What you describe you want is, in a sense, the definition of 'serious' literature. A value of it is that it has real insight about real people and life. A lot

What you describe you want is, in a sense, the definition of 'serious' literature. A value of it is that it has real insight about real people and life. A lot of people reject it - because of school/authority associations, because they didn't understand it in high school, for culture war reasons, etc. When you put all that aside and just read the book, it is what you describe - the 'great' writing offering soaring, beautiful, tranformative insight, the work of genius. I think it's hard to understand without experience in the world and life - real responsibility, pressure, failure, success, real injury, healing, trauma, seeing evil and good in yourself - whatever your age. I'm not sure it's accessible for most high schoolers and often people don't try it again.