By William Golding
"'We've got to have rules and obey them. After all, we're not savages. We're English, and the English are best at everything.'" - from The Lord of the Flies
What's it about?: The story is set in the war-ravaged 1940s and begins when a plane, carrying a group of British school boys, crashes on a remote island. With the youngsters left to fend for themselves until help arrives, Ralph, one of the older boys, attempts to organize a democratic system of order. Over time, Jack, a rebellious boy, breaks away from the pack and forms a tribe of his own. Soon most of the children defect to Jack's tribe, partly for protection from what they believe is a monster lurking in the wilderness. What ensues is a battle of ideologies — democracy versus tribal law — as well as the struggle to maintain civility amongst the inevitable uprising of man's most primal instincts. The children themselves become the monsters, the weak are systematically eliminated and those left are forced to not only find a way to survive the elements, but the savages they've become.
Why your child should read it: To start, it's a terrific and compelling read. As such, Golding's best known work was another title that received repeated endorsements from those who suggested books for our list. Many young readers are first exposed to The Lord of the Flies in school, where they identify with the characters who are of similar age. Some, no doubt, question whether they would side with Ralph or Jack if put on the island. But more importantly, this novel illustrates the dark side of the human spirit that often emerges alongside dire situations. The book teaches the importance of standing by your convictions in the face of opposition. And if nothing else, The Lord of the Flies was used as the basis for an entire, hilarious episode of The Simpsons. To a teenager, that's one mighty powerful endorsement.
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