Reading Lessons: The Books We Read at School, the Conversations They Spark, and Why They Matter

An English teacher's love letter to reading and the many ways literature can make us, and our lives, better.


What we do in English often borders on an act of resistance, an attempt to make students think more carefully not just about the texts we read but about the world we live in.

In her twenty-five years as a secondary school English teacher, Carol Atherton has taught students of all abilities, from all walks of life. But the common thread to her lessons has been the books which have appeared on syllabuses year after year. But what is it about these books that sparks conversations? And why do they still matter?
From Macbeth to Lord of the Flies, and from An Inspector Calls to Noughts and Crosses, each chapter invites us to take a fresh look at the novels, plays and poems we studied at school, revealing how they have shaped our beliefs, our values, and how we interact as a society.

Atherton's love for literature shines through on every page, but there's more to her passion than being a bibliophile. As she reflects on her career, her experiences as a pupil, and her journey to becoming an adoptive parent, Atherton emphasises the vital, undervalued role teachers play, illustrates how essential reading is for developing our empathy, and makes a passionate case for the enduring power of literature.

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