Reading classic titles without spending your hard-earned money has never been easier. There are hundreds of popular classics available online for free. All you need in order to access them is your library card and the Hoopla app. Continue reading for some suggestions across some of the most popular genres!
Dystopian/Utopian
If you’re in the mood to travel to a different world with your next read, consider these titles:
Brave New World
by Aldous Huxley
Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World is ranked as one of the best 100 English novels of the century. As one of the first true dystopian novels, the setting takes place in a world based on Huxley’s understanding of the aftermath of the Russian Revolution and World War I.
The Handmaid’s Tale
by Margaret Atwood
In Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, readers are taken to what can only be described as life in what used to be the United States. In a winding journey that touches on a full range of emotions, readers will quickly discover what makes this book such a cultural phenomenon.
Middle Grade/YA
Some titles worth sharing with the young adults in your life include:
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
by C.S. Lewis
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis is the second book in his Chronicles of Narnia saga. Follow the journey of four adventurers as they traverse a land enslaved by the power of the White Witch by reading today!
The Giver
by Lois Lowry
Lois Lowry’s The Giver is widely regarded as one of the defining novels of the modern era. The story takes place in an ideal yet colorless world of conformity and confinement while centering on a 12-year-old named Jonas whose understanding of the world comes to light after receiving his life assignment.
The Little Prince
by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
The most famous work by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince was published in English and French. It’s a simple yet poetic tale written with the goal of being easily understood by children.
Anne of Green Gables
by L.M Montgomery
Anne of Green Gables by L.M Montgomery follows the adventures of a young red-haired orphan named Anne who’s gotten used to going from one foster home to another. While working on a farm with her new family, she embarks on a new life entirely filled with new friends, dreams and more!
Coming of Age
If you’re in search of stories centered on the trials and tribulations of growing up, some books worth exploring include:
To Kill a Mockingbird
by Harper Lee
Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is a Pulitzer Prize-winning tale of hatred and heroism at a time of deep division in the American South. Find out why readers connect with this classic novel by checking it out today!
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
by Mark Twain
In Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Tom and his pal Huckleberry Finn constantly find themselves getting into adventures that often result in trouble. But when they witness a murder that forces Tom to testify, the two friends are left to wonder how they’ll escape yet another bind.
Huckleberry Finn
by Mark Twain
In the sequel to Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn finds himself under the care of the Widow Douglas. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn follows him on a journey throughout the American South after faking his own death.
The Great Gatsby
by F. Scott Fitzgerald
In The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, readers are transported back to the Roaring ‘20s. Considered by many to be among the greatest novels ever written, this tale provides a cautionary tale of the American dream, making it as relevant today as it was when it was written back in 1925.
Epic
If you’re in the mood for an epic classic, some titles worth your time include:
The Odyssey
by Homer
The Odyssey is an epic poem scholars believe was written at the end of the 8th century BC, and this version is the verse-translation of Alexander Pope dating back to 1726. Scholars also agree that The Odyssey was originally composed and shared orally.
The Divine Comedy
by Dante Alighieri
This edition of The Divine Comedy follows the H.F Cary English translation and features illustrations by Gustave Dore. This narrative poem describes the author’s travels through Hell (Inferno), Purgatory (Purgatorio), and Paradise (Paradiso).
Begin Reading Classics Online for Free on Hoopla Today—Free with a Library Card!
Now that you’re equipped with new reading suggestions, all you have to do to embark on your next read is sign up for Hoopla and download the app. This will unlock a library’s worth of classic novels right at your fingertips. And the best part is that the collection is totally free of charge. All you need is a library card!
*Titles may vary based on library availability.
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