CEFR B2 · Upper-intermediate
Read Upper-intermediate Classics in English (B2)
1118 books graded at CEFR B2 (upper-intermediate) — learn English by reading the stories worth reading at exactly your level. Tap any word for an instant translation, listen to the narration, and save the vocabulary you meet. Start with a free sample.
What are the best B2 books to read in English?
The best B2 books to read in English are well-known classics whose own language sits at that level — start with £19,000, Zula and Zoraida: A Romance of the Harem and the Great Sahara. Each is the complete book, labelled CEFR B2 (upper-intermediate), with tap-to-translate, narration and saved vocabulary, so you read a real story while building the English you actually meet in it.
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Level B2AdventureThe Three AdmiralsA Royal Navy corvette sails the Pacific, facing typhoons, sharks, and mysterious island shores as young officers navigate danger and duty on a daring mission to investigate an outr…
Level B2HistoricalThe Thorn in the NestIn the quiet valley of 1797 Pennsylvania, Kenneth Clendenin returns home to a family marked by gentle bonds and unspoken sorrows.
Level B2AdventureThe Thirsty Sword: A Story of the Norse Invasion of Scotland (1262-1263)In 1262 Scotland, young Kenric returns to a troubled Bute, where loyalties clash and ancient curses stir amid the looming Norse invasion.
Level B2AdventureThe Texan Star: The Story of a Great Fight for LibertyIn a Mexican prison, a young boy and his mentor face the rising threat of Santa Anna’s ruthless ambition as Texas struggles for liberty.
Level B2AdventureThe Texan Scouts: A Story of the Alamo and GoliadA lone young scout braves a relentless Texan winter storm, riding through vast, desolate plains with only his horse for company.
Level B2AdventureThe Telegraph BoyA determined fifteen-year-old arrives in New York with just twenty-five cents, ready to carve out a living as a telegraph boy amidst the bustling city streets and colorful characte…
Level B2AdventureThe Talking Leaves: An Indian StoryTwo young girls, one the daughter of an Apache chief, witness a mysterious discovery deep in their mountain valley: a recent camp left by white men in a land they believed safe fro…
Level B2RomanceThe Sword of GideonAs war erupts in 1702, loyal horsemen race through villages spreading the call to arms against the tyrannical King Louis, rallying England’s forces under the fierce leadership of t…
Level B2AdventureThe Sword of Antietam: A Story of the Nation's CrisisAmid the sun-scorched hills and valleys of the South, a young Northern soldier scans the landscape, bracing for the clash of armies and the unfolding drama of the nation’s gravest…
Level B2AdventureThe Swan and Her Crew: or The Adventures of Three Young Naturalists and Sportsmen on the Broads and Rivers of NorfolkThree young naturalists embark on thrilling adventures exploring Norfolk's broads and rivers, encountering wildlife, building a yacht, and facing perils on the water.
Level B2RomanceThe Sun of Saratoga: A Romance of Burgoyne's SurrenderAmid the tense watch of a critical Revolutionary War outpost, a young patriot guards a strategic hollow, confronting divided loyalties and the looming threat of British spies—while…
Level B2AdventureThe Sun of Quebec: A Story of a Great CrisisAmid the turmoil of the French and Indian War, two young survivors find refuge and face the looming threat of a French advance on Albany.
Level B2HistoricalThe Sun Maid: A Story of Fort DearbornAmid the rising grandeur of a young Chicago, a brave Native American chief foresees bloodshed while a spirited orphan girl, full of innocent wonder, navigates a world caught betwee…
Level B2AdventureThe Story of the Treasure Seekers: Being the Adventures of the Bastable Children in Search of a FortuneSix resourceful siblings face fallen fortunes and a silent house, deciding to seek treasure to restore their family’s happiness and hope, embarking on imaginative adventures fueled…
Level B2HistoricalThe Story of the Little MamsellIn a small town, a curious child becomes captivated by the mysterious old Mahlmann and his haunting stories of revolution, love, and survival in Paris.
Level B2HistoricalThe Story of the Battle Hymn of the RepublicAmid the turmoil leading to the Civil War, witness the fierce battle against slavery and the birth of a stirring anthem born from this historic struggle.
Level B2AdventureThe Story of ViteauTwo brothers in medieval Burgundy face a pivotal moment as one prepares to leave home to train as a knight, while the other embarks on an education that blends chivalry with schola…
Level B2HistoricalThe Story of TroyStep into the epic saga of brave warriors and divine beings as gods intervene in the legendary siege of Troy, weaving a timeless tale of heroism, betrayal, and fate that shaped anc…
Level B2AdventureThe Story of Red Feather: A Tale of the American FrontierTwo siblings journey through the vast American frontier, navigating trails and streams on horseback, as they return home from a visit.
Level B2AdventureThe Story of Nelson: also "The Grateful Indian", "The Boatswain's Son"A young boy’s dream of the sea leads him to Greenwich Hospital, where stories from Nelson’s old shipmates reveal the bravery and spirit behind England’s greatest naval hero.
Level B2HistoricalThe Story of AlexanderStep into a medieval castle hall where tales of brave knights, fierce battles, and ancient magic come alive.
Level B2Science FictionThe Story of Ab: A Tale of the Time of the Cave ManIn a rugged prehistoric world where fierce beasts roam and survival is a daily battle, a resilient cave baby named Ab begins a journey shaped by love, danger, and discovery amidst…
Level B2MysteryThe Store BoyYoung Ben Barclay’s routine life takes a dangerous turn when a mysterious tramp recognizes his family name and demands money during a lonely ride to Pentonville—testing Ben’s coura…
Level B2RomanceThe Star of IndiaIn the sweltering heat of 1857 India, an assistant surgeon embarks on a perilous journey to Delhi, navigating political intrigue and ancient rivalries.
Level B2HistoricalThe Star of Gettysburg: A Story of Southern High TideIn the midst of the Civil War, young Southern hero Harry Kenton and his comrades navigate the trials of battle and loyalty, weaving honor, courage, and romance into the fierce conf…
Level B2RomanceThe Squaw Man: A NovelA young man prepares to leave his ancestral home for distant India, caught between family loyalty and the cold ambitions of his aunt and cousin.
Level B2HistoricalThe Spy: The Story of a Superfluous ManA fragile, lonely boy endures cruelty and isolation while seeking solace in a worn church and its quiet corners.
Level B2HistoricalThe SpyAmid the tense backdrop of the Revolutionary War’s neutral ground, a daring tale unfolds where loyalty is tested and secrets abound.
Level B2HistoricalThe Spartan TwinsIn ancient Greece, ten-year-old Spartan twins Dion and Daphne live on a farm near Athens, where their mother Lydia prepares for unexpected guests and daily life unfolds with the rh…
Level B2HistoricalThe Southerner: A Romance of the Real LincolnIn the turbulent years leading up to the Civil War, a rugged Southern man struggles with education and love in his cabin, while the fate of the nation unfolds around iconic figures…
Level B2AdventureThe South Sea WhalerSet sail on a thrilling South Sea whaling voyage with Captain Tredeagle and his children, Walter and Alice, as they navigate the dangers of the Pacific, encounter exotic wildlife,…
Level B2AdventureThe Solitary of Juan Fernandez, or the Real Robinson CrusoeIn early 18th-century Scotland, Catherine "Pretty Kitty" Felton runs the bustling Royal Salmon inn, navigating suitors, shifting fortunes, and the sea’s stories.
Level B2AdventureThe Soldier Boy; or, Tom Somers in the Army: A Story of the Great RebellionAs Fort Sumter falls, young Thomas Somers feels the urgent call to defend his country, igniting a fierce patriotism that draws him from peaceful village life into the harsh realiti…
Level B2HistoricalThe Soil (La terre): A Realistic NovelIn the expansive plains of La Beauce, a solitary farmer sows seeds against the looming threat of frost, while a young girl struggles to control a runaway cow—unfolding a vivid port…
Level B2HistoricalThe Simple Adventures of a MemsahibA young Englishwoman embraces the vibrant, challenging life of a memsahib in colonial Lower Bengal, navigating social expectations, cultural contrasts, and the spirited pursuits of…
Level B2HistoricalThe Silver GlenAmid the turmoil of the 1715 Jacobite Rebellion, Lady Barbara Fleming recounts her family's trials and loyalties through stirring letters, revealing a vivid tale of exile, honor, a…
Level B2HistoricalThe Silver ArrowIn the shadow of Queen Elizabeth's court, Sir Walter Raleigh navigates ambition, espionage, and forbidden romance with Eleanor White, the bold daughter of the court fool.
Level B2HistoricalThe Short Line WarAmidst the rising tensions of 1861 Kentucky, James Weeks, a rugged young man from a proud fighting lineage, struggles to bridge the gap between his straightforward nature and the e…
Level B2AdventureThe Shadow of the North: A Story of Old New York and a Lost CampaignIn the midst of the French and Indian War, a young Onondaga warrior sheds the ways of the white man to embrace his heritage as he navigates the perilous wilderness, where fierce ba…
Level B2RomanceThe Shadow of the CzarA daring British captain, restless in peacetime, embarks on a solitary journey through the wild Dalmatian forests, seeking adventure and the unknown—where danger and romance await…
Level B2RomanceThe Shadow of Victory: A Romance of Fort DearbornIn a remote frontier trading-post battered by winter winds, a young man returns home to teach and uphold honor amid the rugged life and complex alliances at Fort Dearborn, where th…
Level B2HistoricalThe Shades of the Wilderness: A Story of Lee's Great StandAmid the harrowing retreat from Gettysburg, wounded soldiers and determined officers navigate mud and darkness toward the South, setting the stage for the fierce battles of the Wil…
Level B2AdventureThe Settlers in CanadaAn English family braves the wilds of late 18th-century Canada, facing untamed nature, uneasy French settlers, and isolation as they seek a new life on the frontier after an unexpe…
Level B2HistoricalThe Secret Memoirs of Bertha Krupp: From the Papers and Diaries of Chief Gouvernante Baroness D'AltevilleAmid the iron grip of a formidable war lord, the heiress Bertha Krupp navigates a world of military power, court intrigue, and secret alliances.
Level B2AdventureThe Scouts of the ValleyA lone boy paddles stealthily through the shadowed wilderness, relying on his keen senses and unmatched skill to navigate unknown waters.
Level B2AdventureThe Scouts of Stonewall: The Story of the Great Valley CampaignAmid the rugged Virginia landscape, young Confederate officer Harry Kenton navigates the trials of war, courage, and loyalty during the gripping Great Valley Campaign, where friend…
Level B2HistoricalThe Samovar GirlIn a bleak Siberian exile colony, ten-year-old Peter lives with his bootmaker father, a political prisoner under the Czar’s harsh rule.
Level B2RomanceThe Sagamore of SacoIn a rugged colony where wild spirits clash, John Bonyton and Hope defy society’s rules and each other, bound by fierce independence and untamed passions amid the wilderness and da…