5 high school books to reread in 2021
Whether you like reading or not, the moment someone forces you to read is the worst thing in the world. Even as an English major, I procrastinate reading assignments because its imposition takes the fun out of it. The most common place we face this is in high school English class. While you may have hated the books you were forced to read — or the ones you only pretended to read — here are five popular high schools books you should re-read on your own time, without grades or deadlines:
1. “To Kill a Mockingbird”
I will be completely honest; I thought this book was only okay when I was forced to read it as a high school freshman. Beyond the courtroom scenes, I did not find it interesting and wondered why it was so popular. I was instantly in love, however, when I re-read it on my own time this past summer. I enjoyed the light writing style in comparison to its acute themes and falling in love with the spunky characters. I truly believe Harper Lee was ahead of her time and am devastated she only published two novels.
2. “Lord of the Flies”
“Lord of the Flies” is the perfect novel to read outside of class. At only 224 pages long, it’s full of philosophical questions, violence and suspense that will make you thankful 2020 did not strand you on an island with your peers. Plus, you won’t have to listen to your English teacher explaining how literally everything is a symbol — you can pretend it’s just a survival novel.
3. “Great Gatsby”
All the glitz, glam and greatness of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel ages like fine wine. After a year of social distancing, step into a world of lavish parties where everybody who is anybody squeezes into a multi-million dollar mansion in the middle of the jazz age. Its few 218 pages is a quick read when you want to slip away to a life of poetic romanticism.
4. “Frankenstein”
I fully understand that Mary Shelley, like all 19th-century authors, can be long-winded. You will probably ask yourself at least once why you just read five pages of wilderness description. But beyond the flowery language is a dark, eye-opening story about the dangers of society, science and pride. This novel struck me the moment my 10th-grade self started reading it; I have adored it since. The social commentary Shelley presents is still applicable today and will make the 280 pages worth it.
5. “The Outsiders”
I actually read this book in middle school, but close enough. At only 197 pages long, I remember sailing through it and loving every bit. This 1960s coming-of-age story focuses on a cast of teenage boys growing up on the wrong side of the tracks trying to make the best of their lives under trying circumstances. With gangs, violence and the unquenchable high school status quo, it’ll be better than you remember without having to form a thesis about its good-vs-evil themes.
*Graphic by Reagan Johnson.
Dara Lusk was born and raised in northern Virginia outside of Washington, DC. She is majoring in English with an emphasis in Technical/Professional Writing and a minor in Anthropology. When not writing she loves reading and annotating classic literature.
@dara_marie_