Look, this is a stone-cold classic of American literature—pun intended. London's prose is gorgeous, the tension is real, and the lesson about hubris versus nature lands hard. Reddit readers call it "wrenching" and "heart-stopping," and they're right.

But let's be honest: most modern kids will find this a slog. It's from 1908, the pacing is methodical, and the protagonist literally freezes to death while you watch. There's no happy ending, no redemption arc, just a man who ignored good advice and paid the ultimate price. It's enriching in that English-class way—you'll learn about naturalism, symbolism, and killer descriptive writing—but it's not exactly a page-turner for the Kindle generation.

If your teen is into survival stories, literary fiction, or needs to read it for school, it's worth the effort. The collection offers variety beyond the title story. But if you're looking for something they'll actually want to read? This probably isn't it unless they're already the type who gravitates toward dark, philosophical stuff. It's broccoli: good for you, but nobody's sneaking seconds.