English Books

Why is it that every time an English teacher forces you to read a book, it's always a "classic"? I'm sure there are other great books out there, that are educational or whatever it takes to make a book appropriate for English class. Most 'classics" are always the same; a dog dies, or it's set on the prairie, or it's historical, or its just plain boring. I honestly can't remember a time where I've liked the books we read in class. To Kill A Mockingbird isn't horrible but I'm about 12 chapters behind (that's another story). The books we read in English class were the absolute worst in 7th grade, though. Topping the "list of horrible books that I was forced to read in 7th grade" is Where The Lilies Bloom. I don't really remember much about this book but I do remember that it was horrible, the kids had no parents, the main character went insane and insisted on moving the family from their home to a cave, and they had a neighbor with electricity and lots of bread that they may or may not have killed; I don't really remember. Also in 7th grade, we read a book that wasn't a classic. *Gasp* It was called Code Orange and had something to do with scabs. All that I'm saying is that it would be nice to read a book from this century, preferably one that doesn't require trying to decipher the confusing accents of the characters.