Adult Readers: Level 5

Cold Mountain by Mary Tomalin Inman leave the horrors of the American Civil War and begins a long, dangerous journey home to Ada, the woman he loves. Along the way, he witnesses great poverty, cruelty, and violence. Will he ever see Ada again? And if he does, will she recognize the man he's become?

The Grapes of Wrath by Paola Trimarco During the Great Depression in the United States, and after the loss of their farm in Oklahoma, the Joad family is faced with a journey of more than one thousand miles to California in search of a better life. Can hope defeat poverty, illness, hunger, and even death as they follow their dream?

The Great Gatsby by Celia Turvey During one hot summer on Long Island, Jay Gatsby throws an amazing party every weekend. He is an extremely wealthy man; although, no one knows where he or his money have come from. But Gatsby has a purpose: he is following a dream of love. Will his dream come true?

Heart of Darkness by Nancy Taylor Resting one night on a boat on the River Thames, Charlie Marlow tells his friends about his experiences as a steamboat captain on the River Congo. There, in the heart of Africa, his search for the extraordinary Mr Kurtz caused him to question his own nature and values – and the nature and values of his society.

On the Road by John Escott It is the late 1940s, and a young writer travels across the country with some crazy friends. Love, alcohol, drugs, Jazz, and wild times are part of his adventures "on the road."

The Story of the Internet by Stephen Bryant The Internet is one of the most important inventions in history. In the twenty-first century, it will change the lives of almost every person on the planet. This is its story.

A Time to Kill by Christopher Tribble Ten-year-old Tonya Hailey is attacked and raped by two local men. Carl Lee, Tonya's father, kills them in revenge. Now, only his lawyer and friend, Jake Brigance, stands between him and the electric chair. Is there hope for Carl Lee in a state where black men have little hope of finding justice?

The War of the Worlds by David Maule The War of the Worlds is one of the most frightening science fiction novels ever written. When a spaceship falls from the sky and lands in southern England, few people are worried. But when strange creatures climb out and start killing, nobody is safe.