A Tale of Two Cities
by Charles Dickens
- Lexile
- 1170L
- Grade range
- Grades 9–12
- Age range
- Ages 14–18
- Pages
- 448
- First published
- 1859
- Genre
- Historical Fiction
- ISBN-13
- 9780486406510
About this book
Set in London and Paris during the French Revolution, Dickens's novel braids the stories of Lucie Manette, Charles Darnay, and Sydney Carton — culminating in one of the most-quoted sacrifices in English literature. A staple of 9th-10th grade English courses and cited in Common Core Appendix B.
Themes
- revolution
- sacrifice
- resurrection
- class
- injustice
Content notes
- violence
- execution
Common Sense Media recommends age 13+.
Where this book is assigned
AP English Literature & Composition
- recommended· 11th gradesource: AP Lit representative text list
Common Core State Standards (ELA)
- recommended· 10th gradesource: CCSS ELA Appendix B, grades 9-10 exemplar
Similar grade-level books
Common questions
- What grade level is A Tale of Two Cities?
- A Tale of Two Cities is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 9–12, with a Lexile measure of 1170L. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.
- What is the Lexile level of A Tale of Two Cities?
- A Tale of Two Cities has a Lexile measure of 1170L according to MetaMetrics. Lexile measures text complexity, not content maturity — check the grade range and content notes separately for age-appropriateness.
- What curricula assign A Tale of Two Cities?
- A Tale of Two Cities appears on reading lists for AP English Literature & Composition, Common Core State Standards (ELA). Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
- Is A Tale of Two Cities banned in schools?
- A Tale of Two Cities does not appear in PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. No documented multi-district removals on record, but individual districts may challenge titles locally.
- What themes does A Tale of Two Cities explore?
- Central themes in A Tale of Two Cities include revolution, sacrifice, resurrection, class, injustice. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.