Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt
As a fourteen-year-old who just moved to a new town, with no friends and a louse for an older brother, Doug Swieteck has all the stats stacked against him. So begins a coming-of-age masterwork full of equal parts comedy and tragedy from Newbery Honor winner Gary D. Schmidt. As Doug struggles to be more than the “skinny thug” that his teachers and the police think him to be, he finds an unlikely ally in Lil Spicer—a fiery young lady who smelled like daisies would smell if they were growing in a big field under a clearing sky after a rain. In Lil, Doug finds the strength to endure an abusive father, the suspicions of a whole town, and the return of his oldest brother, forever scarred, from Vietnam. Together, they find a safe haven in the local library, inspiration in learning about the plates of John James Audubon’s birds, and a hilarious adventure on a Broadway stage. In this stunning novel, Schmidt expertly weaves multiple themes of loss and recovery in a story teeming with distinctive, unusual characters and invaluable lessons about love, creativity, and survival. (Source – http://www.hmhbooks.com/schmidt/okayfornow.html)

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
In Ponyboy’s world there are two types of people. There are the Socs, the rich society kids who get away with anything. Then there are the greasers, like Ponyboy, who aren’t so lucky. Ponyboy has a few things he can count on: his older brothers, his friends, and trouble with the Socs, whose idea of a good time is beating up greasers. At least he knows what to expect-until the night things go too far. (Source – https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/536555/the-outsiders-by-se-hinton/)

War Horse by Michael Morpurgo
Narrated from an unusual perspective, Michael Morpurgo’s War Horse tells a powerful story of humanity and friendship that touches people of all ages. In 1914, Joey, a young farm horse, is sold to the army and thrust into the midst of the war on the Western Front. With his officer, he charges towards the enemy, witnessing the horror of the frontline. But even in the desolation of the trenches, Joey’s courage touches the soldiers around him. ( Source -https://www.michaelmorpurgo.com/book/war-horse/)

The Hobbit J.R.R. Tolkein
The enchanting prequel to The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit is the classic fantasy that inspired Peter Jackson’s major motion picture trilogy. When Thorin Oakenshield and his band of dwarves embark upon a dangerous quest to reclaim the hoard of gold stolen from them by the evil dragon Smaug, Gandalf the wizard suggests an unlikely accomplice: Bilbo Baggins, an unassuming Hobbit dwelling in peaceful Hobbiton. Along the way, the company faces trolls, goblins, giant spiders, and worse. But as they journey from the wonders of Rivendell to the terrors of Mirkwood and beyond, Bilbo will find that there is more to him than anyone—himself included—ever dreamed. Unexpected qualities of courage and cunning, and a love of adventure, propel Bilbo toward his great destiny . . . a destiny that waits in the dark caverns beneath the Misty Mountains, where a twisted creature known as Gollum jealously guards a precious magic ring. (Source – https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/179206/the-hobbit-by-jrr-tolkien/)

The Pit and the Pendulum by Edgar Allan Poe
Short Story – A man faces the terrors of the Spanish Inquisition under the threat of a razor sharp pendulum. What is going through his head as he anticipates his death? (Source – FLVS)

Short Story – The Open Boat by Stephen Crane
Four men find themselves in open water after a horrific shipwreck has left them stranded in the open sea with only a dinghy to save them. What does the future hold for them? Is there hope? (Source – FLVS)

Little Women is recognized as one of the best-loved classic children’s stories, transcending the boundaries of time and age, making it as popular with adults as it is with young readers. The beloved story of the March girls is a classic American feminist novel, reflecting the tension between cultural obligation and artistic and personal freedom. But which of the four March sisters to love best? For every reader must have their favorite. Independent, tomboyish Jo; delicate, loving Beth; pretty, kind Meg; or precocious and artistic Amy, the baby of the family? The charming story of these four “little women” and their wise and patient mother Marmee enduring hardships and enjoying adventures in Civil War New England was an instant success when first published in 1868 and has been adored for generations. (Source – https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/292282/little-women-by-louisa-may-alcott/9780143106654/)

Life is good for Buck in Santa Clara Valley, where he spends his days eating and sleeping in the golden sunshine. But one day a treacherous act of betrayal leads to his kidnap, and he is forced into a life of toil and danger. Dragged away to be a sledge dog in the harsh and freezing cold Yukon, Buck must fight for his survivial. Can he rise above his enemies and become the master of his realm once again? (Source – https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/326634/the-call-of-the-wild-by-jack-london/)