Important: Wishbone Said it’s Time to Revisit These
Back in the ’90s, this very good dog had a very important job: getting kids excited about classic literature. Somehow, a Jack Russell in a little costume could make The Odyssey, Treasure Island and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer feel less like homework and more like an adventure.
This is your sign to revisit what Wishbone was onto all those years ago. Reading a classic as an adult is a different experience than reading it when you were 12 and mostly wondering how many pages were left. You catch the jokes, understand the complicated characters and notice themes you definitely weren’t thinking about during your original school assignment. So dust off an old favorite, pick up one you somehow avoided or just let Wishbone choose your next read. The classics have been waiting. And frankly, the world could use more Wishbone.
10 Classic Recs From Wishbone Himself
Romeo and Juliet
by William Shakespeare
Two teenagers fall in love, their families hate each other, and absolutely nobody thinks to slow down and make a better plan. Romeo and Juliet is one of those stories you may remember from school, but reading it again as an adult makes all that family drama look a little different. And honestly, you might find yourself yelling at the characters a lot more this time.
The Odyssey
by Christopher Nolan
If you've seen the film you already know that The Odyssey has pretty much everything: monsters, gods, shipwrecks, revenge and one very long trip home. Odysseus has a lot to deal with, and somehow getting home to his family becomes the easy part. Wishbone definitely knew what he was doing with this one and it's time you read it.
Joan of Arc
by Mark Twain
Joan of Arc had a life that sounds almost too wild to be true. She was a teenager who became a military leader and eventually one of the most recognizable figures in French history. Whether you know her story already or not, this is a fascinating one to revisit.
Oliver Twist
by Charles Dickens
Poor Oliver just wants a little more food and somehow ends up caught in a much bigger mess. Dickens fills the story with unforgettable characters, from the sinister Fagin to the mysterious people who cross Oliver’s path. It’s dark in places, funny in others and still a pretty gripping read all these years later.
Frankenstein
by Mary Shelley
You probably know the monster, but you may not know Frankenstein. Mary Shelley’s original story is much less about a scary creature and much more about loneliness, responsibility and what happens when you create something and then abandon it. Read it again as an adult and you may find yourself feeling surprisingly sorry for the monster.
Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde
by Robert Louis Stevenson
Everyone has a good side and a bad side, but Dr. Jekyll takes that idea a little too literally. His experiment to separate the two leads to the unforgettable Mr. Hyde, and things go downhill pretty quickly from there. It’s creepy, quick to read and still a pretty great reminder that maybe we shouldn’t mess with things we don’t understand.
Journey to the Center of the Earth
by Jules Verne
Imagine finding a secret passage that leads beneath the Earth and deciding, “Sure, let's go.” That’s basically where this adventure begins, and it only gets stranger from there. Jules Verne packs the journey with underground wonders, prehistoric creatures and enough danger to make you very happy you’re reading about it from the safety of your couch.
The Red Badge of Courage
by Stephen Crane
War isn’t exactly what young Henry Fleming imagined it would be. As he faces his first battle, he has to figure out what courage actually looks like when you’re scared out of your mind. It’s a surprisingly honest story about fear, bravery and trying to figure yourself out when everything around you is falling apart.
Don Quixote
by Miguel de Cervantes
Don Quixote reads so many stories about knights that he decides to become one himself. Naturally, things don't go quite as planned, especially when he starts seeing windmills as giants. It’s weird, funny and wonderfully chaotic, with plenty of moments that make you wonder how anyone came up with this in the first place.
Ivanhoe
by Walter Scott
If your ideal classic includes knights, castles, sword fights and a little romance, Ivanhoe has you covered. Sir Wilfred of Ivanhoe gets caught up in a whole lot of medieval drama involving rivalries, battles and questions of loyalty. It’s basically an old-school adventure story before “old-school adventure” was even a thing.
Published Aug 13, 2026
Amanda Patton
Amanda Patton is a creative professional with a passion for all things marketing. Her time in art school aligned with the explosion of social media and thus, a content creator was born. As Libby’s team lead, she strives to build an online community that resonates with our audience while drawing in those who don't consider themselves avid readers. In her spare time, you can find her behind the camera, thrifting, playing the piano, but most likely, stopping everything she’s doing to pet a dog.