Library Staff Directory
Posted Sep 5, 2014
What makes a classic a classic? Simple: their noteworthy characters, themes, and plots stand the test of time, reaching across generations and sticking with you long after you’ve finished them. Most of us encounter these stories in our high school English courses, and whether you’ve just started school or you’re reminiscing of the past, here are some common American classics that are worth checking out for the first time or, better yet, a second read…
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Set in Alabama during the Great Depression, To Kill a Mockingbird follows the Finch family as lawyer Atticus Finch defends Tom Robinson, a young black man accused of rape, and his children, Scout and Jem, with their fascination of their recluse neighbor, Boo Radley. Through strong characters, Lee illustrates the horrors of racism and the courage and compassion to rise above how things stand in this engaging coming-of-age novel.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
It’s the summer of 1922, and Nick Carraway has just moved next door to mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby. When he finds out that Gatsby is in love with his debutante cousin, Daisy Buchanan, he delves deeper into the American Dream as Gatsby and Daisy attempt to rekindle their lost romance. Chalk full of idealism and decadence, The Great Gatsby tells a cautionary, somber tale of love and economic power.
Feeling oppressed, the animals of Mr. Jones’ farm band together, overthrow the farmer, and rename the farm “Animal Farm.” The animals then move forward in setting up their own government on the premise that “All animals are equal.” But, “some animals are more equal than others,” and the pigs rise to power. And then what happens when the pigs begin to resemble the humans that once operated the farm?
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Imagine a world without books. Picture a society where firefighters start books on fire rather than put them out. Now meet Guy Montag, a conflicted firefighter that realizes the merit of books. After stealing books from crime scenes, Montag becomes more and more disenchanted with his job and the society he is living in. But what happens when he is caught? Bradbury’s dystopian novel is a classic satire featuring censorship, intellectual freedom, and state-sponsored terrorism.
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