Does anyone know what the most commonly read books in high school are? I'm taking AP Lit next year and want to read ahead this summer. I think knowledge of commonly studied books might help provide a better foundation.
Absolutely, preparing by reading some of the commonly assigned literature in high school can definitely give you a solid foundation for your AP Lit class. Some of these popular classics include:
1. "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee
2. "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald
3. "Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare
4. "1984" by George Orwell
5. "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger
6. "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury
7. "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens
8. "Moby Dick" by Herman Melville
9. "The Odyssey" by Homer
10. "Hamlet" by William Shakespeare
Do note, though, that the syllabus can vary widely between different high schools and different AP Lit teachers, so this list might not completely match up with what you'll be assigned. Nonetheless, these works are often studied for their timeless themes and complex characters, so they should provide a solid foundation for understanding the analysis you'll be doing in AP Lit. Enjoy your summer of reading!
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