Penguin Readers & Pearson English Readers (1200 headwords)

These are the stories of some of Shakespeare’s most famous plays. We travel to Venice, Greece, Denmark and Rome, and meet many different people. There is a greedy money-lender, a fairy king and queen, some Roman politicians and a young prince who meets the ghost of his murdered father.

Romeo and Juliet is one of the most famous love stories in the world. But it is more than a great love story. It is also about life and death, happiness and sadness, and the terrible hate between two great families. Shakespeare’s beautiful tale is still as popular today as it was more than 400 years ago.

In 1891, the great detective, Sherlock Holmes, disappeared in Switzerland while working on a dangerous case. Everyone thought that he was dead. But three years later, he returned to England. Holmes and his friend, Dr Watson, had many more adventures together. Three of his most interesting cases are in this book.

Marion’s dream is coming true. She only needs a room for one more night before she can marry Sam. Driving through the night, she’s lost and tired. Then she sees the Bates Motel. She thinks she is lucky. But there, something terrible is waiting for her.

Mark Twain is one of America’s most famous and best-loved writers. He wrote about every important subject of his time. Twain’s stories are usually amusing but with a serious message too. You will read about people’s hopes and fears, happiness and terrible sadness—and wonderful practical jokes!

Martin Luther King had a dream. He wanted blacks and whites to live together happily. But in America in the 1950s and 1960s, all men were not equal. King led peaceful protests against the government and won changes for the blacks of America. But has King’s dream really come true today?

Martin Luther King had a dream. He wanted blacks and whites to live together happily. But in America in the 1950s and 1960s, all men were not equal. King led peaceful protests against the government and won changes for the blacks of America. But has King’s dream really come true today?

Katrina Kirby is a detective. People call her ‘K’. There has been a murder in a big country house. ‘K’ knows that one of five people murdered Sir Michael Gray. Who did it? How? Why? This is a detective story with a difference: ‘K’ needs your help with her case.

Jane Eyre, a poor girl, leaves her cruel aunt’s house and goes away to school. Later, she becomes a teacher and works for the rich Mr Rochester. She loves him and wants to marry him. He loves her too, but he has a dark secret ...

Ugly and unwanted by the outside world, Quasimodo the hunchback lives under the protection of the priest in the Cathedral of Notre-Dame. Then his quiet life is destroyed by the priest’s evil plans for a beautiful gypsy girl. The priest needs Quasimodo’s help. But the hunchback has other ideas.