Literature is an illuminating force, the imaginative spark that encourages and empowers young minds to learn, grow, and create. We all have one book (or hopefully several) we read when we were kids that inspired us or moved us or completely changed the way we saw the world and the people in it. That’s the magic of a great book. That’s the power of reading. It’s also what has us excited for “The Great American Read.”
Over the course of its upcoming eight-episode run, “The Great American Read” looks to “spark a national conversation about reading and the books that have inspired, moved and shaped us.” That’s certainly something we can get behind. The series has curated a list of 100 of the most-loved novels in the U.S. and will encourage fans to read the books, vote on their favorites, and share what they think makes the novels truly great. In anticipation of “The Great American Read,” which is set to premiere on PBS on May 22, we’ve taken a look at the list and pulled some of our favorites for young readers. From beloved classics to contemporary gems, there’s something here for every fan of middle grade and YA literature.
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For Tween Readers
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Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
Available from:The curious and surreal adventures of young Alice in the bizarre Wonderland have been captivating readers for decades. Alice’s tumble down a rabbit hole sets her on a journey not quite like anything before or since — one populated with a Mad Hatter, deranged queen, and trippy caterpillar, among others.
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Anne of Green Gables
Available from:Anne Shirley is a precocious red-haired orphan sent by mistake to live with a middle-aged brother and sister on a farm in the fictional community of Avonlea on Prince Edward Island. What follows is a classic coming-of-age tale that has been charming fans for over 100 years.
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The Giver
Set in an eerie, emotionally sanitized future, this Newbery Medal-winning story centers on Jonas, a 12-year-old boy chosen to become his society’s Receiver of Memory — a person burdened with the memories of all of history. Only as Jonas delves further into his new trade does he begin to fully understand the dark and haunting secrets that underlie the seemingly idyllic society.
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Harry Potter Series
Few young adult novels in recent memory have captured readers’ imaginations like J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter. If you’re my age and grew up with Harry, odds are nothing will ever quite compare. The story of the Boy Who Lived is a modern classic — a bit of Roald Dahl, a bit of the good-versus-evil struggle, and a little of the boarding school tale … all told with J. K. Rowling’s flair.
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Little Women
Available from:Louisa May Alcott’s beloved chronicle of the March sisters in Civil War-era New England stands as an example of early feminist literature. Through the story of four very different but very devoted sisters, Alcott examines the tensions between cultural obligation and the desire for more from life than society is willing to grant.
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Where the Red Fern Grows
Available from:Where the Red Fern Grows is one of the great novels of middle grade literature. It is powerful examination of the bond between an owner and a beloved pet. Billy has long dreamt of owning two hounds. Once his dream is finally realized, he finds tragedy waiting just around the corner. With its precise language and keen observations, Where the Red Fern Grows is a must-read.
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For Teen Readers
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The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Available from:This coming-of-age tale recounts the numerous — oft-hilarious and occasionally dangerous — misadventures of Tom Sawyer and serves as a perfect introduction to the incomparable wit and ingenious writing of Mark Twain.
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The Book Thief
Available from:Set in the Nazi Germany of 1939, The Book Thief centers on Liesel Meminger, a foster girl who learns to read at the feet of her beloved foster father. Soon she begins to share the books she steals with her neighbors, even as bombing raids ravage the city around her. Narrated by Death itself, The Book Thief is a powerful and compelling narrative about the strength of the human spirit.
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The Call of the Wild
Available from:The Call of the Wild is a classic of adventure literature. Jack London’s best known and arguably finest novel follows the tale of Buck, a loyal dog stolen from his home and forced into a brutal life as an Alaskan sled dog.
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Crime and Punishment
Available from:Fyodor Dostoyevsky had a profound understanding of the human condition and perhaps nowhere is that more evident than in Crime and Punishment. His masterpiece focuses on a destitute young man who commits a random murder that sets off a chain of events that will forever alter his life. It is a challenging and thought-provoking read for older teens.
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The Hunger Games Series
Suzanne Collins created a cultural phenomenon when she introduced the world to Katniss Everdeen in 2008. Set in a dystopian future, The Hunger Games imagines a world where each year one boy and one girl from each of the districts of Panem is chosen to participate in a brutal fight to the death against the other “tributes.”
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Looking for Alaska
Available from:With this debut novel, John Green essentially redefined what YA literature could be. The story follows Miles “Pudge” Halter, who has an obsession with famous last words and is inexorably drawn into the orbit of the self-destructive and utterly captivating Alaska Young. It may sound like standard YA romance fare — in the hands of Green, however, it is anything but.
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The Lord of the Rings Series
Available from:J.R.R. Tolkien’s masterful trilogy is among the most influential works in the fantasy genre, and almost certainly the most influential to modern fantasy literature. The epic tale of Frodo Baggins, the Fellowship, and the quest to destroy the One Ring is a work of extraordinary imagination and painstaking attention to detail.
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The Outsiders
Available from:The Outsiders was a landmark piece of fiction for young adults and a herald of the more frank and realistic teenage relationships that modern readers are now accustomed to. Published in 1967 when S.E. Hinton was just 18, the story of Ponyboy, the Greasers, and their escalating conflict with the Socs continues to captivate readers.
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A Separate Peace
Set in a boy’s boarding school during World War II, A Separate Peace is a thought-provoking parable of adolescence and the loss of innocence. The story follows an introverted, bookish Gene and extroverted, carefree Phineas. What begins as a close friendship soon deteriorates, leading to jealousy and a single impulsive decision that irreparably changes their lives.
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To Kill a Mockingbird
Harper Lee won a Pulitzer Prize in 1961 for this coming-of-age masterpiece. Centering on a handful of years in the lives of Scout, Jem, and Atticus Finch, To Kill a Mockingbird is a remarkably poignant and clear-eyed examination of growing up, racial tensions, and the loss of innocence, all told in Lee’s rich and wry prose.
Want to know what other books made it onto “The Great American Read” list? Head on over to PBS to see all 100.