Animal Farm by
Orwell's world famous satire on dictatorship told through a story about the happenings of an English country farm and the animal inhabitants who find it their duty to rebel against the sometimes cruel owner and prove themselves every bit mankind's intellectual equal.
The Bell Jar by
The shocking, realistic, and intensely emotional novel about a woman battling mental illness and societal pressures written by iconic American writer Sylvia Plath. Esther Greenwood is brilliant, beautiful, enormously talented, and successful, but slowly going under--maybe for the last time. In her acclaimed and enduring masterwork, Sylvia Plath brilliantly draws the reader into Esther's breakdown with such intensity that her neurosis becomes palpably real, even rational--as accessible an experience as going to the movies.
The Catcher in the Rye by
Holden Caulfield, knowing he is to be expelled from school, decides to leave early. He spends three days in New York City and tells the story of what he did and suffered there.
The Chosen by
Two Jewish boys growing to manhood in Brooklyn discover that differences can strengthen friendship and understanding.
Dogsong by
An Eskimo youth faces hardship and danger when he ventures alone by dogsled into the wilderness.
Franny and Zooey by
The short story, Franny, takes place in an unnamed college town and tells the tale of an undergraduate who is becoming disenchanted with the selfishness and inauthenticity she perceives all around her. The novella, Zooey, is named for Zooey Glass, the second youngest member of the Glass family. As his younger sister, Franny suffers a spiritual and existential breakdown in her parents' Manhattan living room-leaving Bessie, her mother, deeply concerned- Zooey comes to her aid, offering what he thinks is brotherly love, understanding, and the words of sage advice.
Hatchet by
Alone Thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson is on his way to visit his father when the single engine plane in which he is flying crashes. Suddenly, Brian finds himself alone in the Canadian wilderness with nothing but his clothing, a tattered windbreaker, and the hatchet his mother has given him as a present-and the dreadful secret that has been tearing him apart ever since his parents' divorce. But now Brian has no time for anger, self-pity, or despair-it will take all his know-how and determination, and more courage than he knew he possessed, to survive.
The Moon Is Down by
In this masterful account set in Norway during World War II, Steinbeck explores the effects of invasion on both the conquered and the conquerors. Occupied by Nazi troops, a small, peaceable town comes face to face with evil imposed from the outside -- and betrayal born within the close-knit community.
The Outsiders by
The struggle of three brothers to stay together after their parents' death and their quest for identity among the conflicting values of their adolescent society.
Rumble Fish by
Rusty-James wants to be as great a street-fighter as his older brother until Bill Wilcox suddenly pulls a knife on him.
To Kill a Mockingbird by
The conscience of a town steeped in prejudice, violence, and hypocrisy is pricked by the stamina and quiet heroism of one man's struggle for justice.
Anne of Green Gables by
This classic story follows Anne, a spirited orphan, as she uses her imagination and love of reading to become the heart of her new community.
Brian's Winter by
In Hatchet, 13-year-old Brian Robeson learned to survive alone in the Canadian wilderness, armed only with his hatchet. Finally, as millions of readers know, he was rescued at the end of the summer. But what if Brian hadn't been rescued? What if he had been left to face his deadliest enemy--winter?
The Call of the Wild by
Presents the adventures of an unusual dog, part Saint Bernard and part Scotch shepherd, that is forcibly taken to the Klondike gold fields where he eventually becomes the leader of a wolf pack.
Day No Pigs Would Die by
To a thirteen-year-old Vermont farm boy whose father slaughters pigs for a living, maturity comes early as he learns "doing what's got to be done," especially regarding his pet pig who cannot produce a litter.
Island of the Blue Dolphins by
The story of a young Native American girl stranded for eighteen years on San Nicolas Island, off the coast of California.
Old Man and the Sea by
Santiago is a Cuban fisherman who encounters a giant marlin in the Gulf Stream and the battle for his catch becomes one of survival against a band of marauding sharks.
The Pearl by
Based on a Mexican folktale, this is the story of a great pearl found by a poor fisherman, the sorrow it brought to his family, and how it was lost again.
The River by
Because of his success surviving alone in the wilderness for fifty-four days, fifteen-year-old Brian, profoundly changed by his time in the wild, is asked to undergo a similar experience to help scientists learn more about the psychology of survival.
Shiloh by
When Marty Preston comes across a young beagle in the hills behind his home, it's love at first sight--and also big trouble. It turns out the dog, which Marty names Shiloh, belongs to Judd Travers, who drinks too much and has a gun--and abuses his dogs. So when Shiloh runs away from Judd to Marty, Marty just has to hide him and protect him from Judd. But Marty's secret becomes too big for him to keep to himself, and it exposes his entire family to Judd's anger. How far will Marty have to go to make Shiloh his?
Sounder by 