What is the best book you read in high school?

Frankenstein. I don't know that I "got" this book in high school. I read it, yes, and I passed tests on it. But it was studying it three or four times in college that really helped me *grasp* the book. There are many things about the book that struck me...for example, how the un-humanness of this creation shows the glaring weaknesses and faults of the humanity of its creator. The book truly shows human nature at its worst...and it shows the positive "human" characteristics--trust, love, sincerity, innocence--through the supposedly "monstrous" creation. Not to mention the whole issue it raises of nature vs. nurture. Anyway, I think it is a good book because it makes the reader think and question what it means to be human.

I fell in love with Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. I took some college English in high school and that was one of the required books. However, I thought the story was so realistic and it really impacted me. I have read the book again a couple of times and I often loan it to friends when they have long flights or trips. In fact, I think I'm going to take it to the beach with me for the next week as it's been a while since I've read it. Anyway, I ended up getting my bachelors degree in English and so obviously, I have read a lot of books. However, Jane Eyre still remains at the top of my list of favorite books to this day.

Also--I just saw that someone commented on liking Of Mice and Men. I used to really dislike that book, but during my senior year of college I had to do an explication on it and really learned to enjoy it too. I focused on the use of animalistic qualities as an underlying characteristic in describing Lennie and the imagery that was suggested to the reader by doing so. It really was an eye-opener and I now enjoy reading the book much more.

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck.

I liked that book because it shows just how hard life was in the depression era years and makes me understand more of what my father went through as he grew up in the 1930's.

I have re-read the book a couple of times since then.

Of Mice and Men-----it was just an AWESOME book, too bad the way it ended though :(

I also liked reading Shakespeare. I read Julius Ceasar, Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Macbeth, and Othello all in high school.

The Hobbit

To Kill A Mockingbird. It's one of the best stories I've ever read, and I now own it.

The Old Man and the Sea.

Why? It's like meditation.

To Kill a Mockingbird and the Great Gatsby.

Grapes of Wrath. It's a very good read.

the yearling, i got so much more from the book rather than the movie, very moving story