Beloved
by Toni Morrison
- Lexile
- 870L
- Grade range
- Grades 11–12
- Age range
- Ages 16–18
- Pages
- 324
- First published
- 1987
- Genre
- Literary Fiction
- ISBN-13
- 9781400033416
About this book
Set after the Civil War in Cincinnati, Morrison's novel follows Sethe, a formerly enslaved woman haunted — literally — by the daughter she killed to keep her from being returned to slavery. The nonlinear narrative moves between memory and present and won the 1988 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. It is commonly taught in AP Literature and 12th-grade English.
Themes
- slavery and its aftermath
- motherhood
- memory and trauma
- identity
- community
- the supernatural
Content notes
- graphic depictions of slavery
- sexual violence
- infanticide
- physical abuse
Common Sense Media recommends age 16+.
Where this book is assigned
AP English Literature & Composition
- required· 12th gradesource: AP Lit — frequently cited free-response text
- recommended· 12th grade · Californiasource: LAUSD AP Lit frequently taught text
Common Core State Standards (ELA)
- recommended· 12th grade · Californiasource: CA CCSS ELA grade 12 aligned reading
- recommended· 12th grade · New Yorksource: NY Next Gen Learning Standards grade 12 aligned reading
IB Diploma Programme — English A: Literature
- required· 12th gradesource: IB DP English A: Literature Prescribed Reading List
Similar grade-level books
Common questions
- What grade level is Beloved?
- Beloved is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 11–12, with a Lexile measure of 870L. 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 Beloved?
- Beloved has a Lexile measure of 870L according to MetaMetrics. Lexile measures text complexity, not content maturity — check the grade range and content notes separately for age-appropriateness.
- What curricula assign Beloved?
- Beloved appears on reading lists for AP English Literature & Composition, Common Core State Standards (ELA), IB Diploma Programme — English A: Literature. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
- Is Beloved banned in schools?
- Beloved has documented removals from at least one public-school district in 8 states (TX, MO, FL, VA, SC, TN, UT, PA) per PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. Policies vary by district.
- What themes does Beloved explore?
- Central themes in Beloved include slavery and its aftermath, motherhood, memory and trauma, identity, community. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.