Brave New World
by Aldous Huxley
- Lexile
- 870L
- Grade range
- Grades 10–12
- Age range
- Ages 15–18
- Pages
- 268
- First published
- 1932
- Genre
- Dystopian Fiction
- ISBN-13
- 9780060850524
About this book
In a future World State, humans are hatched in factories and conditioned for caste roles, emotional suppression, and consumption. Huxley's dystopian novel — often paired with 1984 — appears on AP Literature reading lists and on many state standards for 11th and 12th grade.
Themes
- dystopia
- technology
- conformity
- loss of humanity
- consumerism
Content notes
- sexual content
- drug use
- eugenics
Common Sense Media recommends age 15+.
Where this book is assigned
AP English Literature & Composition
- recommended· 12th gradesource: AP Lit representative text — frequently paired with 1984
Common Core State Standards (ELA)
- recommended· 11th gradesource: CCSS ELA Appendix B, grades 11-CCR exemplar
Similar grade-level books
Common questions
- What grade level is Brave New World?
- Brave New World is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 10–12, 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 Brave New World?
- Brave New World 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 Brave New World?
- Brave New World 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 Brave New World banned in schools?
- Brave New World has documented removals from at least one public-school district in 3 states (TX, MO, FL) per PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. Policies vary by district.
- What themes does Brave New World explore?
- Central themes in Brave New World include dystopia, technology, conformity, loss of humanity, consumerism. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.