12 Grade English reading list introduces students to diverse authors, genres, and literary periods. The goal is to improve reading comprehension and encourage critical thinking by analyzing complex texts & themes. These Grade 12 English books range from literary famous classics to contemporary works that reflect the challenges of our modern world. Ready to learn everything about the 12 Grade English course in Canada?
Classic Literature on the Grade 12 English Reading List
1. Macbeth
👤 William Shakespeare
A Scottish general is consumed by ambition after receiving a prophecy from three witches that he will become king. Influenced by his wife, he murders the king to take the throne. Macbeth becomes consumed by paranoia and violence, ultimately leading to his destruction and a high price to pay.
Why is this book relevant? It profoundly explores human nature and the consequences of ethical decisions.
2. Life of Pi
👤 Yann Martel
Pi Patel survives a shipwreck and finds himself in a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker in the Pacific Ocean for 227 days. The protagonist faces tons of physical and spiritual challenges, exploring faith, loss, and reality.
Why is this novel relevant? This novel of fiction invites us to reflect on the narrative and the interpretation of reality, and discuss faith, truth, and the importance of human resilience :)
3. The Great Gatsby
👤 F. Scott Fitzgerald
Jay Gatsby is a self-made millionaire obsessed with winning back the love of his life, Daisy Buchanan, whom he lost years ago. Through extravagant parties, immense wealth, and the careful cultivation of influence, Gatsby dedicates his life to recapturing the happiness he believes he once had with Daisy. As he chases this dream, he confronts the harsh realities of the American dream, grappling with themes of love, ambition, and the ultimate futility of trying to recreate the past.
Why is this novel relevant? It enables us to examine the ideals of American society, exploring how wealth and ambition can compromise our personal values.
5. The Handmaid's Tale
👤 Margaret Atwood
In a dystopian society called Gilead, where birth rates have fallen, fertile women are forced to become handmaids of the rich to procreate. The protagonist, called Offred, narrates her life under this oppressive regime, exploring themes of identity, resistance, and freedom.
Why is this book relevant? It offers a powerful critique of women's rights and social control, encouraging an interesting debate on contemporary social issues.
4. Hamlet
👤 William Shakespeare
This famous tragedy follows Prince Hamlet of Denmark, who seeks to avenge his father's murder at the hands of his uncle, now the new king. As he meticulously plans his revenge, Hamlet becomes entangled in a web of political intrigue and personal torment, grappling with profound feelings of indecision, betrayal, and madness. Along the way, he confronts complex questions about the nature of existence, morality, and the consequences of his actions, ultimately shaping one of the most poignant and enduring narratives in literary history.
Why is this novel relevant? This novel offers a rich exploration of human psychology and the ethical dilemmas, challenging students & readers to interpret the complex text and motives of the characters.
6. Fifth Business
👤 Robertson Davies
This novel follows the life of Dunstan Ramsay, a Canadian man who reflects on his role in significant events in his community. Through Dunstan's story, themes of identity, guilt, and the influence of the past on the present are explored.
Why is this novel relevant? It allows students to examine the construction of identity and the role of the individual in society, using an introspective & symbolic narrative.
7. The Wars
👤 Timothy Findley
Robert Ross is a young Canadian who joins the army during World War I after the death of his sister. This novel allows us to explore the horrors of war and its impact on the human psyche through his experiences on the front lines.
Why is it relevant? The work offers a profound insight into the psychological effects of war, promoting empathy and analysis of historical and emotional narrative.
8. To Kill a Mockingbird
👤 Harper Lee
It talks about the childhood of Scout Finch, a spirited young girl growing up in the racially segregated American South, whose life changes when her father, Atticus Finch, takes on the controversial task of defending a wrongly accused black man. Through Scout's innocent yet perceptive eyes, the novel explores profound themes of racism, justice, and the moral courage required to stand against societal prejudice. As Scout navigates her own journey of personal growth, she learns valuable lessons about the complexities of human nature.
Why is it relevant? This novel is essential for discussing civil rights and ethics, encouraging students to reflect on social justice and moral development.
Common School Course Assignments
Common reading assignments in this course include:
These course reading assignments align with provincial curricula objectives such as ENG4U in Ontario and English Studies 12 in British Columbia. No matter where you live, discover the best advice for Grade 12 students to excel in English Literature.
Canadian Authors Featured in Grade 12 English
By reading the works of our Canadian authors, high school students will become familiar with the country's diversity and be introduced to relevant topics such as immigration, colonialism, and multiculturalism. As readers, this representation will help build a sense of belonging and pride and foster respect for Canada's different social and cultural realities.
📘 Thomas King - Green Grass, Running Water
Thomas King, an acclaimed author of Cherokee and Greek heritage, is a significant figure in contemporary Indigenous literature, known for his ability to blend storytelling with sharp social critique. Using a circular narrative structure and rich symbolism, King challenges cultural stereotypes, revisits historical narratives, and critiques the lingering impact of colonialism, creating a thought-provoking and transformative reading experience.
This book is particularly useful in the classroom for discussing important issues of identity, indigenous tradition, and cultural resistance.
🏞️ Margaret Laurence - The Stone Angel
Set in the province of Manitoba, this novel explores the life of Hagar Shipley, an elderly woman who reflects on her own past as she faces the end of her life. Through an introspective & powerful narrative voice, Margaret Laurence offers a critique of puritanism, pride, and social restrictions imposed on women in rural contexts in the 20th century.
🪶 Richard Wagamese - Indian Horse
This semi-autobiographical novel tells the story of Saul Indian Horse, a young Native American who is sent to a residential boarding school in Canada. Through sports, such as hockey, Saul finds a momentary escape from the brutality and systemic racism that surround him. This book is a powerful novel that offers insight into historical awareness and helps readers analyze intergenerational trauma.
📕 Margaret Atwood - The Handmaid's Tale
The Handmaid's Tale deserves a place on our list for its Canadian authorship and its powerful, unflinching political critique. Set in a chilling dystopian future, Margaret Atwood’s novel delves into themes of state control over women’s bodies, the dangers of religious extremism, and the devastating loss of individual freedom. Through its haunting narrative and vivid world-building, the story serves as both a cautionary tale and a profound exploration of resilience, resistance, and the human spirit in the face of oppression.
Contemporary Works on the Reading List
In addition to the classics, 12 Grade reading lists increasingly incorporate contemporary texts that address social issues to reflect on the world and develop empathy and critical awareness.
📖 The Hate U Give - Angie Thomas
This book addresses systemic racism and police violence from the perspective of an African American teenager. It has been widely adopted in Canadian schools for its social relevance and ability to generate racial justice and identity dialogue.
🌍 Station Eleven - Emily St. John Mandel
This dystopian novel, written by a Canadian author, examines the fragility of civilization in the aftermath of a global pandemic, offering a poignant exploration of humanity's resilience in the face of collapse. Through themes of memory, art, and the enduring power of community, the story resonates deeply, particularly with students navigating the cultural and emotional impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Its reflective narrative invites readers to consider what truly defines and sustains us during times of crisis.
Poetry and Short Stories in Grade 12 English
The study of poetry and short stories in 12th grade is key to developing literary sensitivity and analytical skills. These short forms facilitate the analysis of language, tone, poetic voice, and narrative structures.
🧠 Daddy - Sylvia Plath
Sylvia Plath is one of the most recognized figures in 20th-century confessional poetry, offering high school students an introspective look at emotional and psychological pain. Her poem "Daddy" is mainly studied for its use of symbolism, disturbing imagery, and personal metaphors to process trauma, loss, and family tensions.
Through this work, students will learn to analyze the ambivalent tone, the play with rhythm & rhyme, and the way the author transforms her experience into a critique of figures of power.
🎤 Harlem and the Harlem Renaissance - Langston Hughes
Hughes was one of the most important voices of the Harlem Renaissance, an African American cultural movement in the United States that occurred primarily in the 1920s and 1930s. In Harlem, Hughes employs powerful language to convey the frustration of a historically marginalized community, the deferred opportunities it faces, and the pain it endures.
This text presents an excellent opportunity to examine how poetic structure reinforces social criticism, enabling us to explore social justice and civil rights.
🌊 The Titanic & Canadian epic poetry - E.J. Pratt
E.J. Pratt was a Canadian poet whose works often combine epic, historical, and natural elements. In poems such as "The Titanic", he narrates real events with an elevated tone and a narrative structure that talks about the human tragedy and the consequences of mismanaged progress.
You can discover more about the Grade 12 English curriculum to find the study areas to pay attention to and the way they are assessed. However, some common strategies include:
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