As a teacher who goes into a range of schools, I am always bemused that most of them pick the same three books to teach at GCSE level: A Christmas Carol, Macbeth, and An Inspector Calls.
None of these are bad books, and anyone who knows me will know that A Christmas Carol is one of my favourite books ever. I even collect copies of it!
However, what is disappointing is the expansive list they could pick from. This list contains several books that all teenagers would relate to. So, here are five books I believe all teenagers should read.
1984 - George Orwell
1984 is the story of Winston Smith, a man living in the totalitarian future state of Oceania, which is completely controlled by the Party and its dictator, Big Brother. The Party maintains power through constant surveillance (telescreens) and the manipulation of truth, language (Newspeak), and history.
Winston attempts a secret rebellion by starting a diary and pursuing a forbidden love with Julia. They are eventually caught, tortured, and brainwashed by the Party’s agents, the Thought Police.
There are so many similarities in this novel to life at the moment. The constant surveillance we are all under with CCTV, the rise of fake news, and even the text-speak used in the book similar to teenage texting. Apart from all this, it is the ultimate book of rebellion, and what teenager doesn’t enjoy rebellion?
To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
To Kill a Mockingbird is set in the fictional, racially tense town of Maycomb, Alabama, during the 1930s. The story is told through the eyes of a young girl named Scout Finch.
The main plot follows Scout’s father, Atticus Finch, a morally upright lawyer who defends Tom Robinson, a Black man falsely accused of raping a poor white woman. Atticus faces intense prejudice from the community but attempts to teach Scout and her brother, Jem, vital lessons about courage, compassion, and justice.
As well as being a lesson in the racial undertones of history, it is a classic coming-of-age story. We see Scout progress from an innocent girl to a young person who comes to understand the unfairness of life. The book is a classic for a reason and will spark many conversations amongst teenagers.
Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury
Guy Montag is a fireman whose job is to burn books in a future society where reading is forbidden, and critical thought is suppressed for the sake of forced happiness.
After meeting a free-spirited neighbour and witnessing an act of martyrdom for books, Montag begins secretly reading and rebelling against the government’s strict censorship.
Within one of the opening pages, we see Montag go home to his wife who is sitting in front of a giant screen where she gets all her information. The parallels with television and virtual reality are quite scary. This is also a book about the love of reading, which all teenagers could do with a little more of.
Frankenstein - Mary Shelley
This is one of the most misunderstood books ever. Most people think they know what it is about, but few truly do. Victor Frankenstein, an ambitious and obsessed student of science, discovers the secret to animating non-living matter. He constructs a creature from various human and animal parts but is immediately horrified by its monstrous appearance and abandons it.
The intelligent, sensitive, and lonely Creature is rejected by society and seeks revenge on its creator for bringing it into the world and then deserting it.
This is a book about acceptance and fitting in as much as it is about science. It has strong messages that all teenagers can relate to.
The Sign of Four - Arthur Conan Doyle
This is a fun addition to the list. Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson are hired by Mary Morstan, whose father mysteriously disappeared ten years earlier. Since his disappearance, she has anonymously received a valuable pearl every year.
The investigation into the pearls and her father’s fate leads them to the Sholto family and a hidden treasure from India, known as the Agra treasure. The trail involves betrayal, greed, and a murder at Pondicherry Lodge.
The ending of this book will enthral any teenager who is a fan of escape rooms, it is the ultimate escape.
What Have I Missed?
So, these are the five books I believe most teenagers will take something away from if they only give themselves the chance. A couple of honourable mentions: both are on the GCSE reading list. Although, not popular choices, Lord of the Flies and Of Mice and Men are both brilliant, quick reads.
So, what have I missed? Which book do you think all teenagers should read?
Until next Friday: Read to learn. Read to escape. Read to smile.