![]() Why I love it: It’s a short story about the butterfly effect. Killing one butterfly couldn’t be that important! Could it?” “A Sound of Thunder” by Ray Bradbury “It fell to the floor, an exquisite thing, a small thing that could upset balances and knock down a line of small dominoes and then big dominoes and then gigantic dominoes, all down the years across Time. Why I love it: It’s about growing up and developing a crush that is all-consuming. I did not know whether I would ever speak to her or not or, if I spoke to her, how I could tell her of my confused adoration.” My eyes were often full of tears (I could not tell why) and at times a flood from my heart seemed to pour itself out into my bosom. “Araby” by James Joyce “Her name sprang to my lips at moments in strange prayers and praises which I myself did not understand. Why I love it: This story encourages high school students to consider the cost of happiness. LeGuin “This is the treason of the artist: a refusal to admit the banality of evil and the terrible boredom of pain.” “The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas” by Ursula K. Bonus: The movie version that was released in 2013. It highlights the mundane adult life while the main character escapes to fantastical situations, inspired by his surroundings. Why I love it: This story moves from the ordinary to the extraordinary. “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” by James Thurber “Lately, I have been wondering if there is time left for daydreaming in this 21st-century world of constant communication.” ![]() Students also love to know that there was a Simpsons episode based on this short story. Why I love it: One of the classic short stories for high school about what can go wrong when granted three wishes. “ Never mind, dear … perhaps you’ll win the next one.” Why I love it: It’s one of the best stories for high school to teach irony during the holiday season. “Life is made up of sobs, sniffles, and smiles, with sniffles predominating.” This one is made even more alluring while the narrator tries to convince the readers of his sanity. Why I love it: My students love a murder mystery. “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe “It is impossible to say how first the idea entered my brain but once conceived, it haunted me day and night.” For a while, you’re convinced this town is ordinary until you find out the dark consequences of blindly following tradition. Why I love it: The brutality of this story sneaks up on you. “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson “There’s always been a lottery.” Why I love it: It’s a dystopian story about the power of technology in our lives. “Too much of anything isn’t good for anyone.” Bradbury takes us to Venus and uses the setting to drive the conflict and focus on the character’s behavior. Why I love it: This story is heartbreaking and truth-telling. “All Summer in a Day” by Ray Bradbury “I think the sun is a flower / That blooms for just one hour.” Why I love it: This story is great for suspense, irony, and characterization. “The Landlady” by Roald Dahl “‘I stuff all my little pets myself when they pass away. I like to watch them figure out what is about to happen as we read through the story. I love to ask them what they think the most dangerous game in the world is. Why I love it: This is one of those short stories for high school that engages all of my students. “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell “The world is made up of two classes-the hunters and the huntees.” The discussion that follows: Who is the innocent lamb in this story? 2. It was wrapped in paper, so she took off the paper and looked at again-a leg of lamb. She went downstairs to the freezer and took hold of the first object she found. She couldn’t feel anything except a slight sickness. ![]() ![]() When she walked across the room, she couldn’t feel her feet touching the floor. “Lamb to the Slaughter” by Roald Dahl “‘I’ll fix some supper,’ she whispered. Here is a collection of 50 of my favorite short stories for high school students. In fact, short stories are the thing I use most often in my high school lessons to teach literary devices, act as mentor texts for our writing, and get students excited about reading. They elicit real reactions, especially if the author manages to surprise them. I find that short stories pack a stronger emotional punch. High school kids may not choose to read short stories on their own time, but they get very excited when the story I choose to teach a concept is short. If there is one thing that my students and I share, it’s our love for short stories. ![]()
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