Superior high school students (975 finalists in the NCTE Achievement Awards Program) were surveyed to find what one book was most significant to each of them in their high school experiences, and the reason for the significance. In response to questionnaires, the students cited 416 different titles, 72% of which were novels. The top 10 books were "Catcher in the Rye,""Exodus,""Ugly American,""Crime and Punishment,""Look Homeward Angel,""Of Human Bondage,""Atlas Shrugged,""Gone With the Wind,""Prophet," and "Cry, the Beloved Country." The two most frequent reasons for citing a particular book were that the content was instrumental in shaping the reader's attitudes, values, or thoughts, and that the literary quality of the work attracted the reader. An implication of this survey is that teachers should help students develop a lifetime interest in reading by directing them toward books, such as those in the above list, which have been proved to have a direct impact on the adolescent mind. (LH)