10 books for high school summer reading

8. Jane Eyre, accompanied by Wide Sargasso Sea

Author (Jane Eyre): Charlotte Brontë (Wide Sargasso Sea): Jean Rhys

Why it’s important (Jane Eyre): Contains elements of social criticism, with a strong sense of morality at its core, but is nonetheless a novel many consider ahead of its time given the individualistic character of Jane and the novel’s exploration of sexuality, religion, and proto-feminism. (Wide Sargasso Sea): Rhys’s novel re-imagines Brontë’s devilish madwoman in the attic. As with many post-colonial works, the novel deals largely with the themes of racial inequality and the harshness of displacement and assimilation.

Summary (Jane Eyre): Follows the emotions and experiences of eponymous Jane Eyre, her growth to adulthood, and her love for Mr. Rochester, the byronic master of Thornfield Hall. (Wide Sargasso Sea): The novel acts as a prequel to Brontë’s Jane Eyre. It is the story of Antoinette Cosway (known as Bertha Mason in Jane Eyre), a white Creole heiress, from the time of her youth in the Caribbean to her unhappy marriage with Rochester and relocation to England. Cosway is caught in an oppressive patriarchal society in which she belongs neither to the white Europeans nor the black Jamaicans.

Awards/Notes (Jane Eyre): Has inspired numerous adaptations, musicals and films; reviewed and studied by numerous scholars and currently included in many school curricula. (Wide Sargasso Sea): Winner of the WH Smith Literary Award in 1967; named by Time as one of the 100 best English-language novels since 1923; rated #94 on the list of Modern Library’s 100 Best Novels; winner of Cheltenham Booker Prize 2006 for year 1966.

9. Raising Stony Mayhall

Author: Daryl Gregory

Why it’s important: Delves into themes of “fitting in” and what it means to be an “outsider.” Explores the current nature of politics and the social struggles of various activist groups.


Awards/Notes: Previous works by Gregory have either won, or been nominated, for numerous awards, including the 2009 Crawford Award, the World Fantasy Award, and the Philip K. Dick Award. Raising Stony Mayhall has garnered positive reviews from critics.

10. Things Fall Apart

Author: Chinua Achebe



Awards/Notes: Time Magazine included the novel in its TIME 100 Best English-language Novels from 1923 to 2005. The novel has been translated into more than fifty languages, and is often used in literature, world history, and African studies courses across the world.
