuse to stay dead in the Old Kingdom. But during her final semester, her father, the Abhorsen, goes missing, and Sabriel knows she must enter the Old Kingdom to find him. She soon finds companions in Mogget, a cat whose aloof manner barely conceals its malevolent spirit, and Touchstone, a young Charter Mage long imprisoned by magic, now free in body but still trapped by painful memories.
As the three travel deep into the Old Kingdom, threats mount on all sides. And every step brings them closer to a battle that will pit them against the true forces of life and death—and bring Sabriel face-to-face with her own destiny.
Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin
From The Publisher: Ged was the greatest sorcerer in Earthsea, but in his youth, he was the reckless Sparrowhawk. In his hunger for power and knowledge, he tampered with long-held secrets and loosed a terrible shadow upon the world. This is the tumultuous tale of his testing, how he mastered the mighty words of power, tamed an ancient dragon, and crossed death’s threshold to restore balance.
The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
From The Publisher: Lyra is rushing to the cold, far North, where witch clans and armored bears rule. North, where the Gobblers take the children they steal–including her friend Roger. North, where her fearsome uncle Asriel is trying to build a bridge to a parallel world. Can one small girl make a difference in such great and terrible endeavors? This is Lyra: a savage, a schemer, a liar, and as fierce and true a champion as Roger or Asriel could want.
But what Lyra doesn’t know is that to help one of them will be to betray the other.
Tales of Beedle the Bard
by J.K. Rowling
From The Publisher: Never before have Muggles been privy to these richly imaginative tales: “The Wizard and the Hopping Pot,” “The Fountain of Fair Fortune,” “The Warlock’s Hairy Heart,” “Babbitty Rabbitty and Her Cackling Stump,” and of course “The Tale of the Three Brothers.” But not only are they the equal of fairy tales we now know and love, reading them gives new insight into the world of Harry Potter.
The Wizard of Oz by Frank L. Baum
From The Publisher: Dorothy, her little dog Toto, the Tin Woodman, Scarecrow, and the Cowardly Lion will charm boys and girls of today as much as they delighted children nearly a century ago as they set out on an exciting quest for the elusive Wizard of Oz. Along the way, they’ll encounter the Wicked Witch of the West, the fantastic Winged Monkeys, the Queen of the Field Mice, the kind-hearted Munchkins, and other fanciful creatures.
Power of One by Bryce Courtenay
From The Publisher: In 1939, as Hitler casts his enormous, cruel shadow across the world, the seeds of apartheid take root in South Africa. There, a boy called Peekay is born. His childhood is marked by humiliation and abandonment, yet he vows to survive and conceives heroic dreams–which are nothing compared to what life actually has in store for him. He embarks on an epic journey through a land of tribal superstition and modern prejudice where he will learn the power of words, the power to transform lives, and the power of one.
Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy by Gary D. Schmidt
From The Publisher: It only takes a few hours for Turner Buckminster to start hating Phippsburg, Maine. No one in town will let him forget that he’s a minister’s son, even if he doesn’t act like one. But then he meets Lizzie Bright Griffin, a smart and sassy girl from a poor nearby island community founded by former slaves.
Despite his father’s-and the town’s-disapproval of their friendship, Turner spends time with Lizzie, and it opens up a whole new world to him, filled with the mystery and wonder of Maine’s rocky coast. The two soon discover that the town elders, along with Turner’s father, want to force the people to leave Lizzie’s island so that Phippsburg can start a lucrative tourist trade there. Turner gets caught up in a spiral of disasters that alter his life but also lead him to new levels of acceptance and maturity. This sensitively written historical novel, based on the true story of a community’s destruction, highlights a unique friendship during a time of change.
Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis
From The Publisher: Eleven-year-old Elijah lives in Buxton, Canada, a settlement of runaway slaves near the American border. Elijah’s the first child in town to be born free, and he ought to be famous just for that — not to mention for being the best at chunking rocks and catching fish.
Unfortunately, all that most people see is a “fra-gile” boy who’s scared of snakes and tends to talk too much. But everything changes when a former slave steals money from Elijah’s friend, who has been saving to buy his family out of captivity in the South. Now it’s up to Elijah to track down the thief — and his dangerous journey just might make a hero out of him, if only he can find the courage to get back home.
Midwife’s Apprentice by Karen Cushman
From The Publisher: The girl known only as Brat has no family, no home, and no future until she meets Jane the Midwife and becomes her apprentice. As she helps the sharp-tempered Jane deliver babies, Brat–who renames herself Alyce–gains knowledge, confidence, and the courage to want something from life: “A full belly, a contented heart, and a place in this world.” Medieval village life makes a lively backdrop for the funny, poignant story of how Alyce gets what she wants. A concluding note discusses midwifery past and present.
Rascal by Sterling North
From The Publisher: Rascal is only a baby when young Sterling brings him home. He and the mischievous raccoon are best friends for a perfect year of adventure—until the spring day when everything suddenly changes.
The Princess Bride by Barry Denberg
From The Publisher: Rich in character and satire, the novel is set in 1941 and framed cleverly as an “abridged” retelling of a centuries-old tale set in the fabled country of Florin that’s home to “Beasts of all natures and descriptions. Pain. Death. Brave men. Coward men. Strongest men. Chases. Escapes. Lies. Truths. Passions.”
War Horse by Michael Morpurgo
From The Publisher: It is 1914, and Joey, a farm horse, is sold to the army and thrust into the midst of World War I on the Western Front. When Joey is dragged away, his heart aches for Albert, the farmer’s son he is forced to leave behind.In the army the beautiful red-bay horse is trained to charge the enemy, drag heavy artillery, and carry wounded soldiers not much older than Albert off the battlefields.
Amongst the clamoring of guns, and while plodding through the cold mud, Joey wonders if the war will ever end. And if it does, will he ever find Albert again?
Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell
From The Publisher: Here, in the early 1800s, according to history, an Indian girl spent eighteen years alone, and this beautifully written novel is her story. It is a romantic adventure filled with drama and heartache, for not only was mere subsistence on so desolate a spot a near miracle, but Karana had to contend with the ferocious pack of wild dogs that had killed her younger brother, constantly guard against the Aleutian sea otter hunters, and maintain a precarious food supply. More than this, it is an adventure of the spirit that will haunt the reader long after the book has been put down. Karana’s quiet courage, her Indian self-reliance and acceptance of fate, transform what to many would have been a devastating ordeal into an uplifting experience.
From loneliness and terror come strength and serenity in this Newbery Medal-winning classic.
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne
From The Publisher: Berlin, 1942: When Bruno returns home from school one day, he discovers that his belongings are being packed in crates. His father has received a promotion and the family must move to a new house far, far away, where there is no one to play with and nothing to do. A tall fence stretches as far as the eye can see and cuts him off from the strange people in the distance. But Bruno longs to be an explorer and decides that there must be more to this desolate new place than meets the eye. While exploring his new environment, he meets another boy whose life and circumstances are very different from his own, and their meeting results in a friendship that has devastating consequences.
The Eagle (The Roman Britan Trilogy) by Rosemary Stucliff
From The Publisher: The Ninth Legion marched into the mists of Northern Britain―and they were never seen again.
Thousands of men disappeared and their eagle standard was lost. It’s a mystery that’s never been solved, until now . . .
Marcus has to find out what happened to his father, who led the legion. So he sets out into the unknown, on a quest so dangerous that nobody expects him to return.
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
After his plane crashes in the woods, Brian is stranded in the Canadian wilderness with only a hatchet. His journey of survival is incredible and will captivate readers.
The Case of the Peculiar Pink Fan: An Enola Holmes Mystery by Nancy Springer
Sherlock’s sister hones her detective skills in these historical mysteries.
The Egypt Game by Zilpha Neatly Snyder
From The Publisher: The first time Melanie Ross meets April Hall, she’s not sure they have anything in common. But she soon discovers that they both love anything to do with ancient Egypt.
When they stumble upon a deserted storage yard, Melanie and April decide it’s the perfect spot for the Egypt Game. Before long there are six Egyptians, and they all meet to wear costumes, hold ceremonies, and work on their secret code. Everyone thinks it’s just a game until strange things start happening. Has the Egypt Game gone too far?
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
From The Publisher: Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, is a novel written by English author Mary Shelley about eccentric scientist Victor Frankenstein, who creates a grotesque creature in an unorthodox scientific experiment.
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
From The Publisher: Grown-up Meg, tomboyish Jo, timid Beth, and precocious Amy. The four March sisters couldn’t be more different. But with their father away at war, and their mother working to support the family, they have to rely on one another.
Whether they’re putting on a play, forming a secret society, or celebrating Christmas, there’s one thing they can’t help wondering: Will Father return home safely?
Swiss Family Robinson by Johann Wyss
From The Publisher: Following a wild and raging storm, the Swiss family Robinson are stranded at sea. But the thundering waves have swept them off to a tropical island, where a new life awaits them. Their ship is laden with supplies and the island is packed with treasures, so they soon adapt and discover new dangers and delights every day . . .
Dracula by Bram Stoker
From The Publisher: During a business visit to Count Dracula’s castle in Transylvania, a young English solicitor finds himself at the center of a series of horrifying incidents. Jonathan Harker is attacked by three phantom women, observes the Count’s transformation from human to bat form, and discovers puncture wounds on his own neck that seem to have been made by teeth.
Harker returns home upon his escape from Dracula’s grim fortress, but a friend’s strange malady — involving sleepwalking, inexplicable blood loss, and mysterious throat wounds — initiates a frantic vampire hunt.
Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling
From The Publisher: The tales in the book (and also those in The Second Jungle Book which followed in 1895, and which includes five further stories about Mowgli) are fables, using animals in an anthropomorphic manner to give moral lessons. The verses of The Law of the Jungle, for example, lay down rules for the safety of individuals, families and communities. Kipling put in them nearly everything he knew or “heard or dreamed about the Indian jungle.” Other readers have interpreted the work as allegories of the politics and society of the time. The best-known of them are the three stories revolving around the adventures of an abandoned “man cub” Mowgli who is raised by wolves in the Indian jungle. The most famous of the other stories are probably “Rikki-Tikki-Tavi”, the story of a heroic mongoose, and “Toomai of the Elephants”, the tale of a young elephant-handler.
Anne of Green Gables by L.M Montgomery
From The Publisher: When the Cuthberts send to an orphanage for a boy to help them at Green Gables, their farm in Canada, they are astonished when a talkative little girl steps off the train. Anne, red-headed, pugnacious and incurably romantic, causes chaos at Green Gables and in the village. But her wit and good nature endears her to the residents.
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
From The Publisher: Set in the eighteenth century, Treasure Island spins a heady tale of piracy, a mysterious treasure map, and a host of sinister characters charged with diabolical intentions. Seen through the eyes of Jim Hawkins, the cabin boy of the Hispaniola, the action-packed adventure tells of a perilous sea journey across the Spanish Main, a mutiny led by the infamous Long John Silver, and a lethal scramble for buried treasure on an exotic isle.
Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
From The Publisher: Venture back in time to Victorian London to join literature’s greatest detective team — the brilliant Sherlock Holmes and his devoted assistant, Dr.
Watson — as they investigate a dozen of their best-known cases.
Story of King Arthur and His Knights by Howard Pyle
From The Publisher: The legendary adventures of King Arthur, his Knights of the Table Round, and the court of Camelot come to life in a lively and accessible retelling by Howard Pyle.
Call of the Wild by Jack London
From The Publisher: The story is set in the Yukon during the 1890s Klondike Gold Rush—a period when strong sled dogs were in high demand. The novel’s central character is a dog named Buck, a domesticated dog living at a ranch in the Santa Clara valley of California as the story opens. Stolen from his home and sold into the brutal existence of an Alaskan sled dog, he reverts to atavistic traits. Buck is forced to adjust to, and survive, cruel treatments and fight to dominate other dogs in a harsh climate. Eventually he sheds the veneer of civilization, relying on primordial instincts and lessons he learns, to emerge as a leader in the wild.
Wind in the Willows by K. Grahame
From The Publisher: Alternately slow moving and fast paced, it focuses on four anthropomorphised animals in a pastoral version of England. The novel is notable for its mixture of mysticism, adventure, morality, and camaraderie and celebrated for its evocation of the nature of the Thames valley.
The Incredible Journey by Shelia Branford
From The Publisher: An inquisitive Labrador retriever, friendly bull terrier, and courageous Siamese cat set out through the Canadian wilderness to find their owner in this truly “incredible” adventure. Instinct tells them that the way home lies to the west and together the three house pets face hunger, the natural elements, and wild forest animals as they make their way home to the family they love.
I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World (Young Readers Edition) by Malala Yousafzai with Patricia McCormick
This is a powerful, well-told personal story from the wise, self-reflective perspective of Malala Yousafzai and is appropriate for middle-grade readers.
Malala draws readers in with her accounts of daily life in Pakistan — the sounds, smells, sights, and habits. Readers are hooked from the first page. As the stage is set, we learn how her country used to be and the fearful place it became with the Taliban’s influence. After she is shot for her blog writing in support of educating females, she’s taken to England for recovery and safety. The confusion and contrast between the countries and cultures really stand out during this time. But what is even more striking is Malala’s hope, positivity, and belief in what she stands for. You can’t read this book and not be changed by it.
Undefeated: Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School Football Team by Steve Sheinkin BIOGRAPHY
You don’t have to be a football fan to be mesmerized by this incredible underdog story of grit with the history of football as a backdrop. You don’t really know the history of football until you’ve read the history of Carlisle Indian School and Jim Thorpe.
Did you know that a whole team played on the field all at once? Or that a president had to intervene because there were so many deaths from head injuries with no helmets? Jim Thorpe was clearly one of the greatest athletes in the world of all time, and his life wasn’t what you would ever have expected. Steve Sheinkin is one of the best writers you’ll read. The way he put together this book, which facts and how he told the story, is masterful. A must-read!
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
After Louis Zaperini’s WWII plane goes down in the open ocean — he’s starving, adrift, and prey to enemy planes. His triumphant survival is nothing short of incredible. You’ll be amazed and inspired at his incredible true story.
Hidden Figures (Young Readers’ Edition) by Margot Lee Shetterly
A well-crafted blend of the historical realities and inspiring life stories of four mathematically talented women who worked to build this country’s aviation and aeronautical programs starting from the Civil Rights era to the Space Race all the way to the Cold War.
The text includes black-and-white photographs documenting the women’s lives and the historical events which add to the reader’s understanding. Hidden Figures will educate and inspire teenage readers.
The Boys Who Challenged Hitler: Knud Pedersen and the Churchill Club by Phillip Hoose NONFICTION
If you’re teaching leadership or becoming change-makers, use this book! Knut and his friends couldn’t endorse their country of Denmark’s position on allying with the Nazi’s so they decided to do what they could to fight back. Even though they were just teenagers, they managed small acts of sabotage. But more than that, they inspired a full Danish resistance movement!
Bomb: The Race to Build –and Steal–the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin
Another knock-out nonfiction book from the talented Steve Sheinkin! I’m so impressed by how Sheinkin makes this story come ALIVE like it’s an adventure/mystery/thriller and not real life and true.
Well, they do say truth is stranger than fiction. But usually, it’s written like it’s duller than dirt. This book is a great exception — mesmerizing. I wasn’t even interested in the topic until I started reading.
Untamed The Wild Life of Jane Goodall by Anita Silvey, forward by Jane Goodall
This is not your average biography for kids with small font and ugly black and white photos. No, it’s so much better! Untamed is an excellent depiction of Jane Goodall’s life with kid-friendly language using kid-appealing layouts of colorful photos. Interesting insets throughout describe tips for kids and information such as sign language. I love the Gombe Family Scrapbook at the end with some of the significant chimps in Jane’s life. I also found it really interesting to learn how this English girl read about Africa as a child and fell in love with it.
Dog Who Wouldn’t Be by Farley Mowat
From The Publisher: Mutt’s pedigree was uncertain, but his madness was indisputable.
He climbed tress and ladders, rode passenger in an open car wearing goggles and displaying hunting skills that bordered on sheer genius. He was a marvelous dog, worthy of an unusual boy growing up a raw, untamed wilderness.
All Things Bright and Beautiful by James Herriot
From The Publisher: All Things Bright and Beautiful is the beloved sequel to Herriot’s first collection, All Creatures Great and Small, and picks up as Herriot, now newly married, journeys among the remote hillside farms and valley towns of the Yorkshire Dales, caring for their inhabitants—both two- and four-legged. Throughout, Herriot’s deep compassion, humor, and love of life shine out as we laugh, cry, and delight in his portraits of his many, varied animal patients and their equally varied owners.
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12th grade reading list for students aged 17-18 in High School
Books for grade 12 – this list of suggested reading books for grade 12 students has been curated and compiled for high school seniors by educators and librarians.
There is a range of exciting and thought-provoking books to suit all abilities in the 12th Grade, aged 17-18, including easy readers and more difficult texts. This list of 12th grade reading recommendations includes titles by Salman Rushdie, Margaret Mitchell, Cormac McCarthy, Frank McCourt, Chinua Achebe and Elizabeth Bishop.
In Darkness by Nick Lake
A challenging read for young adults, combining the stories of Shorty and Toussaint L-Overture in Haiti. Trapped under rubble after an earthquake, Shorty relives his young, brutalized existence – and in his delirium, he has visions and conversations with Toussaint, who led a slave rebellion 200 years earlier. This novel features the use of Haitian dialect and depictions of racism, voodoo and violence.
The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer
A dual narrative story, told from the perspective of war-torn Poland in 1942, and the present day. A grandmother and granddaughter experience love, sacrifice, hardship and trauma.
The two timelines weave together to bond them as a family and allow the truth to finally be heard.
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
The first of a trilogy, this is a blunt and at times painfully brutal story about the repercussions of intransigent beliefs amidst cultural clashes. This is a thought-provoking read which lends itself to moral discussions.
The Rector of Justin by Louis Auchincloss
Tenacious Frank Prescott lead his boarding school with an iron fist. Through the eyes of his colleagues, flaws in his doctrine are exposed and the unpredictability of human nature begins to erode his convictions.
The Underdogs by Mariano Azuela
A searing and historically accurate account of the revolution in Mexico during 1910. Fire, enthusiasm, and hope gradually erode as factionalism and greed creep in. This book is useful for discussing the concept of reparations and conciliation.
Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard
An evocative account of a year spent closely observing the natural world.
The cornucopia of absorbing details and abstract musings is precise, powerful and profound. An intriguing read.
The Blithedale Romance by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Leaving the rat race, Miles joins a small rural farming community to seek a simple life. This book explores the human traits of intolerance, jealousy, and feat – traits that even an idyllic existence cannot erase. A classic for 12th grade literature study.
The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
These classic Oscar Wilde plays ridicule and expose Victorian upper-class values. The veneers of respectability, religion, and morality are laid bare in an acerbic and witty style.
Selected Stories by Alice Munro
These beautifully written short stories about ordinary folk living in rural Canada. Masterfully interwoven, these short vignettes – often interlinked – are an absorbing and emotional read.
Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt
A modern classic. Frank McCourt’s honest recollection of his turbulent childhood in Ireland is evocative and deeply moving.
A must-read autobiography.
Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri
This award-winning and riveting collection of short stories explores the emotional and physical impact of a culture shock when relocating to a foreign county. Both heartwarming and raw, this collection will resonate with multicultural communities.
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
The classic which has it all – a plethora of diverse characters – the good, the bad, the rich and poor, all bound together into an unforgettable and thrilling battle of good versus evil.
Beloved by Toni Morrison
A powerful account of slavery from multiple narrators. Multifaceted, the book explores the motivations and perspective of each voice. The hard-hitting book is an uncomfortable, but necessary, read.
Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman
Groundbreaking and controversial at the time of its release, this is perhaps the best-known volume of Whitman’s work, celebrating nature, love, life and how to live it.
This edition includes “Song of Myself”.
A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking
A monumental introduction to astrophysics, including time-travel and wormholes. Written in an accessible and occasionally humorous style, this mind-expanding book is a must-have for any high school and pre-college reading list. A more challenging read for 12th grade students.
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
The classic follows Pip from his beginnings and a life of poverty in Victorian-era England. Full of moral dilemmas, injustice, and darkness – is good set to triumph over evil?
Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie
A Booker prize-winning novel set in newly independent India. In this long, sometimes circuitous story, packed with historical and political detail, Saleem in one of 1,000 children, all born at the stroke of midnight, who possess a telepathic gift. A startling novel that is ideal to provoke discussion within 12th grade classes.
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
The Road depicts a broken America, destroyed by cataclysmic events.
Society has collapsed and humanity barely survives. In the midst of this, a father and son embark on a dangerous journey to reach the coast.
Night by Elie Wiesel
A truly powerful book, this is the personal account of a holocaust survivor. Beautifully written with harrowing descriptions – a life-changing and memorable read.
Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond
A prize-winning treatise on the development of civilization, containing well-researched arguments and full of absorbing theories which will spark debate and further inquiry
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
Imagine a brutal murder scene with no suspects of apparent motive, Truman Capote links together all the events and with masterful skill, solves a crime which is based on a true story. A gripping book for 12 grade teens.
A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson
This book will inform, enthuse and amuse. The content spans the sciences and travels from the dawn of time to the present day, recording the often humorous attempts to explain enigmas.
An essential read.
Diving into the Wreck by Adrienne Rich
A collection of poems from Adrienne Rich written when the battle for women’s rights in America was gaining a voice. Full of powerful and evocative language these distinctive poems resonate in #metoo era.
The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley & Malcolm X
The seminal account of a leading figure in the Civil Rights movement in America, this books charts his unshakeable belief in black nationalism, turning his determination into a clarion call for action.
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
1984, updated, and twice as scary for the post snowflake generation. A tightly plotted novel set in a plausible future when state-run technology controls personal freedoms and no action passes unnoticed. Can the young hero break free?
Feed by M.T. Anderson
Think Brave New World meets The Purge in this wildly satirical dystopian vision on post-technological America. A cautionary message for teens who cannot live without being online.
All the President’s Men by Bob Woodward, Carl Bernstein
A masterpiece of incisive investigative journalism which is very relevant in the current climate of fake news. This thrilling read, with an explosive conclusion, chronicles the downfall of the Nixon administration.
A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute
Set during and after World War Two this novel espouses the virtues of strength, courage, sacrifice and ultimately, love. An epic and memorable book which has been adapted into a film. Great for book group and wider philosophical discussions in the 12th grade.
The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill
The captivating story of Aminata Diallo who strives to escape a life a servitude for freedom in the North. A mesmerizing fifty years of hardship, cruelty, and struggle. Recently adapted into an award-winning miniseries.
Rabbit, Run by John Updike
A gritty and uncompromising slice of American life in the 1960s. A man thwarted of greatness is unable to settle for being ordinary.
Brilliantly written.
Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
A sweeping love story set during the American Civil War that examines the shifts in society wrought by the conflict. A historical epic. Also available as an Oscar-winning film.
Geek Love by Katherine Dunn
The rivalries, and machinations of a traveling family of circus freaks who play to audiences around America. This book forces the reader to rethink notions of normality and what is acceptable to society. A sometimes shocking, and always thought-provoking, read.
A Good Man Is Hard to Find and Other Stories by Flannery O’Connor
American Gothic meets McCarthyism in this landmark 1950s short story collection which epitomizes alienation and extremism. Vivid and accessible, these vignettes challenge the reader’s outlook on life.
Poems by Elizabeth Bishop
A definitive collection of verse by one of the greatest modern American poets. Bishop uses nature and landscape to depict the fragile human condition in these poems which often microscopically analyze the self.
An accessible collection of poetry for 12 grade students.
If you would like to order all or most of the books in this list; or if you want to order classroom sets or multiple copies of books; or if you are ordering from outside the US, have a look at our ‘bulk orders’ page which makes this process easy.
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What books to read in English with your level of knowledge ‹ Ingleks
Reading is one of the key English skills, so it is important to practice it from the very first stages of learning.
In this article, we will tell you what to consider when choosing a text to read, give a list of books in English by level of knowledge, and also give some tips on how to read books in English correctly.
Contents:
- 1. How to choose a book to read in English
- 2. What books to read with your level of knowledge
- 3. How to read books in English correctly: 7 tips
First, we advise you to watch the webinar of our methodologist Svetlana on the topic "What and how to read in English."
How to choose a book to read in English
We have identified several criteria that will help you choose books to read in English.
1. Age and level of knowledge
Simple children's stories can be useful for those who do not yet have a wide vocabulary and do not know all grammatical constructions.
But popular science novels with serious vocabulary are suitable for people with an average and high level of knowledge, from there you will learn a lot of new words.
2. Goals of learning English
If you are studying English for work, choose professional literature, such books will help you learn useful vocabulary. If you need to expand your vocabulary with colloquial expressions, choose modern prose with lots of dialogue. In this case, you will learn to speak like the heroes of your favorite work.
3. Genre of the book
Choose books that interest you: reading should bring not only benefits, but also pleasure, so you should not take the first female novel that comes across if your favorite genre is detective. Feel free to choose books of that genre and that author that you like to read in Russian. However, consider the fact that you may find it easier to read modern fiction with simple dialogue than science fiction or historical detective stories, where you will encounter a lot of unfamiliar words.
4. Year of writing
Classical works by British and American authors are written in accordance with all grammatical rules. In such books you will find interesting phrases, various comparisons and synonyms. At the same time, you may come across vocabulary that is not used in modern English, which will make it difficult for you to read the work, and you still cannot use the learned words in everyday speech, because for native English speakers you will sound too pretentious and grandiloquently. Agree, if you ask in Russian, “Is it far to the store with dishes?” instead of “Where is the nearest supermarket?”, it is unlikely that you will be answered adequately.
Modern literature is about actual words and phrases, slang expressions, dialogues from everyday life, and sometimes simplified grammar. In terms of benefits for learning English, modern literature is the best option for reading.
5. Difficulty of the text
For a book in English to benefit your knowledge, it must be uncomplicated, but not too simple.
On average, you should meet no more than 10 unfamiliar words on the page (3-5 are better). This amount of new vocabulary will allow you to understand the meaning of what you read and maintain an interest in reading. You can guess the meaning of most words from the context, and this is much more useful and interesting than constant peeping in the dictionary.
6. A familiar book or not
Try to take a work that you have already read in Russian. In this case, you will not get lost in the plot, you will be able to guess the meaning of many words from the context, remembering the text in Russian. If you feel sorry for wasting time rereading an already familiar text, take something new, in which case you will be motivated to read the work to the end to find out how the book ends.
7. Format
The choice of electronic or printed format depends on the habit and conditions in which you read. The advantage of an e-book is portability and the ability to connect a dictionary, which will make it easier to find the meanings of unfamiliar words with one click on them.
Nevertheless, a paper book is more convenient to work with if you are going to return to what you read earlier in order to better remember new words and phrases or to remember the storyline after a break in reading.
Audiobooks have won the hearts of some readers and caused an uproar in others. We will share an interesting and useful way of reading - listen to the text of an audiobook and repeat the phrases after the announcer, trying to imitate his pronunciation. Thus, you will improve your pronunciation, develop the correct intonation, get rid of the accent. You can read more about this technique in the article “How to learn English from audiobooks + 7 cool resources”.
Don't have time to read books? Then pay attention to 7 excellent sites with texts for reading in English, on these resources you will find short stories for people with different levels of knowledge of English, including texts for beginners.
We asked our teachers to tell us about how they started reading books in English.
You will find their answers in the article “What to read in English: our teachers advise”.
Which books to read with your level of knowledge
Next, we will consider in detail which books are better to read in English, depending on your level of knowledge. In order to correctly classify yourself as one or another category of readers, we recommend that you first take our test to determine the level of English.
In the table, we have listed books recommended for reading in English by level of knowledge. Many of the works we attributed to several levels at once. This is due to the fact that people at the same level may have a different stock of knowledge. In addition, we have sorted the books within the level from easy to hard. If you have never read a work in English, start at the top of the table and work your way down.
Under the table you will find detailed recommendations for each level of knowledge, be guided by them when choosing a book.
by A.
A. Miln
by E.B. White
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
by Roald Dahl
by L. Frank Baum
by Louisa May Alcott
The Subtle Knife,
The Amber Spyglass
by Philip Pullman
by J.
K. Rowling by Clive Staples Lewis
Stephenie Meyer0088
by Suzanne Collins
by Sophie Kinsella
by Nicolas Sparks
by Elizabeth Gilbert
Carrie, 9007 Carrie, ET.
by Stephen King
Dandelion Wine,
A Sound of Thunder
by Ray Bradbury
by J.D. Salinger
A Farewell to Arms,
For Whom the Bell Tolls
by Ernest Hemingway
Detectives
by Agatha Christie
Of course, we do not recommend beginners to read literature in the original: even children's fairy tales will still cause difficulties in reading.
However, you can already study simple texts.
- English textbooks
- Adapted literature
- Plain texts
The textbooks at your level contain simplified texts filled with useful words and phrases, so we advise you to start with the texts in the textbooks.
Adapted books are a great help in learning English. The simplification of the text consists in the fact that complex, rarely used words are replaced by simpler and more frequently used ones. You can find books for your level of knowledge at english-e-reader.net. We also recommend reading the article Adapted Books: Is It Worth Reading?
Plain texts adapted to your level of knowledge are a great alternative to books in English. Try to read the texts on the rong-chang.com website - they will be clear even to people with a very small vocabulary. In addition, at the Elementary level, you can try reading English books for toddlers, such as the adventures of Paddington Bear.
Books in English for the intermediate level
We included Pre-Intermediate, Intermediate and Upper-Intermediate in the intermediate level of knowledge.
At the Pre-Intermediate level, we recommend reading adapted literature. Keep in mind an important detail: some publishers simplify the texts too much, so the text of your level may seem very easy. In this case, we recommend taking the book to a more difficult level. If you see those same 3-10 new words per page, feel free to start reading. At the same level, you can try reading children's books, for example, by Roald Dahl. His stories can be safely read to an adult: the author's original humor will not leave you indifferent.
At the Intermediate level, you can already start reading literature in the original. We want to warn you right away: the first few pages of any book in the original in English will be a real test of your stamina. You will immerse yourself in the world of living English with a variety of grammatical structures, new words, idioms, phrasal verbs. And here the main thing is not to dive into the dictionary for every word. Take note of only those words without which it is impossible to understand the meaning of the text.
After a few pages, you will get used to the author's style, get involved in the plot, and it will become easier to read.
The Upper-Intermediate level provides even more reading opportunities. You have a solid vocabulary and a good knowledge of grammar, so you will be able to read most books without difficulty, using a dictionary on rare occasions. The advice remains the same: do not look up every unfamiliar word in the dictionary and enjoy reading.
Books in English for advanced levels
Advanced and Proficiency people are the luckiest - they can read almost any book in English. The only exception may be specialized literature, but if you are fond of quantum physics, then in order to gain new knowledge, you can take up books on this topic.
How to read books in English correctly: 7 tips
1. Write down unfamiliar words
To get the most out of reading, learn new vocabulary from the text. Write down whole phrases or fragments of phrases in which you met an unfamiliar word.
In context, vocabulary will be easier to learn and you will know which words go with the word you have learned. Do not want to spoil the pleasure of reading? Then set yourself the task of writing down words from just a few pages a day, and then just read the book, using a dictionary only as a last resort. And don't forget to read about how to expand your vocabulary through reading.
2. Pay attention to grammatical constructions
While reading, pay attention to how English tenses and grammatical constructions are used in the text. This is a very useful exercise, because the more a person reads, the more competently he speaks and writes. The logic is simple: you get used to seeing correctly formulated sentences, memorize them and subsequently reproduce them in your speech. Find out some useful tricks for learning grammar constructions from the article "How to improve your knowledge of English grammar while reading."
3. Read aloud
By reading aloud you practice correct pronunciation, but only if you know the rules of reading English well.
We recommend reading our article “TOP-13 “Russian” mistakes in English pronunciation”. At the same time, reading aloud can quickly tire you out, so alternate it with reading to yourself.
4. Use the correct dictionary
As we have already written, the dictionary should be used sparingly and in most cases try to do without it. Moreover, if you have already reached the Pre-Intermediate level, try using an explanatory (English-English) dictionary instead of Russian-English. So you learn not only a new word, but also its definition in English. Read our article about the benefits of an English-English dictionary.
5. Don't use translation software
Machine translation is bad for fiction and English learning in general. So far, none of the most advanced programs can translate phrases taking into account the context. If you have a desire to use the help of the program, think about whether the text you have chosen is too complicated. Perhaps you should take something simpler so that when reading, you can manage with your knowledge.
6. Be patient
Of course, we painted a very rosy picture: take a book in English and read it easily. In fact, the first pages will be given with great difficulty, because you have actually been pulled out of the Russian-speaking environment and plunged headlong into the English language. Our advice is to stick with the first few pages and try not to go into too much detail. While reading, do not try to analyze every word. Remember what happens while reading in Russian: you do not read each word separately and do not think about it, but perceive the text as a whole and imagine what is happening in your head. Do the same with the English text: draw the plot in your mind, try not to think that some words are unfamiliar to you.
7. Read regularly
Try to read at least 4-6 pages a day. It will take quite a bit of time, but the results of your classes will be noticeable very soon. Particular attention should be paid to reading for those who take a break from learning, for example, during a vacation.
Do you want to not only read, but also discuss what you have read in English? Then sign up for a conversational English course.
Now you know which books in English to read for beginners, and which ones are suitable for people with an average level of knowledge. We have a rather large list, but we are sure that the readers of our blog also have something to say on this topic. Write in the comments what books and at what level you read.
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Books in English for intermediate and sufficient level