High school freshman reading list for incoming high school students. Are you wondering what books to read before high school?
Here is a high school freshman reading list to read during summer.
These are 15 books that you may encounter sometime in your high school career, so why not check them out beforehand?
Reading is crucial especially in high school, since it will be the time you will be exposed to new ideas and thoughts.
It will be a time of growth and thinking before you venture into college.
These are also great books to read for 9th graders who hate to read. There is a variety of different choices that will suit anyone’s reading taste.
This post is all about the high school freshman reading list that you should know about.
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High School Freshman Reading List
1. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
This book is an integral part in many high school reading lists.
To Kill a Mockingbird explores topics like racism, prejudice, and coming-of-age.
Learn more about Jem and Scott, Arthur Boo Radley, Atticus, and Tom Robinson.
Discover their stories and how Tom , a black person, is accused of raping a white woman.
Atticus, a single father raising two children, Jem and Scott, defends for Tom.
Discover the exposure of racism and prejudice as the story unfolds.
This book is 281 pages long.
2. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
If you are interested in dystopian societies and books like The Handmaiden’s Tale or Brave New World then you will enjoy this one too.
Fahrenheit 451 explores themes of individual vs. society, knowledge, and technological advancements.
Similar to many dystopian societies, there is an individual who rebels or questions the current society.
This book dives into a futuristic period where books are considered illegal and burned.
Learn more about Guy Montag, a fireman in charge of burning books who comes to question if it is right to do so. It explores how a society where technology has overtaken our society and where books are deemed inappropriate.
This book is 256 pages long.
3. Animal Farm by George Orwell
Animal Farm is a story with an allegory for the Russian civil war of 1917. It may seem like a simple story about animals overtaking a farm and pigs becoming evil leaders, but there is more than meets the eye.
Animal Farm explores themes of power, hierarchies, and propaganda. The famous quote “all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others” started here.
The animals fight against the farm owner for a better future, but returns to the starting point when the pigs take over and implement harsher rules than before.
This book struck a chord with me and made me think of many issues that are prevalent in today’s society.
Even though everyone is a human, we are not equal. There are distinction in income levels, status, power, and hidden hierarchies.
Our world is constantly pushing for a better future, but there are always going to be problems.
This book is 112 pages long.
4. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Learn more about Nick, Gatsby, Daisy, and Tom through their entwined stories.
It explores themes like societal status, classes, the American dream, and gender roles.
Gatsby is a mysterious millionaire who wants to reunite with Daisy and holds lavish parties to attract her.
The Great Gatsby also highlights topics about wealth, solitude, and realtionships intertwined in the jazz period.
This book is 208 pages long.
5. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
This novel explores the themes of trying to reach the American Dream but falling short because of circumstances.
Learn more about George and Lennie, two friends who wish to have their own farm. George is a tiny guy but street smart while Lennie is a big guy with a mentally disabled mind.
Lennie has a love for stroking rabbits but always kills them unintentionally because of his strength.
This power that Lennie has also led to the demise of George and Lennie’s dream.
I had this book in my high school freshman reading list and it made me feel conflicted about the story.
Throughout the book, I was rooting for George and Lennie to attain their dream, but it flew out of their grasp even though they were so close.
I also felt for Lennie, how he tries so hard to stick with George and pet animals, but unable to because of his large build and massive strength.
This book is 107 pages long.
6. Anthem by Ayn Rand
In a dystopian world, everyone is assigned a name and number restrictions on free rights.
This society works solely for the betterment of the community, of the group, and that there are no ‘individuals’ allowed.
This book centers around our character, Equality 7-2521, who strives for knowledge and curious about the light.
Plunge in this story to discover how significant individuality, identity, and freedom means to us.
Anthem explores themes of inventions, collectivist societies, and the importance of communication.
This book is 52 pages long.
7. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
If you enjoyed Fahrenheit 451, then you will like this one too.
This book is set in a dystopian world in the future where society is split into different hierarchies and castes.
The highest class are Alphas then Beta, Gamma, Delta, and finally Epsilon.
People are conditioned through sleep and injected chemicals since birth to predetermine what class they are.
It expresses many themes of promiscuity, class systems, and scientific/technological advancements.
This book is 311 pages long.
8. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
It centers around the protagonist, Amir, who loves writing and tries to fix the mistakes he made.
Hassan is Amir’s best friend, but a series of jealousy and conflicts drive them apart.
The Kite Runner delves into themes of father and son relationships, guilt, and redemption.
It does involve some sexually explicit content and strong language.
This book is 371 pages long.
9. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
This book focuses on a mysterious but magical painting and the sins that turns it hideous.
It dives into the themes of youth and beauty, influence, and art.
The protagonist, Dorian Gray becomes obsessed with staying young and handsome after becoming influenced by Lord Henry.
A series of sins and mistakes ensue as Dorian Gray remains young and handsome, but his painting turns into a hideous version of himself.
Read on to discover the struggles between surviving in a superficial world and the negative consequences social/peer influence can have on someone.
This book is 288 pages long.
10. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
This book explores the themes of loss of innocence, revenge, and alienation.
It centers around Victor Frankenstein, a man who is obsessed with chemistry and science, and eventually creates a creature.
With no idea how to care for the newborn creature, Victor chooses to abandon the creature which leads it to transform into a monster.
Read this story to learn how any innocent creature or human born into an abandoned world filled with hate and rejection can morph into one filled with negativity and monstrosity.
This book is 280 pages long.
11. The Odyssey by Homer
If you like stories with twists, fighting with smarts over fists, and adventure, then The Odyssey is for you.
This book tells the tale of Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, who tries to return home after the Trojan war.
Learn about the obstacles that Odysseus encounters like the singing sirens, cyclopes, Circe, monsters, cattle, and the prison.
Explore how Odysseus survives through each of these challenges and how he manages to escape each time.
This book is 384 pages long.
12. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
This book centers around Okonkwo and compares how different he is from his weak father and becomes a powerful figure within his family.
Things Fall Apart targets themes of familial relationships, pride, and father and son connections.
This book highlights themes about the struggle between tradition, appearing strong in front of others, and the inevitable process of change and development.
This book is 224 pages long.
13. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Another dystopian tale revolves around Offred, a Handmaid, who is responsible to have children for elite couples who cannot have any.
This book highlights the oppressive state that women live in and how they are stripped of their rights.
Men have the power to control others and punish while women are split into different categories whom serve the purpose of taking care of the house, training other women, or bearing babies.
It explores the themes of gender roles, identity, and societal oppression.
This book is 311 pages long.
14. Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
If you enjoyed reading Frankenstein, then you will also love this novel.
Set in the Victorian era, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde tells the story of a reputable man who can transform into a sinister, evil man by drinking a serum.
Dive into this book that unravels the fight between self, society, and science.
This is a great book to read during Halloween or days where you want a bit of horror and supernatural adventure.
This book is 141 pages long.
15. The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
It tells the story of a normal salesman, Gregor, that turns into a large insect one day. His family all have different responses and treat him differently than before.
Dive into this tale with themes exploring alienation, responsibility, and familial structures.
Learn the harsh reality of how a son, breadwinner for the family becomes ostracized and hated as it delves into how far sympathy and love go.
This book is 42 pages long.
This post was all about must-read books in the high school freshman reading list.
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