My first thought upon reviewing my school’s World Literature curriculum, frankly, was that it was a disaster. Did Shakespeare really need another unit? (Students would have read two other Shakespearian plays by the time they took this World Literature class. And did we need more dead white guys in our curriculum?) And the other World Literature books were too long and challenging for my students, who were mostly struggling readers.

No offense to Shakespeare (I love him, personally), but my school’s curriculum would never have worked for my students.

It took a ton of research and reading to find World Literature books that were actually accessible for struggling readers. But in this post, I hope to introduce some World Literature books that are not only accessible but bring new voices and perspectives to your classroom.

(If you want some more tips on structuring your World Literature curriculum, check out this post.)

Below, I’ve organized a list of titles by continent. Each listing highlights why that book is a great choice for students who need accessible and compelling reads. For some of the titles below, I’ve written reviews. If you can click on a title, you’ll learn more about that book.

If you’re here because you need to put together a World Literature curriculum for struggling readers QUICKLY, let me save you hours–if not days or weeks–with my complete World Literature class here. 

Introducing World Literature Books

First, before I offer any text suggestions, let’s address one issue with World Literature classes: they task you, the teacher, with covering the entire globe in far too little time. 

You cannot possibly cover the entire globe in a year, let alone a semester. This means that many voices and viewpoints will be left out of your curriculum entirely. 

This point is an important one to make to your students. Before diving into any text, make sure students understand that one novel is only one voice. A single novel cannot represent an entire country or continent.

I really recommend my lesson Why Study World Literature?: “The Danger of a Single Story” for introducing your World Literature class. 

World Literature Books By Continent

I broke down this list by continent because I know covering as much of the globe as possible is important to any World Literature teacher. Look over this post if you want some ideas for other ways to choose and organize your classroom texts. 

Africa

• Buried Beneath the Baobab Tree by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani: Based on real-life accounts of girls kidnapped by Boko Haram, this book provides an accessible yet powerful narrative that captures resilience and hope.
• A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah: Beah’s memoir of being a child soldier in Sierra Leone is written in a straightforward style that connects deeply with readers.
• Born a Crime by Trevor Noah: This memoir blends humor with historical insight about apartheid South Africa, offering engaging and relatable storytelling. There is a young reader’s version of this book that might be better for some groups of struggling readers. Grab a done-for-you Born a Crime unit right here.

Asia

• I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai: This inspiring memoir of a young girl who fought for education in Pakistan is accessible and motivational. For struggling readers, I recommend using the abridged version.
• Sold by Patricia McCormick: This novel in verse tells the heartbreaking story of a young girl trafficked into slavery, written in a simple yet poetic style.
• Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi: A graphic novel about growing up during the Iranian Revolution. Its visual format supports comprehension while addressing complex themes. This is a great one for starting off your World Literature class. Grab my complete Persepolis unit here. 

Europe

• The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka: This classic novella is short and accessible, with a surreal yet gripping narrative that lends itself well to struggling readers.

Holocaust Novels

Many World Literature curriculums require a holocaust novel. (You can get some ideas for how to introduce your holocaust unit here.) Here are some of the holocaust novels that I think are best for struggling readers. 

• The Complete Maus by Art Spiegelman: A graphic novel that uses illustrations to convey the complexities of the Holocaust in a visually engaging format. Grab everything you need to teach The Complete Maus here. 
• Night by Elie Wiesel: A succinct and poignant memoir of surviving Auschwitz, written in plain yet powerful prose.
• The Book Thief by Markus Zusak: Narrated by Death, this unique take on a Holocaust story is highly engaging and features an accessible style. Note that this book is long for a text you might be reading in class. It is, however, engaging, which is why I added it to this list.

North America

• Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck: A short and poignant story about friendship and dreams during the Great Depression, written in simple yet evocative language. (Personally, I cannot stand Steinbeck. But this is a title that would work for struggling readers, so, reluctantly, I leave it here for your consideration.)
• The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie: This semi-autobiographical novel includes humor and illustrations to explore life on a Native American reservation. Definitely do your research before including this one. Sherman Alexie has proven a problematic author and has fallen out of favor with English teachers over the last decade. There are also parts of this novel that might have parents or admin raising their eyebrows. Still, many teachers have had good luck with this novel–especially with struggling students–so I left it on this list. 
• Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan: A story of resilience during the Great Depression, written at a level approachable for struggling readers. This novel is often recommended for middle school students. Double-check that this novel isn’t already something your students read in their earlier years, and read it yourself before assigning. Unless your students are really behind, this one is probably “too young” for high schoolers. 
• Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman: A series of interconnected stories about a diverse urban community coming together to build a garden.

Australia/Oceania

• The Rabbits by John Marsden and Shaun Tan: A visually stunning picture book allegory of colonization that combines simple text with intricate illustrations.
• Deadly, Unna? by Phillip Gwynne: A coming-of-age story that deals with racism and friendship in rural Australia, written in an engaging and straightforward style.

South America

• Eva Luna by Isabel Allende: While slightly more advanced, the engaging storytelling and vivid characters can captivate readers willing to explore magical realism.
• The House of the Spirits (abridged versions available): Another title by Allende that intertwines history and magical realism, with family drama that keeps readers engaged.
• The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho: A philosophical tale set in North Africa and the Middle East that uses simple, lyrical language to explore universal themes like destiny and perseverance. While the story takes place in Spain in Egypt, the author is Brazilian, so I categorized it under South America. Save yourself time with this The Alchemist unit. 

Conclusion: World Literature Books Open Doors to the Globe

World Literature has the power to captivate and inspire even the most reluctant readers. These stories provide a window into different cultures, histories, and perspectives, while also offering approachable formats and compelling narratives.

By introducing these books into your classroom, you can help struggling readers build confidence, discover new favorite authors, and gain a deeper appreciation for the global human experience.

Still overwhelmed trying to plan your World Literature class? Let me do it for you! You can grab my complete World Literature Class here and start teaching immediately!