What are some books my high schooler should read?

[Shannon P]

I read a recommended reading list published in a college newspaper. A couple non-fiction titles that stood out to me were Guns, Germs and Steel, and Hot, Flat and Crowded.

[Nancy Ann]

I feel better now.

I was looking at the CLASSICS and getting stressed. These titles don't seem so overwhelming to me.

I was doing Progeny press but fell off the wagon with the baby, some family issues and the baby's allergies...Progeny Press is a workout for my son. I didnt' have the strength to push him!

Yes there is a lot of great literature that is not the difficult classics. Many award winning books are quite contemporary or are very different from the classics. You can also look at Sonlights book list and read through the descriptions online, they also have reviews for many of the books by moms who have read the books. Sonlight Cores are a mixture of books.

Here is a website YoLanda gave me that has a great way to search for books.
They have a collection option and you can go through the various award winning books, it will also give you award winning non fiction books.

http://www.arbookfind.com/collections.aspx

ETA: Have you looked at Beautiful Feet History. This would work for a history and literature credit. http://bfbooks.com/What-credits-am-I...if-he-uses-BFB They have lots of great literature, you may be able to combine it with other kids and it isn't so many books as other curricula and you won't have to put it together yourself. When I was looking through there US study for highschool I was quite impressed with their selections of literature. We are doing Beautiful Feet this coming year for my 5th grader. We burnt out this year with Sonlight! Too many books for us.

[KiminNJ]

Alice one more thing... If you are going to read Tom Sawyer or Huck Finn check the local library because Patrick Fraley narrates both in an absolute amazing way. The number of unique voices he lends to the characters is unreal. Our family thoroughly enjoyed both (Huck Finn was a little more exciting storyline) but I'm glad we got to listen to both of these books on audio while following along with the text.

http://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Huc...k+finn+patrick

[Julie Y]

My 14yodd (not a strong reader) enjoyed The Chosen and To Kill a Mockingbird this year.

[amy v]

Here are a few our son liked:

Robinson Crusoe

Around the World in Eighty Days

20,000 Leagues under the Sea

Door in the Wall

Eagle in the Ninth

Sergeant York and the Great War

Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry

He read these for a boys book group and really enjoyed them.

[Alicia]

Alice ~
If you want your ds to read some Shakespeare, I recommend getting the books called "No Fear Shakespeare" at Barnes & Noble, etc. The books have the original version of the story on one page, with the modern English version on the opposite page. My ds has read several of these and really liked them.

[Alice R]

THANK YOU SO MUCH. You guys really helped me a lot and I hope anyone else reading this thread.

Literature is my hardest subject to teach.