Collider has published a ranked list of eight books commonly assigned in US high school English classes, arguing that despite their reputation as reluctant reading, many remain genuinely worthwhile and could be worth revisiting as an adult. The piece frames the selection around books that are frequently set as classroom texts, noting these can often be spotted by their unusually high vote counts but comparatively modest average ratings on sites such as Goodreads.

Only part of the ranking is detailed here, with three entries discussed: Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is praised as one of the more readable classics of its age, valued for exploring timeless themes of humanity, life and death; S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders is highlighted for its authenticity, having been written by Hinton as a teenager, giving it lasting appeal to young readers; and F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby is described as a quintessential, symbolism-heavy work that remains divisive among readers who consider it overrated, despite its enduring status as a set text.