11th Grade Book List
American Literature, Algebra II, Physics, and U.S. Government—the Parzival year explores the American experience through its greatest writers while preparing for college and citizenship.
📚 Core American Literature
- The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Puritan America—required
- The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Jazz Age classic—required
- The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
Great Depression—required
- Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass
Slave narrative—required
- Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
Harlem Renaissance
- A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry
Civil rights drama
📜 American Poetry
- Transcendentalist writings – Emerson, Thoreau
Self-Reliance, Walden excerpts
- Walt Whitman – Leaves of Grass selections
Song of Myself
- Emily Dickinson – Selected poems
Death, nature, faith
- Harlem Renaissance – Hughes, Cullen, McKay
African American poetry
- Modern American – Frost, Williams, cummings
20th century voices
Unit 1: Lammas – The American Dream: Colonial to Revolution
- The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Puritan America
- Colonial literature excerpts by Various
Bradstreet, Edwards
- Revolutionary writings by Various
Paine, Jefferson
- Physics: Motion introduction by Various
Kinematics basics
Unit 2: Mabon – Building a Nation: Constitution & Early Republic
- The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin (excerpts)
Self-made man
- Federalist Papers by Hamilton, Madison, Jay (excerpts)
Constitutional debate
- Early American literature by Various
Irving, Cooper
- Physics: Forces by Various
Newton's laws
Unit 3: Samhain – A House Divided: Civil War & Reconstruction
- Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass
Slave narrative
- Uncle Tom's Cabin (excerpts) by Harriet Beecher Stowe
Abolitionist literature
- Civil War poetry by Whitman, Dickinson
War and death
- Lincoln's speeches by Abraham Lincoln
Primary sources
Unit 4: Yule – Physics: Forces, Motion & Energy
- Transcendentalist writings by Emerson, Thoreau
Self-Reliance, Walden
- Physics of motion by Various
Mechanics
- Energy and work by Various
Conservation laws
- American Renaissance literature by Various
Melville, Hawthorne
Unit 5: Imbolc – Physics: Electricity & Magnetism
- The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Jazz Age classic
- Harlem Renaissance poetry by Hughes, Cullen, McKay
African American voices
- Electricity fundamentals by Various
Circuits and current
- Magnetism by Various
Fields and forces
Unit 6: Ostara – Modern America: 20th Century Transformations
- The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
Great Depression
- Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
American Dream
- Modern American poetry by Frost, Williams, cummings
20th century voices
- World War literature by Various
Hemingway, war poetry
Unit 7: Beltane – Civics: Government, Rights & Responsibilities
- Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
Southern voice
- A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry
Civil rights drama
- Civil rights documents by King, Malcolm X
Primary sources
- Contemporary American literature by Various
Diverse voices
Unit 8: Litha – Senior Prep & Portfolio Development
- Student choice American novel by Various
Independent reading
- College essay examples by Various
Application prep
- SAT/ACT reading practice by Various
Test preparation
- Portfolio review by Various
Best work collection
🎓 College Prep Reading
Junior year reading supports college preparation:
- • SAT/ACT prep materials – Practice reading comprehension and analysis
- • College essay examples – Study successful personal statements
- • AP-level texts – These novels appear on AP Literature exams
- • Primary sources – Practice analyzing historical documents
📖 Tips for 11th Grade Reading
- • American literary movements – Trace the evolution from Puritanism to Modernism
- • Historical context – Connect literature to U.S. History themes
- • Diverse voices – Include African American, immigrant, and regional perspectives
- • Analytical writing – Practice AP-style literary analysis essays
- • The Parzival theme – How do these works explore the quest for meaning and identity?