enriched vocabulary leads to better communication and understanding of english: piqosity has selected this collection of books to improve vocabulary skills in order to provide a resource for anyone looking to develop and strengthen their vocabulary. these novels contain precise and imaginative diction, helping you to develop your vocabulary and reading comprehension skills while you are captivated by a story.
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contemporary books to improve vocabulary
To get you started, we’ve compiled five 20th and 21st century fiction books to expand your vocabulary that are sure to entertain you and broaden your perspective. these contemporary tales are quickly becoming classics in their own right, and all of them make excellent vocabulary-building books.
1. The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood
Now a hit show, Margaret Atwood’s modern classic should definitely be on your list of novels to read. The Handmaid’s Tale is a dystopian story of a patriarchal and totalitarian society in the near future, exploring women’s agency and autonomy over their bodies.
This speculative fiction novel is a fascinating read. If you’re looking for books to increase vocabulary, start here: Throughout this novel, Atwood uses eloquent figurative language and a rich vocabulary. the terminology used in everyday life in this fictional society is not something you are likely to understand the first time it is used; Throughout the novel, Atwood provides further context clues to familiarize you with the diction used. This sharpens vocabulary acquisition and reading comprehension skills by encouraging you to discover implied meanings on your own. in addition, it has some scenes of scrabble, in which two characters fight with the dense vocabulary they know. keep the dictionary handy for these!
“there is something subversive in this garden of serena, a sensation of buried things that burst upwards, without words, towards the light, as if to point, to say: all that is silenced will cry out to be heard, albeit quietly,” (atwood, chapter 25).
2. the glass castle, jeannette walls
Next in our collection of books to improve vocabulary is this memoir, in which Jeannette Wall recounts her childhood in vivid detail and masterful narration. Their idiosyncratic family dynamics structure the central plot of The Glass Castle: The Wall family lives a nomadic lifestyle and deals with poverty, traveling between different states as opportunities or financial burdens arise. They begin to impose themselves on them. She and her three siblings are forced to face struggles both inside and outside of their family, such as hunger, abuse, bullying, and their father’s alcoholism, all of which ultimately prompt them to move to New York City and Follow your dreams.
Described as “beautifully written in deceptively simple prose” in the new york times by alex witchel, walls captures the reader’s attention by clearly conveying stories with deliberate and poignant diction, carefully scattered throughout everywhere.
“As he spoke, restless students settled into their folding chairs and were spellbound by the legendary man who traveled the world and told us how proud he was of his West Virginia roots and how so are we. we should be proud of those roots…” (walls, page 148).
3. song of solomon, toni morrison
nobel prize winner toni morrison is widely celebrated for her masterful writings on the black experience in the united states. The Song of Solomon, her third novel, is a coming-of-age story set in early to mid-20th century America. Follows the life of Macon Dead III, nicknamed “Milkman”, and his journey as a black boy (and later, a man) in search of freedom while exploring the history of his family.
The story, steeped in symbolism from both African-American folklore and classical mythology, falls into the realm of magical realism, further fortified and baffled by Morrison’s diction. his use of figurative language and vivid imagery enhance the story’s realism, convey its themes of flight and freedom, and enliven its characters’ dialogue. We’ll keep this short to avoid spoilers: this is a tantalizing read filled with masterfully selected vocabulary.
“the stony voice, the sun, and the smell of narcotic wine weakened both children, and they sat in a pleasant semi-stupor, listening to her go on and on…” (morrison , page 43) .
4. the house on mango street, sandra cisneros
This 1984 novel, yet another coming-of-age story, details the childhood of 12-year-old Mexican-American girl Esperanza Cordero. The novel is told in a series of vignettes —short anecdotes— that each tell a piece of Esperanza’s life growing up as a Chicana girl in an impoverished, mid-20th century Chicago neighborhood. A well-loved and frequently cited piece of literature in Chicane/x studies today, The House on Mango Street details the growth of a young girl that confronts mature topics early in her life as she searches for her identity and tries to find belonging.
the use of language throughout the text emphasizes the growth of hope as a character; although it is narrated mainly in simplistic terms, the diction in the descriptions and in the dialogue creates a clear image in the reader’s mind. Plus, this book is easy to understand: Esperanza is a charming and down-to-earth character, whether you struggle to read for fun (check out our tips for reluctant readers!) or just love to read. , picking up this book may be just what you need!
Although this novel doesn’t have the breadth of vocabulary words that some of the others on this list do, we still think it’s a crucial part of our collection of books to improve vocabulary. The skills you learn from Cisneros’ precision diction will be with you long after you’ve turned the last page.
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“suddenly it bloomed. huge, huge, beautiful to look at, from the salmon-pink feather on the tip of her hat to the rosebuds on her toes, ”(cisneros, page 77).
5. fahrenheit 451, ray bradbury
The last of our contemporary books to improve vocabulary skills is this dystopian novel. Set in 2049, the story details the experiences of Guy Montag, a firefighter in a society where books are banned and burned. he spends each day burning houses full of books, until one day he is faced with the discovery that books have value. Soon, he starts rescuing books from the houses that he and his co-workers must burn down.
Exploring ideas about censorship, conformity, the marginalization of literature, and the enduring value of art, the novel proves its literary worth with detailed imagery and exquisite precision. Bradbury’s diction is intense but delicate, opting for quality over quantity in his writing; As a result, this reading is less than 200 pages long. So for slower readers, this might be one of the best books to increase vocabulary.
“If the drones die, I am still safe at home, nursing my fear with maximum comfort and minimum chance. see how safe I play, how worthless I am?” (bradbury, page 87).
classic novels to improve vocabulary
The following five classic vocabulary books were written over a century ago! therefore, we consider them to have had a more lasting cultural impact than the wonderful vocabulary-building books mentioned above.
1. little women, louisa may alcott
An immediate success upon publishing and still regarded as one of the best American coming-of-age novels, Little Women follows four sisters on their journey into adulthood in the mid-1800’s. Alcott’s characterization of each sister— traditional Meg, independent Jo, tragic Beth, and materialistic Amy—is distinct and realistic. Each sister strives in her own way for happiness and self-improvement, but they are united by their love of family.
jo, the sister on whom the story focuses most, is a writer with a rich vocabulary: her dialogue and alcott’s descriptions of her are inspiring and vivid. Overall, Alcott’s writing style is straightforward, simplifying complex prose with interspersed dialogue and typical syntax. Many students get so caught up in the story that they forget this is a book to improve vocabulary acquisition!
“Having never known his mother or sisters, he quickly felt the influences they brought around him, and their busy and lively ways made him ashamed of the indolent life he led,” ( alcott, chapter 6).
2. hamlet, william shakespeare
The next entry on our list of books to improve vocabulary breaks the rules a bit: it’s not, strictly speaking, a book! Considered by many to be the best play in English, hamlet has it all: young love, family drama, raunchy humor and revenge!
Although Shakespeare’s language is sometimes described as “Old English”, this is inaccurate: it is really just an earlier (and sometimes more formal) version of the same English we speak today. if you have trouble understanding the syntax, try reading it out loud. (After all, plays were written to be performed.)
the most complicated structure of hamlet is an excellent tool to use when looking for books to increase vocabulary. Additionally, Shakespeare is credited with inventing over 1,700 English words, many of which are still in common use today!
Here at piqosity, we’re such a fan of hamlet that we used three passages from it in our 11th grade English unit on drama. the following quote comes from one of those passages.
“in my safe hour your uncle stole / with cursed hebenon juice in a jar / and on the porches of my ears he poured / the leprous distillate; whose effect / maintains such enmity with the blood of man…” (shakespeare, act 1 scene 5 lines 66-70).
3. the adventures of tom sawyer, mark twain
An American classic, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer mixes a coming-of-age narrative with elements of children’s folk tales and satire. Tom Sawyer is a mischievous Missouri boy who, over the course of Twain’s novel, explores the messiness of life and discovers something about adulthood.
twain’s diction shines through in the characters’ dialogue. The vernacular of Tom Sawyer and his friends is a variety of English not commonly used today, and Twain uses stylistic devices to add detail to the dialogue throughout. this type of vocabulary is also key to success in an English curriculum: dissecting dialogue in a different dialect and understanding the intended meanings of the characters. the diction reflects a different time in American history and introduces the reader to more complex vocabulary.
Our recently launched 6th grade English course includes a full unit of this foundational American text!
“He came home quite late that night, and when he cautiously climbed out the window, he discovered an ambush, in the person of his aunt; and when he saw the state of her clothing, his resolve to turn her holiday Sabbath into hard-labor bondage became adamantine in his steadfastness,” (twain, page 14).
4. pride and prejudice, jane austen
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An 1813 classic that set the template for romance novels for years to come, Pride and Prejudice is a passionate and complex love story involving themes of family, brotherhood, wealth, and social hierarchy. . follows elizabeth bennett as she and her four other sisters seek acceptable marriages with wealthy suitors to support themselves and her family.
pride and prejudice is one of several jane austen vocabulary building books. her work explores the social environment of her time, bringing the reader closer to her world with each story and her language. Sense and Sensibility and Emma are other compelling readings of her, but Pride and Prejudice is on this list due to its tremendous impact on romance stories. for more than a century and its deep resonance with generations of readers.
if you want to take a look at what this novel has to offer, our ela activities for valentine’s day include a set of original piqosity questions based on a short passage from the text!
“but that expression of ‘violently in love’ is so hackneyed, so doubtful, so vague, that it gives me very little idea. it is applied as often to the feelings that arise from a half-hour relationship, as to a real and strong attachment”, (austen, page 99).
5. Ulysses, James Joyce
First published in 1920, Ulysses tells the story of a single day in the life of Leopold Bloom, drawing parallels between his “ordinary” day and the classic epic poem, The Odyssey. This novel may be different from any other you’ve read before, as it’s told in a “stream of consciousness” style that relies heavily on the internal monologue of its protagonist and attempts to capture a realistic thought process in writing. Its allusions and unique structure are what make it an incredibly compelling read.
This is definitely a story that belongs on every vocabulary development book list, as Joyce uses over 30,000 unique words throughout the novel. however, it weighs in at 730 pages and is known for its tortuous sentences and thorny syntax – not a book for the faint of heart!
Still, it’s an amazing read, perfect for long-term vocabulary acquisition goals (like test prep); Plus, if you get anxious about standardized tests, the skills you gain from reading this book in your spare time can help you feel more prepared ahead of time. if you’ve beaten ulysses, you can take on anything a test throws at you!
“The gritty sand was gone from under his feet. her boots stepped on a damp crackling mast again, razor blades, screeching pebbles, that upon countless pebbles it strikes, wood sifted by the ship’s worm, lost navy”, (joyce, chapter 3).
build vocabulary with piqosity!
We hope you feel motivated with our list of books to improve vocabulary! we selected each book not only for its vocabulary, but also for its influence, insight, and the infatuation that readers around the world have for it.
This article is provided as a starting point for your journey to build your mental word bank. Whether you’re looking for vocabulary help for exam preparation, to improve your writing skills, as an advanced learner with foreign language anxiety, or for whatever reason, piqosity is here to help too!
we offer affordable online courses that you or your child can take from the comfort and safety of your home. Depending on your needs, our courses can be used for enrichment, remediation, or test preparation. we offer the following ela & exam preparation courses:
- 5th grade English online
- 8th grade English online
- 11th grade English online
- sat test preparation online
- act test preparation online
- isee test preparation online
Online 6th and 7th English courses will be available soon!
Each ela course comes with lessons covering all topics in ela education with multiple units of reading passages, including nonfiction, short stories, and at least one full-length novel, along with reading comprehension questions and explanations. of answers for each question.
Our test preparation courses have several practice tests and tutorials that cover both ela and math content. In addition, we provide the following extensive lists of vocabulary flash cards for all isee levels, perfect for exam preparation of any kind:
- lower level isee vocabulary
- middle level isee vocabulary
- higher level isee vocabulary
We are constantly adding new courses and material! It’s free to sign up with piqosity, and all of our full courses are reasonably priced and competitive.
piqosity wishes you the best of luck on your vocabulary building journey and I hope this collection of books has helped and inspired you.
more educational resources by piqosity:
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