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The 11 Best Books I Read In School

For every "Tale of Two Cities" there is a "To Kill a Mockingbird."

Nicole Slater

Mar 06, 2017

Duquesne University

Wikipedia Commons

For a lot of kids, English class is their least favorite. You're lucky if half the books assigned to you are even a little enjoyable. I have many that would make my least favorite list, but going back through middle school and high school, there were quite a few book that truly made an impact on me.

1. The Kite Runner

Plot: Amir, a young Afghani boy living in Kabul, and his best friend Hassan, the son of his father's servant, fight kites and deal with the secrets of the past and one tragic event that will have repercussions for the rest of their lives.

Themes: Redemption, fathers and sons

Grade Assigned: 10th grade

2. To Kill a Mockingbird

Plot: Attorney Atticus Finch defends a black man accused of raping a white woman in 1930s Alabama, while teaching his children Scout and Jem about having compassion towards those less fortunate.

Themes: Loss of innocence, racism, compassion

Grade Assigned: 9th grade

3. Catcher in the Rye

Plot: Holden Caulfield wanders around New York City, contemplating his impending adulthood.

Themes: Coming-of-age, alienation

Grade Assigned: 12th grade

4. The Outsiders

Plot: Ponyboy Curtis and his friends struggle to find their place in a gang war between the rich Socs and the poor Greasers.

Themes: Coming-of-age, social inequality

Grade Assigned: 7th grade

5. In Cold Blood

Plot: A fiction novel written after meticulous research by Truman Capote, following the murder of the Clutter family by Dick Hickock and Perry Smith.

Themes: Nature vs. nurture

Grade Assigned: 12th grade

6. The Westing Game

Plot: The mysterious heirs of the recently deceased millionaire Samuel Westing are brought to Sunset Towers to solve the puzzle set up in Westing's will and win $10,000.

Themes: Identity

Grade Assigned: 6th grade

7. The Crucible

Plot: A play based off the Salem witch trials, young Abigail Williams and her friends accuse several prominent women in their town of being witches, causing hysteria and prejudice.

Themes: Intolerance, hysteria

Grade Assigned: 11th grade

8. The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe

Plot: Siblings Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie are sent to live with a professor in the country during World War II and discover a magical world inside a wardrobe.

Themes: Loyalty, forgiveness

Grade Assigned: 6th grade

9. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Plot: Eleven year-old orphan Harry Potter is thrust into a magical wizard world at the Hogwarts boarding school where he is already a celebrity because he defeated a dark lord as a baby.

Themes: Triumph of good over evil

Grade Assigned: 7th grade

10. Of Mice and Men

Plot: Friends Lennie and George, two migrant workers, move from place to place looking for work during the great Depression, and find themselves in trouble at their newest place of employment.

Themes: The American Dream

Grade Assigned: 11th grade

11. Hamlet

Plot: Prince Hamlet returns after his father's death to seek revenge for his murder, which he suspects was done by his uncle, who has married Hamlet's mother.

Themes: Power and ambition, revenge

Grade Assigned: 12th grade

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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Recommended for you

The 11 Best Books I Read In School

For every "Tale of Two Cities" there is a "To Kill a Mockingbird."

1. The Kite Runner

2. To Kill a Mockingbird

3. Catcher in the Rye

4. The Outsiders

5. In Cold Blood

6. The Westing Game

7. The Crucible

8. The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe

9. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

10. Of Mice and Men

11. Hamlet

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"I'm hopeless and awkward and desperate for love"

1. That Time He Tested Out His Flirting Skills and This Happened

2. When He Was Willing to Do Anything to Avoid Confrontation

3. When He Couldn't Handle Awkward, Emotional Situations

4. How He Reacted Whenever His Friends Ignored Him

5. All of the Times He Worried About His Failing Love Life

6. Whenever He Tried to Whip Himself Into Shape

7. How He Handled New People and New Experiences

8. Whenever His Friends Got Annoying, He Was Always the Voice of Reason

9. He Always Knew How to Jam

10. He Finds a Way to Make Any Situation More Fun

No, I can't help you.

1. When a customer wants to return a product, hands you the receipt, where is printed "ALL SALES ARE FINAL" in all caps.

2. Just because you might be having a bad day, and you're in a crappy mood, doesn't make it okay for you to yell at me or be rude to me. I'm a person with feelings, just like you.

3. People refusing to be put on hold when a customer is standing right in front of you. Oh, how I wish I could just hang up on you!

4. Having the same conversations over and over again! To be honest I really don't even want to talk to you right now, or have this fake ass smile on my face!

5. Always having to have a smile on your face. I promise I'm not as happy as I may look!

6. Customers not understanding that sometimes, mistakes happen. I am a human being, we all mess up sometimes!

7. Having the boss from hell, it's their way or the highway! Even though I did my job correctly and efficiently, if I don't do it the exact way you do, I'm a piece of shit.

8. Having coworker who don't help out, who bend the rules just enough to screw you over.

9. Having to be at work after closing because a customer is taking forever and half! Not like I'd like to go home or anything!

10. Having shitty hours and more shifts than you asked for. Just because we don't have enough workers, doesn't mean I want to pick up every shift that you cant cover, oh great boss of mine!

11. Not having time for a social life. It gets old saying, "I can't I have work..." Every day of the week!

12. Having that lazy costumer who can't do anything for themselves... no please I'll get that, it's no problem at all!

It's just my face, I swear.

1. When you meet new people, they automatically assume you hate them or are rude.

2. People are constantly asking you if you're OK.

3. After being friends with someone for a while, they confess to you, "I thought you were so mean when I first met you," or, "I thought you hated me."

4. You get told to smile more, but they don't understand how scary that would be.

5. You're always labeled as seeming "judgy."

6. Passing a friend with your RBF in full force and not realizing you just shot them a death glare.

7. Being sarcastic, but everyone thinks you're outright rude.

8. Not knowing how mean you really look until you see a picture of yourself in resting face.

9. Your apologies never sound sincere because of your emotionless face.

10. Your "mad face" scares you.

11. And, lastly, people are constantly asking you if you are happy or having a good time because you look bored to death.

Please hold your blonde joke.

1. "Is Elle Woods your spirit animal?"

2. "Is that your natural hair color?"

3. "Oh wow, you get good grades at school?"

4. "You must really like the color pink!"

5. "You’re probably not into sports, right?"

6. "You must have such a bubbly personality."

7. "Your wardrobe must consist of all things preppy."

8. "What sorority are you in?"

9. "You were probably a cheerleader in high school."

10. "You look like you’re from L.A. because your hair is so light."

11. "You definitely like Pumpkin Spiced Lattes from Starbucks!"

12. "Do you actually think blondes have more fun?"

13. "You must encompass the typical “white girl” stereotype."

14. "Is that daddy’s credit card you’re using?"

15. "So all of your friends are blonde too?"

16. "I’m surprised about you; I thought you would be a lot ditsier."

The world's greatest university meets the world's greatest show.

1. When you get your acceptance letter

2. When you try to figure out how class enrollment works

3. When it’s move in day

4. When you arrive on campus and see all of the attractive people

5. FROG Week

6. When you find your squad

7. When you visit DHall (RIP) or EHall for the first time

8. When you take on way too many credits

9. When you go to your first party at JMU

10. When the rival school shows up for the homecoming game (or any game really)

11. Sunday Brunch

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