There are plenty of well known books that aren't "classics" Why not read "A Time to Kill" in exploring race relations in English class instead? It's topical, recent, and has a gazillion dollar grossing movie based on it. There are newer, more interesting books that students could be reading in English.　They just aren't. That's why most adults don't read for fun. They get burnt out on it by all the crap they have to struggle through in Highschool and College (University).