Classic English Literature For Teens

Out on the prairie, the Joseph family is all astir with concealing their Christmas gifts for one another. But will Santa come this year? After all, the crops had failed this summer and they were on short commons. When their town neighbors, the Ralstons ask to take refuge overnight at the Joseph's on Christmas Eve, they make a shakedown bed in front of the fire. But what will become of the big bundle of gifts they carried in with them?

Siblings Alexina and Stephen are down on their luck this year and resign themselves to not having a Christmas dinner. But when their wealthy, gourmand uncle James invites himself to their house for Christmas, the pair scramble to lay out a sumptuous feast, including his favorite, Mince pie. But 10 minutes before the turkey is done, an unforeseeable disaster occurs that threatens to ruin everything.

Clorinda laments being poor around Christmastime to her Aunt Emmy. Emmy remarks that some of the best presents aren't bought and paid for and declines to explain, only asking Clorinda to think it out. When she does this, Clorinda determines to give a little bit of herself in priceless presents to her loved ones near and far.

It's Christmas Eve in Ingleside and a family reunion is underway. Old Nanny looks on at all the merriment and is angry that no one has spoken a word about the recently deceased Miss Avis. Unable to bear it any longer Nanny creates a miniature holly wreath to bring to Miss Avis' grave. But shortly after she arrives, she hears footsteps approaching the grave.

In the forest, armed men from the new settlement ventured to investigate strange lights and found three fires burning, a child at their center, tethered to a stake. The boy appeared to be white, perhaps three or four years old, unable to speak. He watched the men with the darting, fearful eyes of a wild animal and at their approach he crouched, snatched a stick from a fire, and snarled. So begins Dirk Wildlight's life in the tiny Victorian settlement of Tilmore.

Mole enjoys a quiet life, but when spring comes, his longing for adventure takes him to the river. There, he meets Water Rat and his friends Otter, Badger and Toad. With messing about in boats and Toad's love of fast cars, Mole's life is no longer quiet - especially when the friends have to join forces against the animals from the Wild Wood. Classic stories brought to life for young listeners in dramatized readings with music and sound effects.

First published in 1847, Emily Bronte's classic tale of passion, obsession, cruelty, and revenge has lost none of its power. At its heart lies the tempestuous relationship of Catherine Earnshaw of Wuthering Heights and Heathcliff, the "gypsy brat" plucked from the streets of Liverpool by her father. Their tragedy, with its terrible consequences for those who become caught up in it, unfolds in a wild moorland landscape as dark and harsh as the events themselves.

Life is good for Buck in Santa Clara Valley, where he spends his days eating and sleeping in the golden sunshine. But one day a treacherous act of betrayal leads to his kidnap, and he is forced into a life of toil and danger. Dragged away to be a sledge dog in the harsh and freezing cold Yukon, Buck must fight for his survival. Can he rise above his enemies and become the master of his realm once again?

Eureka's tears have flooded the earth and now Atlantis is rising, along with its evil king, Atlas. Eureka is the only one who can stop him – but first she must learn how to fight.She travels across the ocean with Ander to try and make sense of the dark world her sorrow has created. But dark secrets are hidden in the depths – will she be strong enough to defeat Atlas, or is her broken heart just what he needs to power his rising kingdom?Eureka has the chance to save the world.

"Black Beauty" is an 1877 novel by English author Anna Sewell. It was composed in the last years of her life, during which she remained in her house as an invalid. The novel became an immediate bestseller, with Sewell dying just five months after its publication, long enough to see her first and only novel become a success. With fifty million copies sold, "Black Beauty" is one of the best-selling books of all time.

Classic Tales of the Undead collects two classic stories of supernatural terror and the curse of the undead. "Dracula's Guest" recounts the events that led to Jonathan Harker's journey to the dreaded castle of Count Dracula, and "The Grave" tells the story of a young man's horrifying descent into despair, madness, and grave robbery.

First published in 1886, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, is a psychological fable for our time. It draws on intuitive knowledge of the nasty complications of the human mind (which Shakespeare used so well in his tragedies). Here, Sir Laurence Olivier unfolds the story as precisely and pedantically as it was written.