With so much content clamouring for attention, novels often get less class time than they deserve. When students read widely, they think more deeply, and their writing naturally improves. Here’s a list of twelve novels all high school students should read – either because they are enduring classics which have impacted our world, or because they speak to issues vital to our contemporary world. All these novels offer a gripping read, and themes of relevance to teenagers.

1) Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

First published in 1953, Bradbury’s classic maintains its relevance in our social media age. There’s so much for readers to discuss in this novel, and as an added advantage it’s action-packed.

2) 1984, by George Orwell

Orwell’s vision of an alternative future is bleak and terrifying, and with ‘Orwellian’ an adjective much used these days, this is a novel everyone should read for its cultural relevance. Published in 1949, the novel hit best seller lists again in 2017 when Trump came to power.

3) The Marrow Thieves, by Cherie Dimaline

This dystopian novel presents a future in which climate change and wars have transformed the planet, and no one is able to dream – with the exception of Indigenous peoples. When it is discovered that the secret lies in their bone marrow, First Nations people are hunted down, herded into extraction centres similar to residential schools, and history repeats itself in a dark and terrifying way.

4) The Book Thief, by Marcus Zusak

This is one of the very best historical novels for teens. Narrated by Death, it tells the story of Liesel, a young girl coming of age in Nazi Germany.

5) Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston

Read this for its portrayal of a strong Black female protagonist, and for its poetic and powerful language.

6) The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho

This tale of a Spanish shepherd who seeks his destiny on a journey to Egypt explores themes of adventure, hope and courage.

7) Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley

Sometimes, a classic must be read simply because the ideas it explores have had such a profound impact on human thought. While the language may put this novel out of the reach of some teenage readers, for students who are ready for it, Frankenstein is a must-read.

8) Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte

So many of the themes in Jane Eyre resonate today that when I taught it with a group of students recently, we discussed everything from the roots of the residential school system to the impact of environment on temperament, and the origins of feminism

9) Washington Black, by Esi Edugyan

Washington Black tells the story of an 11-year-old boy raised on a plantation in Barbados who is chosen to be his master’s manservant. It’s a story of adventure that explores themes of freedom, cruelty and compassion.

10) The Secret Life of Bees, by Sue Monk Kidd

This novel is not simply a gorgeous read, it’s a coming-of-age story to which all teens will relate. It deals with critical and relevant themes: racism, the importance of friendship and the power of the stories we weave around our lives.

11) The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood

This Canadian classic is another dystopian novel that weaves for the reader a vision of the future as frightening and thought-provoking today as it was when it was first written.

12) Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens

Read this for the same reason you read Frankenstein: it’s iconic. Like so many great high school reads, it’s a coming-of-age story – this time, about an orphan whose fate is transformed – and the reason why.

Interested in reading and literature? Check out Centauri Arts Creative Writing programs and our English Enrichment program