--- title: SAT & ACT Recommended Reading List description: A collection of helpful resources students can read in preparation for the SAT & ACT Reading sections, curated by the ArborBridge Instruction Team. image: https://blog.arborbridge.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Canva-Books-scaled-2.jpg --- [![arb-logo@2x](https://blog.arborbridge.com/hubfs/arb-logo@2x.png)](https://www.arborbridge.com/) - [Our Services](https://arborbridge.com/our-services/) - [Academic Support](http://arborbridge.com/academic-programs/) - [SAT](https://arborbridge.com/sat/) - [ACT](https://arborbridge.com/act/) - [Subject Tests](http://arborbridge.com/subject-test/) - [AP & IB](http://arborbridge.com/ap-ib/) - [ISEE & SSAT](http://arborbridge.com/isee-ssat/) - [GRE & GMAT](http://arborbridge.com/gmat-gre-programs/) - [TOEFL](https://www.arborbridge.com/toefl-prep/) - [About Us](https://arborbridge.com/about/) - [Library](https://testprep.arborbridge.com) - [Pricing](https://www.arborbridge.com/tutoring-pricing/) - [Academic Pricing](https://www.arborbridge.com/academic-pricing/) - [SAT Pricing](https://www.arborbridge.com/sat-pricing/) - [ACT Pricing](https://www.arborbridge.com/act-pricing/) - [Subject Test Pricing](https://www.arborbridge.com/subject-test-pricing/) - [AP & IB Pricing](https://www.arborbridge.com/ap-ib-pricing/) - [ISEE & SSAT Pricing](https://www.arborbridge.com/isee-ssat-pricing/) - [GRE & GMAT Pricing](https://www.arborbridge.com/gre-gmat-pricing/) - [TOEFL Pricing](https://www.arborbridge.com/toefl-pricing/) - [Contact Us](https://arborbridge.com/contact-us/) # SAT & ACT Recommended Reading List ![Erin Ohsie-Frauenhofer](https://blog.arborbridge.com/hubfs/Erin%20OF.jpeg) by [Erin Ohsie-Frauenhofer](https://blog.arborbridge.com/author/erin-ohsie-frauenhofer) July 21, 2023 ![](https://blog.arborbridge.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Canva-Books-scaled-2.jpg) Students who [read regularly](https://blog.arborbridge.com/how-to-boost-reading-speed) tend to have the easiest time with the Reading sections of the SAT and ACT. **Reading a little every day can go a long way toward boosting** **your verbal skills** by building your fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary. ArborBridge's **SAT & ACT Recommended Reading List** (below) is a great place to start. Exploring the resources on this list, curated by the ArborBridge Instruction Team, will prepare you for the types of passages you'll encounter on the SAT and ACT Reading sections. [Click here to download your reading list.](https://blog.arborbridge.com/hubfs/SAT%20%26%20ACT%20Recommended%20Reading%20List%20-%20ArborBridge.pdf) [![AB SAT ACT Recommended Reading List](https://blog.arborbridge.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AB%20SAT%20ACT%20Recommended%20Reading%20List.png?width=610&height=789&name=AB%20SAT%20ACT%20Recommended%20Reading%20List.png)](https://blog.arborbridge.com/hubfs/SAT%20%26%20ACT%20Recommended%20Reading%20List-1.pdf) #### Natural Science Find and read scientific journal articles exploring a wide array of scientific fields, including biology, chemistry, Earth science, and physics. **Recommended sources:** - [*American Scientist*](https://www.americanscientist.org/) - *[National Geographic](https://www.nationalgeographic.com/)* - *[Smithsonian](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/)* - *[Science Magazine](https://www.sciencemag.org/)* - *[Advances in Biology and Earth Sciences](http://jomardpublishing.com/journals.aspx?lang=en&id=3)* - *[Journal of Proteins and Proteomics](http://www.jpp.org.in/index.php/jpp/issue/view/Vol%209.%20No%202%20%282018%29/showToc)* #### **Social Science** Find and read contemporary social science journal articles and long-form newspaper articles exploring the fields of psychology, political science, economics, and sociology.  **Recommended sources:** - *[Open Access Social Sciences Journal](http://www.mdpi.com/journal/socsci)* - *[International Journal of Anthropology and Ethnology](https://ijae.springeropen.com/)* - *[Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications](https://cognitiveresearchjournal.springeropen.com/)* - *[Comparative Migration Studies](https://comparativemigrationstudies.springeropen.com/)* - *[Open Journal of Political Science](https://www.scirp.org/journal/ojps/)* - *[Political Science News](https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/science_society/political_science/)* - *[The Economist](https://www.economist.com/)* - *[The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/us)* - *[The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/)* - *[The Wall Street Journal](https://www.wsj.com/)* - *[Newsela](https://newsela.com/)* (highly recommended for English Language learners) #### **Poetry (SAT Only)** Find and read poems by classic and contemporary poets. **Recommended sources:** - [*The Poetry Foundation*](https://www.poetryfoundation.org/) - [*Poets.org*](https://poets.org/) - [*Folger Shakespeare Library*](https://www.folger.edu/explore/shakespeares-works/#sonnets-and-poems) **Recommended poets:** - *Amy Lowell* - *Charlotte Forten Grimké* - *Claude McKay* - *Langston Hughes* - *James Weldon Johnson* - *Maggie Pogue Johnson* - *D'Arcy McNickle* - *Walt Whitman* #### **Literary Fiction** Find and read short stories and novels by reputable authors. In many cases, you can find great books available for free on your Kindle, iPad, iPhone, computer, or eReader.  **Recommended books:** - The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Mark Haddon) - Exit West (Mosin Hamid) - The Museum of Extraordinary Things (Alice Hoffman) - Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini) - Never Let Me Go (Kazuo Ishiguro) - The Remains of the Day (Kazuo Ishiguro) - The Namesake (Jhumpa Lahiri) - Pachinko (Min Jin Lee) - Life of Pi (Yann Martel) - The Bonesetter’s Daughter (Amy Tan) - The Goldfinch (Donna Tartt) - The Color Purple (Alice Walker) - House of Mirth (Edith Wharton) - The Age of Innocence (Edith Wharton) - The Book Thief (Markus Zusak)   **Recommended short stories:** - *[The Veldt (Ray Bradbury)](https://www.juhsd.net/cms/lib/CA01902464/Centricity/Domain/256/2016_The%20Veldt.pdf)* - *[The Dead (James Joyce)](http://www.online-literature.com/james_joyce/958/)* - [*Interpreter of Maladies (Jhumpa Lahiri)*](https://iblit2013.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/lahiri-interpreter-of-maladies-full-text.pdf) - *[Nine Stories (J.D. Salinger)](https://materlakes.enschool.org/ourpages/auto/2013/2/25/50973306/Nine_Stories_by_J_D__Salinger.pdf)* - *[To Build a Fire (Jack London)](https://americanenglish.state.gov/files/ae/resource_files/to-build-a-fire.pdf)* **Additional recommended authors:** - Jane Austen - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - Charlotte Bronte - Emily Bronte - Albert Camus - Willa Cather - Amit Chaudhuri - Scott Fitzgerald - Aldous Huxley - Henry James - Dinaw Mengestu - Daniyal Mueenuddin - George Orwell - Philip Roth - Mark Twain   **Recommended sources:** - *[Free eBooks](http://www.openculture.com/free_ebooks)* - [*Project Gutenberg*](https://www.gutenberg.org/)   #### **Need more individualized advice?** The recommendations above are general suggestions. If you have specific questions, [**reach out to our experts here**](https://testprep.arborbridge.com/general-inquiry). We’re happy to help in any way we can. #### ***About ArborBridge*** *ArborBridge is the global leader in innovative, digital, one-on-one tutoring. With nearly a decade of experience teaching students online, ArborBridge supports students of all kinds: home schoolers, AP students, test preppers, and more. Our tutors specialize in creating personalized plans and in providing compassionate support for students and families.* - ![](https://blog.arborbridge.com/hubfs/2020%20Assets/images/print.svg) - [![](https://blog.arborbridge.com/hubfs/2020%20Assets/images/facebook.svg)](https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/facebook?linkurl=https://blog.arborbridge.com/sat-act-recommended-reading-list%2F&linkname=) - [![](https://blog.arborbridge.com/hubfs/2020%20Assets/images/twitter.svg)](https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/twitter?linkurl=https://blog.arborbridge.com/sat-act-recommended-reading-list%2F&linkname=) - [![](https://blog.arborbridge.com/hubfs/2020%20Assets/images/linkedin.svg)](https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/linkedin?linkurl=https://blog.arborbridge.com/sat-act-recommended-reading-list%2F&linkname=) ![Erin Ohsie-Frauenhofer](https://blog.arborbridge.com/hubfs/Erin%20OF.jpeg) [![](https://blog.arborbridge.com/hubfs/2020%20Assets/images/email.svg)](mailto:erin@arborbridge.com) #### About Erin Ohsie-Frauenhofer As one of the highest-performing tutors in ArborBridge’s history, Erin coaches tutors and develops tools and trainings to disrupt old habits and empower new strengths. With a Master of Arts in Teaching from Brown University, Erin worked as a classroom teacher and student services director prior to joining ArborBridge in 2017. Her decade of success as an educator has prepared her to ensure that programs are tailored to individual students’ needs. ## You also might like: [6 skills you need to master for the SAT](https://blog.arborbridge.com/6-skills-you-need-to-master-for-sat) [6 skills you need to master for the ACT](https://blog.arborbridge.com/6-skills-you-need-to-master-for-act) [Goodbye, ACT essay requirement](https://blog.arborbridge.com/goodbye-sat-act-essay-requirements) [![footer-logo@2x](https://blog.arborbridge.com/hubfs/2020%20Assets/images/footer-logo@2x.png)](https://www.arborbridge.com/) 100 Main Street Suite #102 Port Washington, NY 11050 (917) 525-2548 info@arborbridge.com - [Our Tutoring Services](https://www.arborbridge.com/our-services/) - [Academic Support](https://www.arborbridge.com/academic-programs/) - [SAT](https://www.arborbridge.com/sat-programs/) - [ACT](https://www.arborbridge.com/act-programs/) - [AP & IB](https://www.arborbridge.com/ap-ib-programs/) - [ISEE & SSAT](https://www.arborbridge.com/isee-ssat-programs/) - [GRE & GMAT](https://www.arborbridge.com/gmat-gre-programs/) - [TOEFL](https://www.arborbridge.com/toefl-prep/) - [About ArborBridge](https://arborbridge.com/about/) - [Library](https://testprep.arborbridge.com/) - [Pricing](https://www.arborbridge.com/tutoring-pricing/) - [Contact Us](https://arborbridge.com/contact-us/) © 2026 ArborBridge, All rights reserved. - [Terms of Use](https://blog.arborbridge.com/hubfs/termsfeed-cookies-policy-pdf-english.pdf) - [Privacy Policy](https://blog.arborbridge.com/hubfs/privacy_policy.pdf)