Little Women - by Louisa May Alcott - Grade: 7, 8

Meet the March family-with daughters Meg, Jo, Amy and Beth. The Osbournes they are not---a classic story of a connected family, featuring love, romance, sadness and courage.

Catherine, Called Birdy - by Karen Cushman - Grade: 7

A tale of courage and hope set in the medieval period.

The French Lieutenant's Woman - by John Fowles - Grade: 12

Meet Sarah: a mysterious woman you will never forget. Fowles' tale combines mystery, philosophy, romance and history in a can't-put-it-down read.

The Golden Bough - by James Frazer

The classic reference work on the history of myth and religion.

Cold Mountain - by Charles Frazier

This best -selling modern classic presents a moving tale of life during and after the Civil War.

Escape from Freedom - by Erich Fromm

Erich Fromm (1900-1980) was an important social scientist and philosopher. His insights on human behavior, psychology, and philosophy are still relevant and important today.

Robert Frost- Poetry - by Robert Frost

Everyone should sample the works of one of America's best-loved poets. Start with "Birches" and get to know the genius of Robert Frost.

A Gathering of Old Men - by Ernest Gaines

A book that explores the tragedies of racial tension and reveals the rewards of compassion and concern.

The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman - by Ernest Gaines - Grade: 12

In this novel Ernest Gaines creates the character of 110-year-old Miss Jane Pittman, who shares recollections from the times of slavery to the 1960's. This fascinating character teaches both history and compassion.

A Gathering of Old Men - by Ernest Gaines - Grade: 12

A book that explores the tragedies of racial tension and reveals the rewards of compassion and concern.

Faust - by Wolfgang Goethe

The classic German Romantic version of the selling-your-soul-to-the-devil story. Goethe's re-telling of the story is in the form of a long poem.

Lord of the Flies - by William Golding

This classic novel about the disintegration of civilization involves a group of British school boys whose plane has crashed on a remote island.

She Stoops to Conquer - by Oliver Goldsmith

An 18th century British comic farce that's great to see performed on stage. While you wait for it to make it to your town, read the book!

I Never Promised You a Rose Garden - by Hannah Green

Classic story of a young woman's fight with depression.

The Scarlet Letter - by Nathaniel Hawthorne - Grade: 11

This novel of love, betrayal, prejudice and redemption, set in the American Puritan period, creates the unforgettable characters of Hester Prynne, Arthur Dimmesdale and Roger Chillingsworth.

Stranger in a Strange Land - by Robert Heinlein

This book tells the story of Michael Valentine Smith, the first human raised on Mars. Like science fiction? You will probably love this book. Hate it? You might really find this an entertaining read... more here than on your average space trip.

Catch 22 - by Joseph Heller

For mature audiences, this thought-provoking black comedy forces readers to confront all the issues of war. The character Yossarian lives as one of the most unforgettable in contemporary American literature.

The Old Man and the Sea - by Ernest Hemingway - Grade: 9

Hemingway's story of a fisherman and the fish he catches is far more than a fish story.

All Creatures Great and Small - by James Herriot - Grade: 8

Follow Herriot as he makes his veterinary rounds in rural England. A must for all animal lovers!

Siddhartha - by Herman Hesse - Grade: 9

The classic coming-of-age novella traces the journey of a young man as he attempts to discover the meaning of life through prayer, sacrifice and mystical experience.

Lost Horizon - by James Hilton - Grade: 10

A mysterious utopia high in the Himalayan Mountains is the setting for this famous story. Part mystery, part philosophy, this tale takes you to the intriguing "Shangri-La" as this adventure romance unfolds.

The Iliad - by Homer

What can you say about the works of Homer? This is where entertainment reading got its start. If all you remember are a few isloated sections of the The Iliad and The Odyssey from the 9th grade, you might want to try it again!

The Odyssey - by Homer

What can you say about the works of Homer? This is where entertainment reading got its start. If all you remember are a few isloated sections of the The Iliad and The Odyssey from the 9th grade, you might want to try it again!

Green Mansions - by W.H. Hudson

This a quaint romance set in the unlikely locale of the South American rainforest. If you like books with an "old-fashioned" feel, try this one!

Les Miserables - by Victor Hugo

Set in the time of the French revolution, Les Miserables has been a phenomenally successful play, a spell binding movie and began as a classic book. Meet the noble Jean Valjean, a character who will live in your memory forever.

Their Eyes Were Watching God - by Zora Neil Hurston - Grade: 11

Here you will meet Janie and watch as her life unfolds before you. Hurston's unique style, a combination of lyrical prose and pure dialect, take you back in time into the Florida of the mid-twentieth century. Unforgettable characters and images!

Brave New World - by Aldous Huxley

This important novel, first published in 1932, creates a terrifying vision of a "utopian" world that rejects all human emotion.

Hedda Gabler - by Henrick Ibsen

Set in Norway in the late 19th century this play of social criticism introduces us to Hedda Gabler, one of the most unforgettably unscrupulous characters in all of literature. Powerful and shocking, this play still mesmerizes readers even today.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow - by Washington Irving

Read the original of this famous tale. Ichabod Crane and Brom Bones vie for the hand of Katrina Van Tassel. This story is great for Halloween -or anytime you want a mysterious scare!

A Prayer for Owen Meany - by John Irving - Grade: 11

Do you believe in miracles? Owen Meany does.

The Turn of the Screw - by Henry James

Both ghost story and psychological thriller, this complex story explores the theme of good and evil.

From Here to Eternity - by James Jones

Winner of the 1952 National Book Award, this novel of army life and WWII was made into a famous movie. Try the book!

The Dubliners - by James Joyce

This is Joyce's most accessible work . A collection of short stories reveal the joys and difficulties of life in Dublin in the early part of the 2oth century.

Metamorphosis - by Franz Kafka - Grade: 11

And what would you do if you awoke one morning and discovered you'd been turned into a gigantic, monstrous bug? That's exactly what happens to Gregor Samsa in this story. Check out this famous and intriguing philosophical nightmare!

Poems - by John Keats

This great poet of the British Romantic era wrote some of the most important works in the English language. Don't miss "Ode to a Nightingale" and "Ode on a Grecian Urn."

The Story of My Life - by Helen Keller - Grade: 11, 12

The inspiring autobiography of Helen Keller, one of history's most courageous women.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - by Ken Kesey

Ken Kesey's classic, set in a mental hospital, gives us the unforgettable characters of McMurphy and Nurse Ratched and re-plays the age-old story of good vs. evil.

Arsenic and Old Lace - by Joseph Kesselring

Shoeless Joe - by W.P. Kinsella - Grade: 10

This great book is about baseball, fulfilling your dreams, and believing in those you love. Based on the story of legendary ball player "Shoeless Joe" Jackson, the story is a home run hit! The popular movie "Field of Dreams" was based on this work.

The Call of the Wild - by Jack London

This is the classic dog story-the unforgettable tale of Buck's adventures in the Arctic.

The Giver - by Lois Lowry - Grade: 6,7

This fascinating book explores the themes of freedom and justice. The setting of the story is the far distant future in a utopian society; the tale raises many questions about human responsibility and courage.

The Prince - by Nicolo Machiavelli

Written in the 1500's, Machiavelli's discourse on the art of being the perfect prince has had an effect on politics and ethics throughout the ages.

J.B. - by Archibald MacLeish

This intense play is MacLeish's re-telling of the Old Testament Book of Job. The work addresses the age-old question of why suffering and evil exist in the world.

The Assistant - by Bernard Malamud

Here's love story you won't forget told by Pulitzer Prize winner Malamud.

Le Morte d' Arthur - by Thomas Malory

The grand cycle of King Arthur stories begins here in Thomas Malory's original version. Meet the knights and ladies, both good and evil, and share in their adventures.

The Magic Mountain - by Thomas Mann

Hans Castorp, a young German , goes to vist a cousin in a tuberculosis sanatorium in Switzerland. He remains there for seven years, in a mysterious sort of time-warp, making discoveries about life, death, health, sickness, philosophy and politics.

Dr. Faustus - by Christopher Marlowe

Here's the original "sell-your-soul-to-the-devil" story presented in the mighty verse of Marlowe's Renaissance drama.

One Hundred Years of Solitude - by Gabriel Marquez

Colombian author Marquez won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1982 for this work. Set in the imaginary town of Madondo, the story comes alive with characters and their quests.

Christy - by Catherine Marshall

A young woman leaves home to begin a teaching career in the Smokie Mountains. Her story has inspired many over the years; read the book and discover Christy's strength and faith.

Angela's Ashes - by Frank McCourt

Frank McCourt's memoir of his boyhood in Limerick, Ireland is full of both triumph and tragedy. The difficulties of his youth are clearly portrayed, but so are the times of laughter and of love.

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter - by Carson McCullers

Growing up in a small town in the South, this story's young heroine, Mick Kelly, learns to make her own way and her own meaning out of the troubles that surround her. This is Carson McCullers' first novel and many believe it is her master-work.

Moby Dick - by Herman Melville

Moby Dick has been proclaimed by many as the "Great American novel." It is long-but it is also amazing. It's the ultimate story of good and evil, told with characters and creatures larger than life. There's an intensity that will grip you!

Hawaii - by James Michener

The landscape, the people, the history and the fascination of Hawaii are revealed in this epic novel by world-class story-teller Michener.

On Liberty - by John Stuart Mill

Mill creates a specific definition and philosophy of the concept of liberty. His work discusses such topics as "liberty of thought and discussion." "individuality," and "the limits to the authority of society over the individual."

A Canticle for Leibowitz - by Walter M. Miller

Here's a modern satire and send-up that would make even old Jonathan Swift chuckle. The dark humor provokes great laughter-but also great and profound thoughts.

Death of a Salesman - by Arthur Miller

Miller's classic American tragedy of the common man. Salesman "Everyman" Willy Loman's failures and triumphs as a human being reverberate with us all.

Paradise Lost - by John Milton

Milton's great epic is a "theodicy"-a work that attempts to find a reason for evil in the world. Milton's description of Lucifer and the burning fires of hell are definitely unforgettable. Try reading the poem aloud for a clearer understanding.

The Misanthrope - by Jean Baptiste Moliere

This important French literary work is also one of the wackiest comedies you will ever read! With sight gags and double entendres worthy of Austin Powers, this classic will have you laughing aloud.

The Ancient Child - by M. Scott Momaday

The Washington Post called this book: "An intriguing combination of myth, fiction, and storytelling that demonstrates the continuing power and range of Momaday's creative vision."

Essays - by Michel Montaigne

Montaigne's works provide a clear link between ancient and modern thought. His famous essays discuss such topics as "sadness," "emotions," "idleness," "liars," and "constancy."

Mutiny on the Bounty - by Charles Nordhoff

Based on the true story of the Bounty incident, this novel brings to life the larger than life character of Captain James Bligh. His story remains one of the most fascinating of all in the lore of the sea.

Wise Blood - by Flannery O'Connor

With scenes that are both comic and violent, O'Connor depicts the passions and obsessions of her characters from the old South.

1984 - by George Orwell

This is the classic caveat against totalitarianism. The main character, Winston Smith, strives mightily against the powers against him and his example of individual courage makes him one of the most memorable characters in literature.

Animal Farm - by George Orwell

This famous "beast fable" turned political takes us to a farm where animals outsmart the cruel keepers and take over rule. But beware! We soon see the hunger for power spread.

The Rights of Man - by Thomas Paine

When philosopher Edmund Burke spoke out against the principles of the French Revolution, Thomas Paine responded with his essay "The Rights of Man," written in 1791.

Doctor Zhivago - by Boris Pasternak - Grade: 11

Set against the backdrop of the Bolshevik Revolution, this epic novel was made into a world famous movie. The novel's main character, Dr.Yury Zhivago, lives, loves, heals, and writes poetry in a world that is cruel and chaotic.

Cry, the Beloved Country - by Alan Paton

et in South African in the troubled times of the 1940's, the novel's main character, Stephen Kumalo, learns he must deal with issues and troubles of family, community and nation.

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance - by Robert Pirsig

This book is subtitled " An Inquiry into Values." That's exactly what it is, despite the weird title. As timely now as when first published, this quirky little book will really make you think.

Dialogues - by Plato

This is the cornerstone of all western philosophy, and thus the perfect place to begin a study of the wisdom of the ages!

Lives - by Plutarch

ere are biographical stories of some of the greats of ancient Greece and Rome. This is a great book to "read a little at a time."

Short Stories and Poems - by Edgar Allen Poe

Who has not been thrilled and chilled by the haunting tales of Poe? Poe's imaginative stories of horror and human psychology make his tales a must-read. Just as memorable are his poems, with their themes of lost loves and human yearning.

The Rape of the Lock - by Alexander Pope

This classic of 18th century literature is a hilarious look at the eternal battle of the sexes. The scene is a party. When a smart-aleck young lord cuts steals a lock of hair from beautiful Belinda, chaos ensues.

Ship of Fools - by Katherine Anne Porter

Published in 1962, this novel follows the lives of passengers aboard a ship headed for Germany. Great character development and a get-involved style!

The Chosen - by Chaim Potok

Chaim Potok spins a great story of family life and relationships. This is compelling reading-all around great story-telling that will hook you from the first page!

The Shipping News - by Annie Proulx

Let the eccentric character Quoyle and his daughters capture your heart in this hilarious and endearing story about a family in Newfoundland.

Remembrance of Things Past - by Marcel Proust

This classic of psychological realism works through a dream-like structure and format that attempts to depict memory. An experiment in mood and form, this is one of the handful of books that truly usher in the modern world.

Gravity's Rainbow - by Thomas Pynchon

It's been called "Fantasticaly large,complex, funny,perplexing, daring and weird." It's all that and more. This classic of modern literature has a very complex style that explores science, history and psychology. It's a challenging but engaging read.

The Yearling - by Marjorie K. Rawlings

The wilds of central Florida in the 1940's provides the backdrop for this heart-breaking tale of a young boy and his pet fawn.

The Light in the Forest - by Conrad Richter - Grade: 7

A young boy is captured by Indians; discover what he learns from his ordeal.

Macbeth - by William Shakespeare - Grade: 11

Murder and foul play abound in Shakespeare's classic tragedy set in the moors of Scotland.

Julius Caesar - by William Shakespeare - Grade: 9

Shakespeare tackles politics and betrayal in this classic tragedy.

The Tempest - by William Shakespeare - Grade: 11, 12

Twelfth Night - by William Shakespeare - Grade: 11, 12

The Taming of the Shrew - by William Shakespeare - Grade: 11

Can a shrewish woman be wooed by a canny man seeking her dowry? The story of this volatile courtship is bound to entertain!

Othello - by William Shakespeare - Grade: 11, 12

Midsummer Night's Dream - by William Shakespeare - Grade: 11, 12

The Merchant of Venice - by William Shakespeare - Grade: 11, 12

Much Ado About Nothing - by William Shakespeare - Grade: 11, 12

Romeo and Juliet - by William Shakespeare - Grade: 9

A romantic tragedy about teen romance and feuding families.

Hamlet - by William Shakespeare - Grade: 10

Revenge, madness, poison, ghosts, and the interaction between friends are all aspects of this classic tragedy.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond - by Elizabeth George Speare - Grade: 6

It is 1687, and a young teen that has moved to the Connecticut Colony from the Caribbean is accused of being a witch. Will she survive the witch hysteria of the times?

The Moviegoer - by Percy Walker

This book won the National Book Award in 1961. Set in New Orleans, the story centers on main character Binx Bolling, who, in the middle of Mardi Gras, sets out on an adventure that provides the reader with both entertainment and inspiration