When I was in 7th grade, on my own accord (although I did end up doind them for book reports) I read the
Red Badge of Courage,
Jane Eyre, and Pride and Prejudice. To this day
Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice are still two of my favorites (I'm going to do another report and Pride and Prejudice), and I do like the RBoC. I would not mind naming a child
Edward Rochester, or Fitzwilliam
Darcy. I think it's kind of cool. And as for you people who say your supposed to read those books in high school? I didn't get to read To Kill a Mockingbird because I was in honors, but I'd have liked to because I'm related to the author; I'll just read it over the summer, I think.
Tom Sawyer I was in fact forced to read, but that was in 7th grade, not in high school.