Invisible Man
by Ralph Ellison
- Lexile
- 950L
- Grade range
- Grades 11–12
- Age range
- Ages 16–18
- Pages
- 581
- First published
- 1952
- Genre
- Literary Fiction
- ISBN-13
- 9780679732761
About this book
An unnamed Black narrator recounts his journey from a Southern college to Harlem in the 1930s, a search for identity through a society that refuses to see him. Ellison's National Book Award-winning novel is frequent on AP Literature reading lists and upper-level American Literature courses.
Themes
- racial invisibility
- identity
- power
- disillusionment
- African American experience
Content notes
- violence
- racial slurs
- sexual content
Common Sense Media recommends age 16+.
Where this book is assigned
AP English Literature & Composition
- recommended· 12th gradesource: AP Lit representative text list
Common Core State Standards (ELA)
- recommended· 12th gradesource: CCSS ELA Appendix B, grades 11-CCR exemplar
Similar grade-level books
Common questions
- What grade level is Invisible Man?
- Invisible Man is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 11–12, with a Lexile measure of 950L. 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 Invisible Man?
- Invisible Man has a Lexile measure of 950L according to MetaMetrics. Lexile measures text complexity, not content maturity — check the grade range and content notes separately for age-appropriateness.
- What curricula assign Invisible Man?
- Invisible Man 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 Invisible Man banned in schools?
- Invisible Man 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 Invisible Man explore?
- Central themes in Invisible Man include racial invisibility, identity, power, disillusionment, African American experience. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.