In highschool we’re required to read books of all kinds, but many of them are known as ‘classics.’ These books are well known and have academic value and merit, but more often than not they are so boring that no one can stand to read them. So I created this list, classic books that are not mind-numbingly boring but will still impress your English teacher. Without further ado, let’s begin!

1. The Island of Dr. Moreu by H. G. Wells (1896)

Genre: Sci-fi

I rate this book a solid 7/10. It’s a very interesting read but some parts are a little confusing. Some of the language is outdated, making it difficult to understand certain contexts. I read this book in Monster Lit and thoroughly enjoyed it. It does get a bit graphic at parts, and I would not recommend it to people who are sensitive to violence. 

2. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (1868)

Genre: Comedy

9/10. This book has strong female leads with relatable personalities, and it shows the very real struggles of life. The book is a bit ‘juvenile’ so it is very easy to follow the plot. This book was a simple, blissful, joyous journey for me to read.The book has no major dramas or complex tragedies of classic literature. I think it’s the simplicity of the book that made it a masterpiece.

The Handmaid’s tale by Margaret Attwood (1985)

Genre: Dystopian Fiction

10/10. The book is thought provoking and disturbing at the very least. I couldn’t believe the book was written in 1986, as the context is so relevant in the 21st century as well. We are still fighting the same war of equality which we were half a century ago. The first 2-3 chapters were slow for me though as I couldn’t believe what was going on, but the book picked up pace. The book does end on  a cliffhanger, but there are more in the series.

3.Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger (1951)

Genre: YA Fiction

5/10. I personally liked this book but I couldn’t get over the main character. Insufferable and overwhelmingly negative, teen angst icon Holden strings the reader through a cushy and privileged tale littered with the musings of somebody wholly unwilling to reflect on the bigger picture, as well as their own hypocrisy. Our resilient protagonist dumps on everyone he comes in contact with, with a complete disregard for the very real school of thought in which other people’s ideas don’t always align with your own and that doesn’t automatically make them “a great big phony.”

4.Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë (1847)

Genre: Romance 

The oldest book on the list gets an 8/10. I love the way that this is written— beautiful, descriptive, and brilliant.The angst of the plot will keep you going. I was absolutely distraught when Jane set foot on Thornfield. Also, this is not your conventional love story, and although there was a love story, it does not focus solely about it. Rather, this is about the female heroine and her quest for belonging and being loved, and yet realizing that self-love is the most essential for all, and with it, she can pass