At the Academy, girls are introduced to a variety of books throughout their four years of high school. Common themes explored include the power of words, social justice, survival, complex relationships and other societal-fitting themes, which engage students through fully immersing themselves in the respective novel. 

This happens through the required English classes, in which a variety of novels, plays, and short stories are read. Reading especially strengthens girls’ language and communication skills, which most consider essential for career and life overall. Moreover, English class books expand vocabulary and help students understand the true power of words, a common theme explored in Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief, typically read sophomore year. 

Ellie Tirado (‘28) said, “Reading The Book Thief allowed me to enter a different mindset and overall get a more realistic perspective on WWII and the Holocaust, which was very eye-opening.” 

Beyond its historical setting, this novel and many others expose students to historical perspectives, unique human experiences, and emotional complexity that historical textbooks lack to capture. 

English teacher Jenifer Probst said, “The English department as a whole chooses our books based on the SNJM core values, so that we’re teaching those values through the literature.”  

Although some Academy girls consider these novels merely as part of the curriculum, they are ultimately powerful tools that shape them into thoughtful, confident young women. Novels like Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey and Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre provide students with various life lessons, such as retaining moral principles, what maturity truly signifies, and the importance of genuine relationships while maintaining independence. Despite being written in the 19th century, these novels prompt Academy girls to reflect through a feminist lens, examining the roles, expectations and limitations placed on women during the time, while simultaneously, recognizing the strength and moral convictions of their heroines. By engaging with characters’ struggles and triumphs, students learn that personal growth comes through challenge and self-reflection. 

Each grade level introduces girls to a work that conveys, in a particular manner, to the experience of high school. Freshmen often read Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, a novel that explores isolation, ambition, and responsibility. As girls begin to navigate high school, they also begin to formulate their own identities and pressures, learning that choices have consequences and the importance of empathy. 

Another novel read sophomore year is The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, a coming-of-age story that delves into themes of authenticity, alienation, loss of innocence, and the ups-and-downs of growing up. The main character, Holden Caulfield’s struggle to find sincerity in a world he views as rather silly resonates with Academy girls who are in the midst of forming their own values amid social pressures. 

Probst said, “Based on what we have in the sophomore year, teaching empathy through literature is a significant part of our curriculum, building upon our mission.” 

Upperclassman, besides reading novels like Jane Eyre, read Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson, a powerful memoir that challenges readers to confront injustice within the legal system. As students are in their final chapter at the Academy, this novel encourages them to consider how they will use their education, compassion and voices to advocate for others. 

Junior Avery Maxwell said, “I’ve learned the importance of standing for what you believe in and the continuous  injustice in society. Reading Just Mercy has helped me to be less unaware and understand what I could do to help regarding the world’s happenings.” 

 Together, these works of literature address the universal themes of justice, character, belonging, and resilience, which are especially impactful during high school years. See, the period of adolescence is characterized by trials, tribulations, and ever-changing experiences. Literature provides a way to mirror girls’ own hardships while gaining a view into the lives of others vastly different from their own. 

In a world filled with fast-paced technology and social media, books offer something distinct, which is quiet reflection. They enable students to slow down and truly comprehend what is being read in their own manner. That is, they help Academy girls open their minds, and that is one of the most powerful things education can give.