Essential literature must reads for high school students

Reading is an important part of a student’s academic life, and there are countless books that can help improve their English skills. However, with so many options available, it can be challenging for high school students to know where to start. In this article, we will look at ten international and 10 African essential books that every high school student should read to improve their English skills.

Here are the international classics:

1. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee 
   This classic novel explores themes of racial injustice and the loss of innocence in a small Southern town during the 1930s.
2. 1984 by George Orwell
   This dystopian novel explores themes of government control, individualism, and the dangers of totalitarianism.
3. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
   This novel explores themes of wealth, love, and the American Dream in the Roaring Twenties.
4. Lord of the Flies by William Golding
   This allegorical novel explores the dark side of human nature through the story of a group of boys stranded on a deserted island.
   
5. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
   This coming-of-age novel follows the story of Holden Caulfield as he navigates the complexities of adolescence and adulthood.
6. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
   This dystopian novel explores themes of consumerism, individualism, and the dangers of technology.
7. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
   This historical novel is set in London and Paris during the French Revolution, and explores themes of sacrifice, love, and redemption.
8. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
   This classic novel explores themes of race, identity, and the meaning of freedom through the story of a young boy and a runaway slave on a journey down the Mississippi River.
9. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
   This coming-of-age novel explores themes of class, violence, and the struggle for identity among a group of working-class teenagers.
10. Animal Farm by George Orwell
    This allegorical novel explores themes of power, corruption, and the dangers of propaganda through the story of a group of farm animals who overthrow their human owner.
    

These ten essential books are just a few of the many classic works of literature that high school students should read to improve their English skills. By reading these books, students can gain a deeper understanding of complex themes and develop critical thinking skills that will serve them well throughout their academic and professional careers.

Here are some African books that high school students should consider reading:

1. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
   This classic novel is set in pre-colonial Nigeria and explores the impact of colonialism on African societies and cultures.

2. Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga
   This coming-of-age novel is set in colonial Rhodesia (present-day Zimbabwe) and explores themes of gender, race, and identity.
   

3. The Housemaid by Amma Darko
   This novel is set in Ghana and tells the story of a young woman who leaves her village to work as a housemaid in the city, where she faces exploitation and abuse.

4. We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo
   This novel is set in Zimbabwe and the United States and follows the story of a young girl named Darling as she navigates the complexities of immigration, identity, and poverty.

5. Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
   This novel is set in Nigeria and the United States and explores themes of race, identity, and the immigrant experience.
   

6. So Long a Letter by Mariama Bâ
   This novel is set in Senegal and tells the story of a woman who writes a letter to her friend after her husband’s death, reflecting on the challenges she has faced as a woman in a patriarchal society.

7. The Thing Around Your Neck by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
   This collection of short stories is set in Nigeria and the United States and explores themes of identity, migration, and the African diaspora.

8. The Palm-Wine Drinkard by Amos Tutuola
   This novel is set in Nigeria and tells the story of a young man who sets out on a quest to find the palm-wine tapster who has left his village.

9. The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born by Ayi Kwei Armah
   This novel is set in Ghana and explores themes of corruption, disillusionment, and the struggle for moral integrity.

10. Dust by Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor
    This novel is set in Kenya and tells the story of a family struggling to come to terms with their past and their present in the aftermath of political violence.

These African books offer rich and diverse perspectives on African cultures and experiences, as well as provide high school students with an opportunity to develop their English language skills.