Fahrenheit 451
by Ray Bradbury
- Lexile
- 890L
- Grade range
- Grades 9–12
- Age range
- Ages 13–18
- Pages
- 249
- First published
- 1953
- Genre
- Dystopian Fiction
- ISBN-13
- 9781451673319
About this book
In a future America where books are banned and firemen burn the few that remain, Guy Montag begins to question his role after meeting an unusually curious neighbor. Bradbury's short novel, written in the early Cold War, anticipates modern debates about media saturation, censorship, and attention. It is a common 9th- and 10th-grade assigned text.
Themes
- censorship
- conformity
- technology and media
- knowledge and ignorance
- rebellion
Content notes
- violence
- suicide attempt
- book burning imagery
Common Sense Media recommends age 13+.
Where this book is assigned
Common Core State Standards (ELA)
- recommended· 9th gradesource: CCSS ELA Appendix B, grades 9-10 exemplar
- recommended· 9th grade · Texassource: TEKS English I frequently taught text
- recommended· 10th grade · Illinoissource: Illinois Learning Standards aligned reading
Similar grade-level books
Common questions
- What grade level is Fahrenheit 451?
- Fahrenheit 451 is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 9–12, with a Lexile measure of 890L. 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 Fahrenheit 451?
- Fahrenheit 451 has a Lexile measure of 890L according to MetaMetrics. Lexile measures text complexity, not content maturity — check the grade range and content notes separately for age-appropriateness.
- What curricula assign Fahrenheit 451?
- Fahrenheit 451 appears on reading lists for Common Core State Standards (ELA). Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
- Is Fahrenheit 451 banned in schools?
- Fahrenheit 451 has documented removals from at least one public-school district in 2 states (TX, FL) per PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. Policies vary by district.
- What themes does Fahrenheit 451 explore?
- Central themes in Fahrenheit 451 include censorship, conformity, technology and media, knowledge and ignorance, rebellion. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.