What was your favorite book that you had to read for school?
Toni Savchuck
EAST OF EDEN by John Steinbeck
Randi Odierno
Being in high school during the late 60s was an incredible experience. Having said that, I would have to say the book that left an indelible impression of a (less than) innocent mind was LORD OF THE FLIES. My required reading, guessing that you find my choice bizarre, included HIROSHIMA, "Death Be Not Proud" and BLACK LIKE ME, so I would say it was a tough choice. My extracurricular reading was far more interesting and THE HOBBIT topped my list (sad that it wasn`t required reading, since I read that and followed up with the trilogy. Perhaps an educator will read this and appreciate that reading should be enjoyable).
Peggy
War and Peace
Lee
No doubt, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD.This book is still one of my all-time favorite reads. I remember reading it and then we watched the movie in class. I thought Gregory Peck was so handsome!
Ray Palen
3-way tie for me:
A SEPARATE PEACE by John Knowles
CATCHER IN THE RYE by J.D. Sallinger
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by Harper Lee
R. B. Faust
Melville`s MOBY DICK
Marie Kadlec
One Flew Over the Cuckoo`s Nest
Debbie Horton
A Prayer for Owen Meany
Diane
THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA by Hemingway
S. Weber
A Tale of Two Cities
Jane Eyre
Selected Poems of Robert Frost
Deborah Carter
A Tale of Two Cities
Peggy Kincaid
That would be A TALE OF TWO CITIES by Charles Dickens. This was during the school year but it was required reading along with a few others. To this day, it is my favorite classic and favorite Dickens book.
Bridget Colontonio
To Kill A Mockingbird
Susan
JANE EYRE and Paul Gallico`s SNOW GOOSE.
Debbie
I do not have a favorite book that I had to read for school. Though, I do remember hating THE RED BADGE OF COURAGE.
Eileen Quinn Knight, Ph.D
Graham Greene was my favorite author in high school. He had such penetratingly thoughtful questions about the human condition. I especially liked THE POWER AND THE GLORY! He was complex and a deep thinker...matched life for me.
Michelle Miller
Gone with the Wind
Barbara Bocan
The Great Gatsby
Melodie
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD... no question!
Glecia Miller
My fave book read for school was OLIVER TWIST.
Ronna Lord
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by Harper Lee remained my all-time favorite book until the release of PEACE LIKE A RIVER by Leif Enger.
Carolyn Branch
DAVID COPPERFIELD by Charles Dickens --- we read it during 10th grade, I think, and discussed each chapter. I can still quote passages. There is a reason why that novel has remained popular for such a long time --- it`s a darn good story.
Edward Garea
THE AMERICAN by Henry James
Rosemarie
Johnny Tremain
LaDonna Carrington
THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY by Oscar Wilde
Dena
In grade school, it was WATERSHIP DOWN. In high school it was TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD.
Candice
I read the THE GREAT GATSBY in my junior year of high school. After finishing it I went on to read all of Fitzgerald. Twenty-five years later, GATSBY is still one of my favorites. I can`t say the same for senior year`s GREAT EXPECTATIONS!
J. Wood
The Grapes of Wrath.
Becky Barry
A TALE OF TWO CITIES by Charles Dickens
Cathy Doyle
It`s been so long I can hardly remember, but I recall resenting being forced to read anything (I have always been a reader, big time). However, having to read the classics did give me a love for them, which may have taken longer if left to my own devices. At least today, reading lists give much wider choices, instead of dry, old books that kids really do not want to read. I usually don`t have to buy them for my son because I already have them!
Teresa Steinert
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
by Harper Lee
We had to read it in the 8th or 9th grade. I still re-read it every decade or so, especially after seeing the movie.
Then, FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS by Ernest Hemmingway. I read this for both high school and college. I just loved the female characters.
Kimberly Ragsdale
THE GREAT GATSBY by F. Scott Fitzgerald
J Rossa
Return of the Native
Darlene Mour
Old Man and the Sea
Harriet Insler
GIANTS IN THE EARTH: it was about a group of people heading West. Beautifully written.
Julie
A TALE OF TWO CITIES by Charles Dickens
Marla Niksch
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
John
ANATOMY OF A MURDER by Robert Traver
Wonderfully written mystery and legal thriller authored by a former Michigan Supreme Court Justice. The novel contains captivating characters and realistically describes the practice of law and life in Michigan`s upper peninsula.
Jo
I had to read STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND Land by Robert Heinlein in high school. It was the first science fiction book I ever read. Although I don`t think I have read a science fiction book since, I found this one intriguing.
Krishna Shah
THE MAYOR OF CASTERBRIDGE by Thomas Hardy and a collection of poems by Robert Frost.
Monica Jordan
My favorite required reading was CATCHER IN THE RYE by J. D. Salinger. It was funny and sad all at once. I especially appreciated it knowing that it was once banned.
Angelicia Bunch
INVISIBLE MAN by Ralph Elison... This is an awesome book that all races should read to better understand the struggles and plight of the Black man in America. After reading it and having indepth discussion, no one can dare deny what the Black man experiences here in America.
L.Gettle
A Tale of Two Cities
Linda M. Johnson
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, hands down, was the best book I "had" to read in high school.
Rita Powell
Animal Farm
Betsy Bnnig
A Tale of Two Cities
Sonia Zaffiris
To Kill A Mockingbird
Anna Robinson
My favorite book to read for school was TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by Harper Lee. It is a classic. I am now 64 years old, and recently, my book group read and discussed it. All of us still love it, although we felt we enjoyed it even more as adults.
Sandi
Believe it or not....SILAS MARNER
Melissa
THE RETURN OF THE NATIVE by Thomas Hardy
Katherine Stephens
DIARY OF A YOUNG GIRL by Anne Frank
April Lemesh
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD was my favorite book that was assigned school reading. I don`t think I appreciated the impact it had on me until later in life. We lived in Connecticut, but my father was from Atlanta. Lots of different ideas I got from growing up in my family formed the way I view life today.
Maureen
Madame Bovary
Doris McMahon
I have 2 favorites from my school days --- WUTHERING HEIGHTS and LORD OF THE FLIES.
Susan
Crime and Punishment
Sharon
THE GOOD EARTH by Pearl S. Buck
Pam
Catcher in the Rye
Ricki
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Chalmers mccarthy
LOOK HOMEWARD, ANGEL, by Thomas Wolfe
M C P D
A Tale of Two Cities
Tamela Ritter
To Kill a Mockingbird
Anne K
A TALE OF TWO CITIES by Charles Dickens
Kim
THE OUTSIDERS. I loved that book. It was so funny when my daughter came home with the book and devoured it as well.
Donna
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by Harper Lee
Jamille Krupa
A TALE OF TWO CITIES by Dickens was my most favorite book that I had to read in school.
Julie Carter
I know I`m one of the few, but one of my favorites was THE SCARLET LETTER by Nathaniel Hawthorne. I was enthralled by the beautiful language as well as the story. It was a book that really made me use my brain to figure out what I thought about it. The wonderful teacher I had, Mrs. Basham, also influenced my life in a big way, by teaching us how to think independently. I love this book not only for itself, but for what it taught me about myself.
Mike Charles
My favorite high school read was THE CATCHER IN THE RYE. I`ve followed with interest the life of author J.D. Salinger, who remained as reclusive as ever throughout life, almost like his book`s protagonist, Holden Caulfield. I often identified with Caulfield in my teens.
Regina M. Fagan
WUTHERING HEIGHTS, without a doubt. Thus began a life-long love affair with this marvelous work. I`ve read it so many times over the years that I`ve practically memorized it by now. (Falling in love as well with Heathcliff did not particularly help with my choice of a mate later on.... however, at least I outgrew that attraction! But I still love the book.)
Kellie
The book that was most memorable was THE GOOD EARTH by Pearl Buck. I thought I would hate it, but I ended up really liking it.
Maria McHugh
Wuthering Heights
Marion Gagnon
THE RETURN OF THE NATIVE by Thomas Hardy. I thought I would hate this and ended up being completely transported to another world.
Warn
Catcher in the Rye
Helen
IVANHOE by Sir Walter Scott.
Amanda
A TALE OF TWO CITIES by Charles Dickens, hands down.
Marilyn Gibbons
To Kill a Mockingbird
Heather Murdock
Where the Red Fern Grows
Sandy Gowdy
A SEPARATE PEACE by John Knowles
Neka C. Trout
I read THE RED BADGE OF COURAGE in about 7th or 8th grade and began to realize what good writing and the desire to read it were all about.
Sharon
IMMENSE JOURNEY by Loren Eiseley
Melissa Vera
Little Women
Loretta Sanford
The Outsiders
Debbie Davlin
A TALE OF TWO CITIES by Charles Dickens.... "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." I hear that opening line and it takes me back. It was a book I loved because I had an excellent English teacher who, with her questions and her insight, forced us to see things we missed the first time around... and I couldn't wait to reread those parts and watch the story unfold. I've never met anyone else in my age group who enjoyed it as much, but I am guessing they didn't have a Mrs. Coulter as their English teacher.
Ruth Ross
F. Scott Fitzgerald's masterpiece, THE GREAT GATSBY.
Maureen Hoffman-Wehmeier
THE GREAT GATSBY by F. Scott Fitzgerald was my favorite. I read it when I was a junior in high school. In college, my favorite was ORDINARY PEOPLE. (We read it before it came out as a movie.)
N.E. Smith
Gone with the Wind
Shannon Colvin
Cry, the Beloved Country
Dave Vernon
Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl
Rachel
Rebecca
Donna Scott
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by Harper Lee
Jen Breseman
Johnny Tremain
The Face On the Milk Carton
Where the Red Fern Grows
Aimee Leon
A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE by Tennessee Williams
Donna Burger
1984
Jeanette F. Milliner
Johnny Tremain
Nunu In Niagara
My favorite book I had to read for school was LORD OF THE FLIES. I also enjoyed THE CATCHER IN THE RYE.
sandi
Ivanhoe
Nana
WUTHERING HEIGHTS: I loved the book and I didn't mind writing a five-page reading log on it (I ended up getting top marks!).
Beverly Rowe
Wow! That was a long time ago. I guess I would have to say THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN by Mark Twain.
Selina Williams
THE OUTSIDERS by S.E. Hinton
Pat Enger
ETHAN FROME in 1938 --- and I still love it.
Rosalie Sambuco
THE CONCUBINE: THE STORY OF ANN BOLEYN by Norah Lofts. This was my first taste of historical fiction. I have not stopped reading this genre, especially English history, to this day. That was 45 years ago!!!
Diane
For Whom the Bell Tolls
Nick Miozzi
ANIMAL FARM by George Orwell
Alexis Clayton
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Laurie
THE GOOD EARTH, followed closely by TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD.
Glenda Bogan
To Kill a Mockingbird
Lori Simmons
To Kill a Mockingbird
Sheila Soloff
It's so hard to pick one. Some favorites along the way were JOHNNY TREMAIN,THE CATCHER IN THE RYE, KIM, and TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD in high school. By the time I got to college, I became an English major just because I loved to read so much.
Bobbe B. Salkowitz
To Kill A Mockingbird
Joan Litke
THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS by Kenneth Grahame
Bonnie
THE PEARL by John Steinbeck
Madhavi
GONE WITH THE WIND by Margaret Mitchell
LaDonna Carrington
THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY by Oscar Wilde
Brenda Keller
The Great Gatsby
Joan Woods
Moby Dick
Sherry Asbell
Ethan Frome
Patricia Cantrell
A Tale of Two Cities
Gaye
Ray Bradbury's THE ILLUSTRATED MAN
Lea
My favorite book that I had to read in school was 1984 by George Orwell. His tale of terror by Big Brother was scary, and also acted as a social commentary that seems to be coming true today in the 21st century. It also had a love story of Julia and Winston, but the best part was the betrayal. I think that I need to read it again in light of today's world since it has been about 30 years since I read it.
Dianne Gordonn
A TALE OF TWO CITIES by Charles Dickens
jhp
Chaucer's THE CANTERBURY TALES
Barb Broberg
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Connie Brouillette Kallenberg
THE FAMILY OF MAN by Edward Steichen in 1969.
Although it was a photography book, it had a powerful impact on me as a teen. The original edition continues to have the same impact. I understand that the current edition has been Disney-fied, which is crass and heart-breaking.
Judy Dils
To Kill a Mockingbird
Marcia Pullin
Dostoevsky's CRIME AND PUNISHMENT: a timeless, suspenseful story that taught me (at age 14) a number of life's lessons that I have carried with me always. ie: Even a superior being in a quest for a greater good cannot exempt himself from society's codes --- even if society would exempt him, and even if he shuns that society. Also: Carrying a guilty secret alone within one's self will destroy one's soul.
There is much more. The book gave me things to think about for the rest of my life.
Lyla Douce
TRAVELS WITH CHARLEY IN SEARCH OF AMERICA
Gail Perryman
Wuthering Heights
Ginnie
The Catcher in the Rye
Melanie Meeks
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD is one of the books that has impacted me more than any. Atticus Finch, Jem, Scout, and Boo Radley teach us so much about living an honorable life and doing the right thing... powerful!
Rayhani Abdeladim
THE PRINCE by Machiavelli
Kim
Jane Eyre
Janet Best
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD: This remains one of my top 3 all-time favorite books.
Rita Carter
ETHAN FROME was my favorite. I also enjoyed THE GREAT GATSBY.
Amanda
THE DRIVER'S SEAT by Muriel Spark
Rita Bueter
To Kill a Mockingbird
Anna Andres
Anything by Hemingway!
Elizabeth Clarke
THE GREAT GATSBY by Fitzgerald
Candace Martin
ETHAN FROME and WUTHERING HEIGHTS
Nancy
THE PEARL by John Steinbeck
Keeva
Faulkner's AS I LAY DYING
Patty Burleyson
Silas Marner
anne
The Great Gatsby
Barbara Brandt
I was a classroom teacher in elementary school for 20 years. About 1/2 of those years I worked with upper level students. As part of our literature program we read, THE GIVER. I think that was my favorite book I had to read for school in order to prepare for time with my students. I am sure there were some other great ones I read when I was in school, but when I read your question, this was the first book that popped into my head.
The second book would be SADAKO AND THE THOUSAND PAPER CRANES, which is a great book for the lower elementary-age students either for a class read or for a read-aloud.
Nina Picone
ETHAN FROME and GONE WITH THE WIND
Patti D.
My favorite I had to read in school was PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
Tom Mangelsdorf
Mortimer J. Adler wrote a book entitled, HOW TO READ A BOOK.
In my mind, it shoud have been called "How to get an education."
I love Lawrence Block
Sharlynda Dehnel
My favorite book that I have both read for a graduate university class and taught in an 11th grade AP class was THEIR EYES WERE WATCHING GOD. Zora Neale Hurston's beautifully lyrical book is a touching portrait of love, friendship, and relationships among townspeople. It is also a testament to lust, covetousness, greed, envy, and gossipy townsfolk.
Hurston's book will always be one that I recommend without reservation and will remain my favorite book of all time. I have read it some four times, and I will never tire of its magical language.
Cindy Duez
A TALE OF TWO CITIES by Charles Dickens
Nancy Martin
To Kill A Mockingbird
Sarah
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, hands down. No book has ever spoken to me or moved me quite as much as this powerful story. I reread this book every couple of years and watch the movie often on stormy, quiet days.
Becky Ziegler
THE CHOSEN by Chaim Potok
Kathie Peters
LES MISERABLES by Victor Hugo. Fabulous. It's still one of my very favorites. I will always love Jean Valjean.
Cy Hilterman
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
(Yes --- believe it or not!)
Kristin
A Separate Peace
Patti Mittereder
I can't remember my favorite book to read for school, but I do recall my first book I was allow to buy in the 4th grade. We did not have much money growing up, but I was allowed to buy THE GHOST WHO WENT TO SCHOOL and I read that book all summer long. If my memory serves me correctly, it cost my mom 35 cents. That was back when the teacher would send orders from all of the students and then we would have to wait six weeks before they arrived.
Paul Glad
Travels With Charley In Search of America
Janice Toppen
To Kill A Mockingbird
Sheryl Berry
It's a tie between THE CATCHER IN THE RYE and THE OUTSIDERS
Coree
THE GIVER, one of my favorite books of all time!
Trish T
While it's hard to remember all the books I was required to read, one that sticks in my mind is PRIDE AND PREJUDICE by Jane Austen. The characters are very distinct, the dialogue is very witty and holds up well over two centuries. Charlotte Bronte couldn't say anything nice about Miss Austen, but however good a writer of fiction Miss Bronte was, I differ with her here. The tale of who will marry whom and who will marry who they deserve is timeless, and some current marriages might have lasted longer if a little input from the older generation had been accepted.
Jean V.
The Great Gatsby
Allan Fredericks
1984 by George Orwell
This was a book way ahead of its time and extremely heady in its approach to the future. Just a masterpiece of great fiction.
My second favorite was ANIMAL HOUSE, also by George Orwell. These books should be mainstays of English lit courses.
Sabrina
Gone With The Wind
