Literature

Learn about the great literature from a variety of historical periods and cultures. Find learning materials here and the books themselves to gain familiarity with the great literary works everyone should know. Regardless of your grade level, you can find something to pique your interest.

What is Literature?

One of the best things about literature is that it can take you on a journey without ever leaving your seat. You can explore different cultures, worlds, and time periods, all through the power of storytelling. When you read literature, you get to step into someone else's shoes and see the world through their eyes. It's a way to learn about different perspectives and empathize with others.

There are all kinds of literature out there, from fiction to non-fiction, and each type has its own benefits. Fiction can transport you to different worlds, while non-fiction can teach you about the world we live in. No matter what you're interested in, there's a book out there for you.

Literature can also help improve your writing skills. As you read, you'll start to notice different author's styles and how they use language to paint a picture. You can then take what you've learned and apply it to your own writing.

Literature Resources

Cover of Amos Fortune, Free Man by Elizabeth Yates

Amos Fortune, Free Man

Newbery Medal biography of an African-born man enslaved in colonial New England who bought his freedom and that of others.

Cover of Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt

Across Five Aprils

Newbery Honor novel following an southern Illinois farm family through the five Aprils of the American Civil War.

Cover of Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

Newbery Medal novel about a Black family holding onto their Mississippi land during the Depression and Jim Crow.

Cover of Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

Bud, Not Buddy

Newbery Medal novel following a ten-year-old orphan across Depression-era Michigan in search of the father he thinks he has found.

Cover of Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes

Johnny Tremain

Newbery Medal historical novel following a Boston silversmith's apprentice into the events of the American Revolution.

Cover of The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare

The Sign of the Beaver

Newbery Honor survival story set in 1768 Maine, in which a settler boy and a Penobscot boy teach each other to live in the wilderness.

Cover of Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham

Carry On, Mr. Bowditch

Newbery Medal biography-novel of Nathaniel Bowditch, the self-taught sailor-mathematician who rewrote the book on navigation.

Cover of The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare

The Witch of Blackbird Pond

Newbery Medal novel about a Barbados-raised girl adjusting to Puritan Connecticut in 1687 and the witchcraft accusation that follows.

Cover of D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths

D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths

The classic illustrated introduction to the Greek gods, goddesses and heroes — a staple read-aloud in classical homeschool programs.

Cover of The Golden Goblet

The Golden Goblet

A Newbery Honor novel set in ancient Egypt, commonly paired with ancient-history studies for grades 5-8.

Cover of The Bronze Bow

The Bronze Bow

Elizabeth George Speare's Newbery Medal novel set in Roman-occupied Galilee, a mainstay of ancient-history literature lists.

Cover of The Wanderings of Odysseus: The Story of the Odyssey

The Wanderings of Odysseus: The Story of the Odyssey

Sutcliff's companion volume to Black Ships Before Troy, retelling Homer's Odyssey for middle-grade and early high school readers.