These Classic High School Books Aren’t As Good As You Remember
Working in education, I’ve watched books rotate in and out of high school reading lists. Usually, it follows a predictable pattern: one district adds a modern title, and the neighboring district nearly lights that same book on fire. Trust me, The Hate U Give stirred plenty of outrage in Florida. Spoiler alert… It still does.
But while some of the more contemporary books come and go, a handful of literary classics seem untouchable. They get assigned year after year, despite being a poor fit for high school readers and an actively unenjoyable experience. I’ve already covered some books don’t deserve the hype, but here are some more that simply aren’t as good as you remember.
Romeo and Juliet
(by William Shakespeare)
Yes, it’s Shakespeare. But there are definitely better options. Like lots of better options that are widely available. Yes, it’s supposedly romantic — although good teachers should know better than to teach it that way. It is meant to be a sharp-witted social critique of impulsive behavior and toxic family loyalty. But let’s be honest: it mostly reads like a cautionary tale about hormone-addled teenagers ruining everything.
The play was written long before I read it in my sophomore English class. I get that, truly. And while the broader message is about how society failed two irrational kids, I couldn’t (and still cannot) get past the central premise: a sixteen-year-old deciding to kill himself over a thirteen-year-old. First of all, that age gap in the relationship is suspect. Second, even by theatrical standards, the plot device feels overdramatic. Even modern television soap operas would have a hard time selling this.
Like most of Shakespeare’s work, the language is layered and full of deeper meaning. But most of my classmates thought it was either a tragic romance or the literary equivalent of watching two kids light a firework in a basement and wondering why the house exploded. So maybe high school isn’t the ideal time to read this play? High school students are roughly the same age as the titular characters, and just like them they are often unable to see the bigger picture.
Moby Dick
(by Herman Melville)
When I learned that Herman Melville died with barely a dime to his name, my first thought was, “Yeah, that tracks.” Moby Dick is one of the most celebrated novels today, but for anyone who’s actually had to read it (I mean really read it) all the way through… yeesh.
To this day, I still think of it as the literary equivalent of being cornered at a party by someone who is obsessed with an obscure subject matter but won’t take a hint. Whole chapters in Moby Dick are dedicated to the texture of whale blubber, the mechanics of harpoons, and the classifications of sea life.
If you’ve ever watched a movie that felt like it was an hour too long or bloated with unnecessary exposition then you know the feeling. Even Melville’s own publishers weren’t convinced the novel wasn’t boring. Sure, the actually backbone of the book — a revenge-obsessed captain versus a giant whale — is sick as hell, but it is buried under a mountain of nautical rambling. And while it’s thoughtful exploration of obsession and the human condition, it’s a tough ask to wade through when you’re in high school.
Things Fall Apart
(by Chinua Achebe)
Let’s get one thing straight: Things Fall Apart is a culturally significant novel. It casts a harsh light on the impact of colonialism in Nigeria and was a breakthrough moment for African literature. That said, none of this changes the fact that the narrative is slow, bleak, and frustrating to read.
Okonkwo, the main character, is a textbook case of toxic masculinity and generational trauma. But in high school, all I could think was, “What is this guy’s problem?” Achebe built his story around a walking red flag with rage issues, then surrounded that unlikable character with layer upon layer of needless suffering.
Yes, the book’s message matters but it is soul-crushing in its realism. Some teachers still assign it because it confronts colonialism and challenges Western narratives. But, unfortunately, I think it also challenges the will of a lot of students not to give up and resort to SparkNotes.
The Scarlet Letter
(by Nathaniel Hawthorne)
The Scarlet Letter has a super juicy premise: adultery, hidden paternity, and Puritanical shame. Yet he somehow delivers it all through a sluggish, heavy-prosed narrative. The symbolism is overwrought, and Hawthorne’s unabashed love for fluffed-up metaphors often feels more exhausting than enlightening. Yes, the book explores big themes like shame, gender inequality, and rigid social norms, but the execution makes it feel like you’re wading through molasses to get to them. The infamous scarlet “A” is so heavy-handed, it almost feels like an insult to the reader’s intelligence.
Don’t get me wrong, Hester Prynne is an incredible protagonist. Watching her keep her dignity while the men around her unravel is deeply satisfying. It just sucks that Hawthorne is the one steering the ship. With the plot barely inching forward, Hester’s brilliance gets buried under endless moralizing and meandering tangents from Hawthorne’s personal soapbox.
Final Thoughts
Some books are classics because they stand the test of time. Others earned that label from a committee decades ago, and we keep teaching them simply because… well, that’s how it’s always been done. The truth is that some stories don’t age well while others just aren’t well-suited for high-school ages. And that’s okay.
It’s also okay to admit that a so-called classic just isn’t your cup of tea. Literature is meant to reflect the human experience but one person’s life experience can be wildly different from another’s. Not every story is going to resonate with every reader. Pretending every esteemed novel is essential to the high school experience does more harm than good, especially when it keeps students from actually enjoying what they read.