Books You Pretended To Read In High School That Every Adult Needs To Actually Read

Published Aug 27, 2026, 1:59 PM EDT Cher Thompson is a Senior Staff Writer at Screen Rant, where she covers everything from explosive reality TV moments to cast interviews about the twists and turns of scripted dramas. With a background in creative writing, marketing, and teaching, Cher knows how to spot both the storytelling genius and the guilty pleasures in pop culture. Her work blends wit with insight, making readers feel like they’re chatting with a friend who just happens to know way too much about TV. Even though no one's going to get in trouble for admitting that they skipped their reading in high school, there are a handful of books that were required reading in your past that you should absolutely read (or re-read) as an adult. Listen, we all did it, there's no shame in admitting that there were times in high school, college, and beyond where required reading was far too exhausting or overwhelming to get through. While we can all admit that some books in the curriculum are outdated and, for lack of a better word, uninteresting, others are worth the time. Regardless of the fact that we may not have had the time, energy, or interest to get into the classics when they were assigned, there are many books that were required reading in high school that are worth revisiting as an adult. With time and perspective, many of the classics on this list shift from chores in a school issued agenda to the nuanced and generational stories that our teachers tried to peddle them as. From pages that paint portraits of the past to fantastical stories that focus on the fraught nature of humanity, these classics are truly required reading. 10 The Grapes of Wrath John Steinbeck Initially published in 1939, The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck is often assigned in high school in tandem with assignments about the Great Depression and Westward expansion. The book follows the Joad family as they leave Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl era and travel west in search of a better life. Along the way, they encounter the harsh realities of migrant workers of the era, dealing with poverty and exploitation. Despite being a long novel, Steinbeck's insights into financial hardship, social inequality, and resilience are worth every difficult page. Adult readers are better equipped to grasp the novel's themes. 9 Romeo & Juliet William Shakespeare Although there are other Shakespeare plays that deserve more attention (reread Hamlet, Othello, and Richard III, if you dare), Romeo & Juliet is both the most commonly taught text and the most thoroughly misunderstood. The number of people who think Romeo & Juliet is a love story scares me, which is why I implore you to reread this tragic story as an adult. Yes, Shakespeare is always going to take more time to read and understand, but dipping your toes back into Romeo & Juliet as an adult with the understanding that the play is meant to be heartbreaking, not romantic, is key. 8 The Scarlet Letter Nathaniel Hawthorne Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter has been adapted and twisted in enough ways that its original message is almost always conflated with one that Hollywood has glossed over. Published in 1850, the novel follows Hester Prynne, a woman publicly shamed for having a child out of wedlock in puritanical New England by being forced to wear a red "A" in public. A dense novel that younger readers can struggle to dig through, Hawthorne's work has themes that are always resonant, especially in the age of social media. Adults may find the book more interesting than they did in high school. 7 The Catcher in the Rye J.D. Salinger J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye is a novel that some teens actually find themselves enjoying, but others don't give themselves the chance to dive into it as assigned reading. As a student, reading about teenager Holden Caulfield's worldview may have been enough to spark anger, or at least felt resonant. As an adult, reading Salinger's novel is an entirely different experience. With deeper themes of grief and mental illness woven through the narrative, the novel gains a whole new meaning with the perspective of age, allowing Holden's intense behavior and struggles to connect more clearly throughout its pages. 6 Frankenstein Mary Shelley While many are purposefully obtuse when it comes to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein because of the Hollywood adaptations of the novel, the book itself is something that not many students wind up diving into. Pop culture not only shifts the perspective of the novel, it changes the story behind its authorship and discredits Shelley in various ways. Reading the actual subject material, and in turn learning more about Shelley as an incredible woman of her time, is well worth the investment as an adult, as Frankenstein's questions about responsibility and themes of ambition are both fascinating and worth the timely investment. 5 Slaughterhouse Five Kurt Vonnegut Released in the late 1960s, Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse Five follows a World War II veteran, Billy Pilgrim, who becomes a time traveler of sorts, experiencing moments from his life out of chronological order. Blending satire, historical fiction, and sci-fi, the novel is one that typically can resonate with high school students, but the subject material, structure, and writing style can be confusing. As an adult, revisiting Slaughterhouse Five makes far more sense. The book's war-time reflections and unconventional style are more palatable for an older audience, and rereading the novel can be more of a rewarding experience as an adult. 4 Heart of Darkness Joseph Conrad Joseph Conrad's classic, Heart of Darkness, isn't the right fit for a high school class despite it being assigned to students all over the world. The story follows Charles Marlow, a sailor, who journeys into the Congo in search of an ivory trader. Despite being a novella that is a bit more palatable in terms of length, Heart of Darkness examines European colonialism in a way that is often difficult for students to grasp. As an adult, understanding the historical context and nuance of the text makes it a far more interesting, intentional read as it tells an important story. 3 To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee A quintessential classic by Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird is often wasted on high school students who don't grasp its deeper meaning upon first read. Following Scout Finch in Depression-era Alabama, the novel is able to explore deep themes of prejudice, justice, and racial inequality in the American South through the eyes of someone who doesn't entirely grasp the scope of what they're looking at. While the book is one that students read more often than not, revisiting the novel as an adult makes it all the more impactful. To Kill a Mockingbird reveals new layers upon every re-read. 2 The Odyssey Homer While this also isn't a novel, The Odyssey is a foundational text that is often picked and parsed through by students upon first read. Attributed to Homer, ancient Greek poet, the story is often paired with its prequel, The Iliad, and tells an epic story that sweeps through generations of turmoil. While students are able to grasp The Odyssey, genuinely sitting down to read it takes time and effort regardless of the translation you've chosen. As an adult, revisiting the work (especially now that the film is one of the highest-grossing of all-time), is something that informs all other literature. 1 1984 George Orwell Although students usually find themselves assigned with George Orwell's 1984 alongside Animal Farm (which is also worth a re-read!), the themes of 1984 are especially resonant in today's world. Following Winston Smith, a citizen living under the constant surveillance of a totalitarian government, the novel examines propaganda, censorship, and privacy in ways that students may struggle to connect with. Adults may have an easier time reading through the work for its deeper meanings and choosing to take them to heart. As one of the most influential novels ever written, revisiting 1984's story in adulthood is essential for anyone and everyone.