I first read this historic romance in Honors Literature I. It was a challenging read for a 10th grader. However, I really liked the chivalry, concepts of honor and valor, and twists in plot. Certainly, this is not a novel for anyone. Yet, reading and understanding novels like Jane Porter's really helped me prepare for the CR section of the SAT.

The classic tale of a boy who wishes to become a gentleman, Great Expectations is a novel about some of life's dearest questions: (1) what am I going to do with my life? (2) whom will I trust? (3) does the person I love, love me back? With memorable characters including Miss Havinsham, Pip, Compeyson, and Magwitch, Great Expectations is a great novel for college-bound students to read in HS.

I enjoyed Bronte's style of writing, the plot, and the themes. Jane struggles throughout the novel to follow her conviction again outside pressures. Meanwhile, she faces the strick Victorian standard of morality, which keeps her from showing the love she truly has for Edward Rochester, a man she considers her equal. Yet, the plot thickens because Rochester has a secret of his own to reveal...

"Animal Farm" is a warning against communism. Through animals, George Orwell paints the picture of communism as a corrupt system, even more corrupt than capitalism, where "all animals are equal, BUT SOME ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS," and where, "No animal shall kill another animal WITHOUT CAUSE." For any HS student studying the Russian Revolution and the subsequent Stalinist era, read it!

Great Civil War novel about the Battle of Gettysburg from the perspective of Colonel Chamberlain, General Lee, General Longstreet, etc. The novel is not written especially well. However, it should keep the attention of HS students who enjoy battle sequences, teach students about US history, and present scenarios for students to consider.

I first read the Signet Classics abridged version of "The Count of Monte Cristo" the summer following my graduation from HS. It was a very lengthy novel (even abridged) with many interesting plots and subplots. The themes were also interesting, especially Dantes' dialogue as he performs "the justice of God" on those who falsely imprisoned him to the Chateau d'If.

John Steinbeck's story of a family (the Jodes) who try to make it in Americ during the Great Depression after their land is confiscated by ruthless capitalists. The rest of the novel explores the idea of capitalism as corrupt and again working people's ability to make a descent living.

I first read this novel in 7th grade and greatly enjoyed the two stories turned into one (like Doyle's "A Study in Scarlet"). Reading about the Scowlers and their crime in America was interesting, as was how that relates to Sherlock Holmes and his latest murder case in England many years later.

Dr. Henry Jekyll creates a potion that changes him into Edward Hyde - a man purely evil. Jekyll knows drinking the potion and becoming Hyde is wrong, but the urge is very great. When the potion begins to run out, Dr. Jekyll faces the terror of what drugs can do. Major Theme: duality of man. Major lesson: "Do not take any drugs that change you into someone you are not, or else ..."

Richard Shelton lives with his uncle, Sir Daniel, a man who changes sides from York to Lancaster every chance he can. When young Shelton hears from members of the Black Arrow - a secret group of men who hate Sir Daniel - that Sir Daniel had murdered Richard's father, Richard sets off to find the truth. Richard's allies and adventures make this a wonderful HS read.