15 Novels for High School Students

High School and the end of the teenage years is the time when you start to shape the world around you, make your decisions, and step into adulthood. You need to build a habit of reading and reading the right books. Reading these books will help you to comprehend people, race, culture, history, and most importantly yourself. In this article, we are going to read about 15 novels for high school students.

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

Published in 1932 Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World is a dystopian novel. The novel describes a future society in which medical and technological innovations are used by the state to practice control over the citizens. Brave New World anticipates vast scientific advancements in sleep learning, reproductive technology, classical conditioning, and psychological manipulation and how they contribute to creating a dystopian society. It is also one of the most popular banned and challenged books.

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

Zora Neale Hurston’s novel Their Eyes Were Watching God was published in 1937. It focuses on the mixed black and white girl Janie Crawford. Her search for identity takes her on a journey during which she learns what love is, experiences life’s happiness and misery, and comes home to herself in peace. The primary theme of the book is gender roles and how the stereotypical ideas between men and women disempower women and empower men.

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

The themes of John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men are friendship, economic injustice, powerlessness, loneliness, dreams, uncertainty, and cruelty. Published in 1937, this novel focuses on the experiences of two displaced migrant ranch workers – George Milton and Lennie Small. They move from place to place in California in search of new jobs during the Great Depression in the US. Of Mice and Men sketches the dangers of believing in the American dream, while preaching the value of companionship.

Animal Farm by George Orwell

Published in 1945, Animal Farm is a beast fable written in the form of a satirical allegory. It is about a group of farm animals who are against their human farmer and are hoping to create a free, happy, and equal society for the animals. The focal theme of Animal Farm deals with the ability of ordinary individuals to continue to have faith in an uprising that has been betrayed. George Orwell reveals how Napoleon and his fellow pigs, the ones in power, pervert the promise of democracy of the revolution.

The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

Anne Frank’s 1947 published novel The Diary of a Young Girl is the journal of a Jewish teenager named Anne Frank. Frank chronicled two years (1942-44) of her family concealing during the German occupation of the Netherlands during the Second World War. The themes of this popular book are coming of age, loneliness, isolation, suffering, inner conflict, love, maturity, and sexuality.

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

In this list, we have another popularly banned book, J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye. This book has been a staple in high school English classrooms for decades now due to its revolutionary treatment of a teen main character. Published in 1951, The Catcher in the Rye details two days in the life of Holden Caulfield. The confused and disillusioned 16-year-old has been expelled from prep school and he searches for truth and rails against the fake and “phoniness” of the real and adult world.

Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison

The narrator of Ralph Ellison’s 1952 published novel Invisible Man is a young college-educated black man who moves in a 20^th century US struggling to survive in the US. It is a racially divided society that refuses to perceive him as a human. The central theme of Invisible Man is the idea of blindness and how it affects identity. It addresses the protest against racism and the cloak of invisibility that is placed on Black people.

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

American writer Ray Bradbury’s 1953 published novel Fahrenheit 451 is a dystopian novel. The primary theme of this book is the struggle between man’s desire for knowledge and individuality in a society that expects conventionality and ignorance. Fahrenheit 451 focuses on Guy Montag and his conversion from a book-burning fireman to a book-reading rebel. He lives in an oppressive society that tries to get rid of all sources of contradiction, confusion, and complexity to ensure simple happiness for all citizens.

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

William Golding’s 1954 published novel Lord of the Flies is about a group of British boys who are marooned on a deserted island and their devastating attempts to direct themselves.  They create a system of an organization but, without any adult to provide a civilizing impulse, the children eventually become vicious and violent. The themes of Lord of the Flies are the impact of humankind on nature, civilization vs. savagery, and the nature of humanity.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Published in 1960, Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is a classic of modern American literature. The novel is told through the eyes of Scout Finch and the readers learn about her father Atticus Finch who portrays morality. Atticus tries to prove the innocence of a black man wrongly accuses of rape. The primary theme of this novel is the coexistence of good and evil. To Kill a Mockingbird deals with race, prejudice, innocence, reputation, parenting, and more.

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

S. E. Hinton’s 1967 published novel The Outsiders is a coming-of-age novel. The primary theme of this book is self-identity vs. group identity, and it encompasses poverty and violence. It is about two weeks in the life of 14-year-old Ponyboy Curtis whose parents have recently passed away. The novel deals with the conflict of right and wrong in a society where he believes he is nothing but an outsider.

The Perks of Being Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Published in 1999, Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being Wallflower focuses on the effects of inclusivity and ignorance. Charlie, the main character of the novel is troubled by the past and trying to figure out his life at the present moment. The novel will explore how his past and being ignored by others has affected him. And, how his life will alter and turn into the light from darkness after being included by his friends Patrick and Sam.

Looking for Alaska by John Green

John Green’s 2005 published novel Looking for Alaska is a coming-of-age novel that deals with the themes of meaning, hope, grief, and young-adult relationships. The story is about Miles Halter who decides to attend Culver Creek boarding school. His newly formed friendship with Alaska and her death is the turning point of the story. In the second half of the novel, Miles struggles to reconcile Alaska’s death and leaves the conclusion unresolved.

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda tells the story of a 16-year-old Simon Spier who has a large secret. He hasn’t told this secret to anyone by Blue – Simon is gay. Simon met Blue through Tumblr and they are pen friends. They communicate with each other through emails. The 2015 novel discusses themes of family, change, and growing up. It is about the sufferings and strengths of friendship, the angst of comprehension, and eventually, the courage to seize happiness.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

2017 young adult novel The Hate U Give is Angie Thomas’s debut novel. Thomas wrote this as a short story that she expanded in reaction to the police shooting of Oscar Grant. The novel focuses on Starr and how she dealt with the demise of Khalil, her close childhood friend due to police brutality. This story covers the pre-2017 black lives matter and the engagement of children.

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