Frankenstein
by Mary Shelley
- Lexile
- 1170L
- Grade range
- Grades 9–12
- Age range
- Ages 14–18
- Pages
- 166
- First published
- 1818
- Genre
- Gothic Fiction
- ISBN-13
- 9780486282114
About this book
Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist, assembles and animates a creature whose rejection drives him to murder. Shelley's novel — often cited as the first science-fiction novel — appears on AP Literature and IB English reading lists and is taught in 10th-12th grade gothic-literature units.
Themes
- responsibility
- the limits of science
- isolation
- creator vs creation
- monstrosity
Content notes
- violence
- death
- psychological horror
Common Sense Media recommends age 13+.
Where this book is assigned
AP English Literature & Composition
- recommended· 11th gradesource: AP Lit representative text
Common Core State Standards (ELA)
- recommended· 10th gradesource: CCSS ELA Appendix B, grades 9-10 exemplar
- recommended· 10th grade · New Yorksource: NY Next Gen Learning Standards grade 10 aligned reading
Similar grade-level books
Common questions
- What grade level is Frankenstein?
- Frankenstein 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 Frankenstein?
- Frankenstein 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 Frankenstein?
- Frankenstein 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 Frankenstein banned in schools?
- Frankenstein 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 Frankenstein explore?
- Central themes in Frankenstein include responsibility, the limits of science, isolation, creator vs creation, monstrosity. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.