Great Books for English Learners

Great Books for English Learners

Reading is a terrific way to improve your English. The more you read, the more you will improve your English reading skills. 

It is good to challenge yourself, but if your book is too difficult, it can discourage you and set you up to fail. As we had talked about in previous blog posts, you need to set reachable goals to help motivate you. There are countless books to choose from, so you may wonder, where do I begin? 

One way to start is to read bestsellers. These are the most popular books, and to be popular, they need to be entertaining and easy to understand to all readers. Reading best sellers will help build your vocabulary and help you to be able to discuss the books you read with others. Here is a list of well-known English books you can read to improve your English! 

        Charlotte's Web by E.B. White

Charlotte's Web is perfect to start with because it is a simple and well-known novel. It is about a pig named Wilbur. He is born a runt and seen as useless, which almost gets him killed. Luckily, a little girl named Fern saves him and raises Wilbur. As Wilbur gets older, he is sent away to a farm, where he meets a spider named Charlotte. Charlotte wants to help Wilbur from being killed by the farmer. They continue to work together to try to save Wilbur. 

        One for the Money by Janet Evanovich

This novel is from the point of view of the main character Stephanie Plum. It is fast-paced but easy enough to follow. The conversations are realistic, so that can help you with seeing how native English speakers talk. In the book, Stephanie Plum needs cash, so she becomes a bounty hunter. She tracks down people who need to be in jail, but the first person she needs to track down is someone she has a history with and leads to some complications. 

        The Giver by Lois Lowry

The Giver is another well-known novel. It is about a boy named Jonas becoming the next "Memory Receiver" and has to undergo training with "The Giver." He learns about the secrets of his world and begins to question everything that he has ever known. The grammar is easy to understand, and it is full of powerful descriptions. Although it is a simple read, it has a powerful message. It was also made into a movie, so you can watch the movie after you finish the book. 

        The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

The chapters are short and easy to read with some minor difficult vocabulary. The story is told from the perspective of a young girl named Esperanza, who moves with her family into a new house on Mango Street. The novel focuses on Esperanza growing up, making friends, discovering new feelings, and observing the other women in her community. 

        Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

This novel uses simple grammar and vocabulary. The sentences are also short, so it isn't too difficult to understand. It has also been turned into a television show, so after you read the book, you can practice more by watching the show in English. However, the book deals with some serious issues such as suicide, so if you only like to read books with happy endings, we do not suggest this book. 

        1st to Die by James Patterson

James Patterson's writing is simple, so it is easier to understand. It is the first book in a series, so if you enjoy the first book, you can read the rest of the series. It is about four women who work together to catch a murderer. It is full of suspense and action. 

        Sincerely, Carter by Whitney Gracia Williams

This romance book is simple and has realistic conversations. It is easy to follow and is told from a man's perspective, which is different from other romance novels. The story revolves around the main characters Carter and Arizona. They have been best friends since the fourth grade until one night changes everything. 

These books are just the beginning. There are countless other novels to read that can help you to improve your English. If you’re having a hard time and feeling like the reading is too hard, try to find book genres or authors that interest you so you can find similar work to keep yourself interested. The more interested you are in the reading, the easier it is to keep yourself motivated. 

Happy reading!


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Published on April 20, 2021

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