Every year in high school, no matter the grade level, students at Claremont High School (CHS) read a myriad of books in their English classes. These books range from ancient tales, like the “Odyssey,” to the beautiful plays of Shakespeare, and twentieth-century novels like Chinua Achebe’s award-winning book “Things Fall Apart.” These stories are often read as a class and enhanced by graphic novels or film adaptations. These books, for various reasons, often lack appreciation from students. However, the stories that are chosen are consistently very diverse, interesting, and entertaining.
Unfortunately, the opportunity to read these books is often not valued. Lyra Truong is a CHS sophomore who usually enjoys the books assigned in her English class.
“I think a lot of people actually are just not very into reading,” Truong said. “We’re not picking the easiest books to read, so sometimes people can get turned off, and I think sometimes that’s the way with me. Sometimes the books that we pick aren’t the usual things that I gravitate towards, so I’m automatically not interested in the book. I think that’s why some people could probably dislike it.”
The books that are read in CHS English classes are often advanced literature that can be found in college curricula, which may seem daunting to students who generally read at a high school level. However, the classroom setting and support from peers and teachers make the reading process easier and more enjoyable. According to the United Kingdom’s Give A Book organization, reading as a group is beneficial because you read books you would not normally choose to read, learn how other readers think (which strengthens your own reading comprehension abilities), and gain knowledge and perspective from others.
Even though these books can be challenging, reading complex material is beneficial for students and helps to both increase cognitive abilities and broaden students’ points of view. As a 2024 article from Patrick Henry University states, “Classical literature allows us to take a deep, deep dive into the lives, worldviews, and mindsets of people we’ve never met, visit the places we’ve never been, and understand the times we’ll never directly experience.”
“I really like ‘Things Fall Apart’ because I think it’s a new perspective on colonialism,” Truong said. “And I’ve never really read a book that’s set in Africa back in those times. So I think it just opened a new window for me to learn about different things.”
Each year of English class brings a unique list of fascinating books, and even though not every student values the opportunity to read these books, the English department works hard to make sure the literature that students consume is consistently engaging and meaningful.
