The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

It's been quite a while since I read this book, but it made quite an impression, and I still remember it.  It tells the story of Hester Prynne, who lives in a Puritan town and is forced to wear a red letter A on her chest to show she is an adulterer and is somewhat ostracized from the community because of having a child out of wedlock.  There is no man punished by the community, although the ending of the book gives some satisfaction to the reader who wishes for justice in the matter!  It is a compelling story that is well-written.  There's a reason so many of us have to read it in high school!  It's a pretty easy read and not super long.  It is easily worth the time!