High School ELA

Looking for texts and activities that push high school students to think critically and connect with literature on a deeper level?

Watercolor illustration of Cal, Aron, Lee, and Adam from East of Eden by John Steinbeck, with the Salinas Valley in the background

Teaching East of Eden in High School: Are We Free to Choose Who We Become?

Chiara / 2026-05-07

Steinbeck called it his most ambitious novel. At over 600 pages, with a cast of characters spanning two generations, East of Eden is not an easy text to teach. This guide explains why it belongs in your high school classroom anyway — and how to make it work.

Cicero speaking to the Roman Forum, capturing the political and rhetorical intensity of ancient Rome as depicted in Robert Harris’ novel Imperium.

When History Needs a Story: Why Imperium Is a great Historical Fiction About Cicero for Students

Chiara / 2026-03-02

Cicero comes alive in the streets and Forum of ancient Rome—his speeches, ambitions, and moral challenges unfolding in real time. In Robert Harris’ Imperium, students encounter the drama, tension, and intrigue of the Roman Republic in a way that captivates even those usually reluctant to read novels.