The Fellowship of Learning: Adventures in Education at Lorien Wood

Lorien Wood’s integral education continues into the high school years. Our literature choices reflect the time periods and concepts our students are learning about in Humanities class and beyond! While we require our students to read a robust selection of classic and modern literature in class, they are encouraged to read additional books ranging from non-fiction to picture books to novels and plays to enrich their learning independently. Through offering a diverse selection of reading, we cultivate lifelong learners, students who crave to explore more and deepen their understanding of the world around them.

1. Home Ec for Everyone by Sharon & David Bowers

Instructions for cooking, sewing, laundry, domestic arts, and life skills all in one tidy volume! Scholars of Rohan are integrally learning many of these skills in a variety of their classes. This book provides an opportunity for upper school students to further develop practical skills for their lives beyond Lorien Wood!

2. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien

This classic work of fantasy literature has rich roots in epic poetry, philology, and mythology. The rich world of Middle Earth is our inspiration for the vision of our school and high school is a wonderful time for students to explore the world of hobbits, dwarves, and elves independently. The Fellowship of the Ring is a continuation of the sprawling world Tolkien created in The Hobbit (1937), and volumes two and three, The Two Towers (1954) and The Return of the King (1955), complete the central story of the Bagginses and the One Ring.

3. 1984 by George Orwell

In George Orwell's 1984, Winston Smith wrestles with oppression in Oceania, a place where the Party scrutinizes human actions with ever-watchful Big Brother. Defying a ban on individuality, Winston dares to express his thoughts in a diary and pursues a relationship with Julia. These criminal deeds bring Winston into the eye of the opposition, who then must reform the nonconformist. This dystopian novel explores the ideas of personal freedom and individual identity which are explored in our high school curriculum, making it an appropriate choice for students to read outside of school assignments.

4. The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan

The Pilgrim’s Progress is a Christian allegory told by way of the narrator’s dream. On the surface, the story follows a man named Christian as he leaves the City of Destruction and journeys to a place called the Celestial City, encountering all sorts of roadblocks and fearsome creatures along the way. But on a deeper level, The Pilgrim’s Progress charts the journey of an average Christian person as they strive to leave behind their destructive, sinful ways and get to Heaven.

5. Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

In Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis argues for the logical validity of Christianity, defends the religion from its critics, and looks in detail at what the life of a Christian is like. Lorien Wood’s Scholars of Rohan learn how to defend their faith in Bible classes all four years of high school. This book is a wonderful way for students to further develop their understanding of the faith outside of class.