Struggling to pick the perfect books for your 12th-grade homeschooler? You’re not alone! Grab your free 12th grade reading list and start your college-prep reading today.
Our comprehensive guide helps you select the perfect titles, ensuring your student is college-ready and confident in their reading and literary analysis abilities. This article has everything you need to get started.
College-Prep reading list
Are you looking for a college-prep reading list for high school home-schoolers? If so, you’re in the right place. A well-rounded 12th-grade reading list should include some of the best books of all time and chances are you’ve already heard of many, such as Lord of the Flies by William Golding. But don’t forget to include a few graphic novels in your list too! Your teens will thank you.
For literature lovers, start with classic works such as:
- The Count Of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas,
- Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, and
- To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
Other great options include Animal Farm or 1984 by George Orwell. Don’t forget to add some current selections to your college-prep reading list too! Try a contemporary favorite such as All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doer.
Of course, some students enjoy delving into multiple genres throughout their 12th-grade year. For example, adding a few graphic novels to your college prep reading list makes for a fun twist on the traditional way of learning about various literary works. Consider iconic works by Art Spiegelman or Alan Moore just to name a few. Adding multiple genres can also appeal to those who shy away from literature because it presents another way to enjoy books without feeling bogged down with understanding complex themes or dense texts.
When searching for your college-prep reading list materials it is important that students have access to high-quality content that they feel comfortable with yet still challenge them intellectually and emotionally in ways they never expected. With so much excellent material available there is no limit on what types of fonts or stories can lead students toward deep discoveries about themselves – and gain key skills needed to prepare them for college life.
12th-grade reading list: College-Prep English literature
When it comes to preparing high schoolers for college-level literature, a well-planned 12th-grade reading list is essential. The following academic year of English literature promises to be an exciting journey for young adults looking to transition into college-level work. The following list is composed of timeless classics that have been widely read for centuries and are all considered suitable works when prepping for college courses.
- George Orwell’s Animal Farm
- Huxley’s Brave New World,
- Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein,
- Charles Dickens’s David Copperfield and Oliver Twist,
- Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray and The Importance of Being Earnest,
- The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer and
- Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice
are all excellent choices that can help build the student’s knowledge base when it comes to classic literature.
For students looking to continue on the path of learning more modern literature, younger adult books such as Frances Hodgson Burnett’s A Secret Garden or Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island can provide some enjoyment while still providing academic value. Reading books that reflect information relevant to the curriculum they may take in college also provides a great starting point when preparing for these upcoming courses by introducing them to certain themes, settings, and plots.
Though these works may be challenging due to their length or content depth, understanding their impact on society can provide insight into our past as well as inspire language fluency in present-day teenage readers. By carefully selecting from this 12th-grade reading list, homeschoolers will have the opportunity to familiarise themselves with all sorts of stories ranging from tragedy, comedy, and satire which should certainly serve them well in furthering their education long after high school has ended.
College-Prep for Homeschoolers summer reading lists
Reading plays an important role in preparing high school seniors for college. To make sure homeschoolers are well-prepared, it is important to include college-prep books in their summer reading lists.
Classic literature is a great place to start. “The Scarlet Letter” by Nathaniel Hawthorne and “The Red Badge of Courage” by Stephen Crane can help get students thinking about complex moral issues and reflecting on the power of literature. For a different perspective, the “Joy Luck Club” by Amy Tan and short stories from authors like Anton Chekov should also be included on their summer reading lists.
Other options include Mark Twain’s classic, “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” or Charlotte Bronte’s classic romance, “Jane Eyre“. Similarly, exploring John Steinbeck’s emotionally charged works like “Of Mice and Men” as well as Arthur Miller’s famous tragedy “Death Of A Salesman” will expand their knowledge base beyond the realms of literature towards ethics and morality. Lastly, F Scott Fitzgerald’s novel “The Great Gatsby” should be included in any summer reading list due to its rich symbolism and themes connecting to both eras and issues found today.
College prep for homeschoolers should not only focus on academic material but also emphasize growth as young adults with a worldview beyond themselves. Through classics such as those listed above, homeschoolers will be able to gain insight into society while still being challenged academically during the summer months with these college-level texts.
literature list for 12th graders
Choosing a literature list for 12th-grade homeschoolers can be challenging. Most colleges require four years of literature and writing-based English classes, so it is important to select reading texts that will give children the college-prep experience. To achieve this, parents should look for great books that provide classic stories and experiences with a range of genres and styles.
Robert Louis Stevenson’s ‘Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde‘ is a perfect example of classic horror fiction, while Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The House of Seven Gables” provides an exciting mix of mystery and romance. Short stories by Edgar Allan Poe such as “The Pit and the Pendulum” showcase his mastery of horror tales. Are you looking to lightly probe into the supernatural realm? Washington Irving’s gothic work such as “Rip Van Winkle” is another excellent selection.
For some classic comedies, Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare or Twelfth Night by the same author will allow students to explore humor set in different eras. For adventures on the high seas, Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe gives readers an irresistible challenge while Mark Twain offers insight into American life with books like The Adventures Of Tom Sawyer. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens is another classic text that should be included for its excellent combination of themes like love, betrayal, identity, friendship, and revenge.
students who love children’s literature
For older students who love children’s literature, consider The Little Prince By Antoine de Saint Exupéry or Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls. With these two works kids can experience imaginative worlds and coinciding messages about courage and frailty. Also, include George Eliot’s Middlemarch to develop themes connected to social change or Leo Tolstoy’s War And Peace for an in-depth exploration into voyages within political unrest. Although challenging, these two books offer comprehensive studies on heroism as well as loyalty when it comes to matters of life-changing events in history. Unlike most list choices thoughtful conversations are more approachable through great literature that homeschooling families will revel in with their children.
Parents, please use Common Sense Media to check reviews as part of your curriculum planning process.
Here is a list of 12th-grade college-prep reading literature study guides & online courses for homeschoolers:
There are loads of literature study choices out there. We recommend Literary Adventures for Kids, Compass Classroom, and Progeny Press, for self-paced resources. For online, interactive classes, we recommend Arise Home Education.
- American Literature
- The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
- The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
- The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
- British Literature
- Hamlet by William Shakespeare
- Macbeth by William Shakespeare
- A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare
- Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
- World Literature
- The Odyssey by Homer
- The Iliad by Homer
- The Aeneid by Virgil
- Dante’s Inferno
- Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes
- History
- Science
- The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the Periodic Table by Sam Kean
- The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot, Study guide.
- The Hot Zone by Richard Preston. Study Guide.
- Cosmos by Carl Sagan. Study Guide.
- Philosophy
- The Republic by Plato. Study Guide
- The Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle. Study guide.
- The Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. Study guide.
- Thus Spoke Zarathustra by Friedrich Nietzsche. Study guide.
This list is a good starting point for homeschoolers who are looking to prepare for college or university. It includes a variety of genres and topics. It will help students develop their critical thinking skills and their ability to analyze and interpret literature.
But.. it is a rather ominous list.
Parents, please use Common Sense Media to check reviews as part of your curriculum planning process.
The download below is a list of classic favorites and modern titles that will also inspire your college-bound student.
