Hi Reader,

This month, our Gilmore Girls-inspired book club is reading required reads from the list of 500+ books referenced on the show. Since summer is a time when kids and students are working on their required reading for school, it's the perfect time for us to read the books that are most often taught in school curricula.

If you're still on the hunt for required reading that's the opposite of a slog, here are five excellent books on the Gilmore Girls list that were required reading for me as a high school kid, paired with the core memories I still have of them decades later.

Of note, these classics are exactly the types of books you can buy for less from today's email sponsor, with whom I've been shopping since 2018. In fact, I just placed an order and snagged three books from Rory's list for ~$15 plus free shipping!

Sponsored by:

​
​Unbeatable Kids' Book Deals: Buy 4+ children's books from ThriftBooks and pay just $2.99 each. Classics, adventures, mysteries, and beloved favorites—perfect for summer reading! Free shipping when you spend $15+.​

Five Required Reads You'll Actually Love

One: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

The Plot: It's the Great American Novel (IMHO). In the 1920s, an intriguing millionaire hosts lavish parties in an attempt to win back his long-lost love, exploring the concept of the American Dream.

Core Memory: I recall my excitement in being assigned this novel because I knew it was considered one of the best. I loved uncovering the book's symbolism, like "the green light," which felt like finding an Easter egg. I also recall our class discussion of that last sentence — also one of the best of all time.

Two: A Separate Peace by John Knowles

The Plot: Coming-of-age novels often make for an excellent genre for the age group of students. Here, at a New England boarding school during World War II, a boy deals with themes of friendship, jealousy, and the loss of innocence after a tragedy.

Core Memory: This book isn't as often "required" as the others, but I'm glad I was required to read it. I recall feeling shocked by the plot, and I remember our teacher calling the characters' actions "so key" -- that was her phrase for literary devices. Our class loved it.

Three: Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut

The Plot: In this war satire, Billy Pilgrim becomes “unstuck in time” and relives moments from his life, including his survival of the Dresden bombing.

Core Memory: The writing style in this book felt totally unlike anything I'd read before, and it made me a lifelong Vonnegut fan, seeking out his work long after my school days. It was easy to read, which was a relief, yet so impactful. Our class walked away with a greater understanding of the effects of war.

Four: Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

The Plot: We all know the story, don't we?! Two young lovers from feuding families fall in forbidden love and meet a tragic, yet preventable fate.

Core Memory: This play is the strongest literary core memory I have from high school because we read it just as the Leonardo DiCaprio adaptation was released in theaters in the late 1990s. It was a pivotal teen experience of the time to see this film on the big screen. How lucky I was to read it simultaneously!

Five: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

The Plot: A young girl comes of age in early 20th-century Brooklyn, finding resilience and hope despite the hardships of her poverty at the time.

Core Memory: This is the one required read that garnered the most rave reviews in my class. I hadn't heard of it before, so it felt like a nice surprise, but again, the coming-of-age genre just works for teens. I recall watching the movie adaptation as well, to prepare for my end-of-summer exam.

I hope you feel inspired to pick up one of these satisfying required reads to read with your kids or on your own this month for book club!

Remember, it's a good day to read a book.

-Jules