Cover of Maus: A Survivor's Tale

Maus: A Survivor's Tale

by Art Spiegelman · Grades 9–12 · Graphic Novel / Memoir

Maus: A Survivor's Tale by Art Spiegelman is assigned in US schools at grades 9–12. It appears on 3 lists: 2 state standards documents and 1 exam syllabus (AP, IB, GCSE or Cambridge), across 1 state. Every citation below links to the primary source.

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Before you buy: Ages 14–18 · Grades 9–12 · 296 pages. Content notes: Holocaust violence, suicide (referenced), nudity (one panel) (Common Sense Media: 13+). The button opens the print edition (ISBN 9780394747231). If the class uses a set edition or translation, match its ISBN first.

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Widely assigned — 3 curriculum lists · 1 state

Grade placement varies by school — the median assigned book spans 4 grade levels (83% span three or more, across 13,258 source-cited assignments).

This page shows where Maus: A Survivor's Tale is assigned in US schools — curricula, states, grades, and the primary-source citations behind each placement. Not a summary or study guide.

Reading level at a glance

Grade range
Grades 9–12See the list:9th10th11th12th
Listed most for
10th grade (3 of 5 cited list rows)
Age range
Ages 14–18
Pages
296
Reading time
about 5h 25m (est.)
First published
1986
Genre
Graphic Novel / Memoir
ISBN-13
9780394747231

Sources: grade range from the cited lists below, last checked 2026-05-29; pages and year from our catalog record (sources); reading time is an estimate at 250 words a minute.

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About this book

Book facts and sources (3)
Named in curriculum frameworks
  • Common Core State Standards (ELA) (source: nysed.gov)
  • Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) — ELA (source: tea.texas.gov)
  • AP English Literature & Composition (source: College Board)
Catalog record
First published 1986 · 296 pages (edition lengths vary) (source: how we source book data)

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Why widely assigned

This graphic novel / memoir title is typically read at grades 9–12. Written in the 1980s; pairs with curriculum units on Holocaust and intergenerational trauma; cited on 3 lists: 2 state standards documents and 1 exam syllabus (AP, IB, GCSE or Cambridge).

Themes

Holocaust · intergenerational trauma · memory and history · father-son relationship · graphic narrative · survival

Content notes

Holocaust violence · suicide (referenced) · nudity (one panel) · antisemitic violence

Common Sense Media recommends age 13+.

Where this book is assigned

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Common questions

What grade level is Maus: A Survivor's Tale?
Maus: A Survivor's Tale is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 9–12. It appears on 3 school reading lists across 1 state, from grade 9 to grade 11. Exact placement varies by school and district.
How long does it take to read Maus: A Survivor's Tale?
It takes about 5h 25m to read Maus: A Survivor's Tale (296 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 325 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
What curricula assign Maus: A Survivor's Tale?
Maus: A Survivor's Tale appears on reading lists for AP English Literature & Composition, Common Core State Standards (ELA), Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) — ELA. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is Maus: A Survivor's Tale banned in schools?
Maus: A Survivor's Tale has documented removals from at least one public-school district in 5 states (FL, IA, MO, TN, TX) per PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. Policies vary by district.
What themes does Maus: A Survivor's Tale explore?
Central themes in Maus: A Survivor's Tale include Holocaust, intergenerational trauma, memory and history, father-son relationship, graphic narrative.

Why this book is on this list

How we classify

Each dimension below is sourced from a public reference. The full framework is documented on the classification standard page.

Lexile measure
Not classified — this book has no published Lexile measure.
Grade band
Grades 9–12 — drawn from the curriculum sources cited on this page.
Curriculum alignment
Cited in 3 curricula on this site (see “Where assigned” above for primary-source links).
State-level evidence
Cited in 1 state's ELA framework or DOE list (see citations above).
Removal / banning records
Documented as challenged or removed in 5 states per PEN America’s Index of School Book Bans — see the full banned & challenged books list.
Seasonal / contextual tags
No seasonal or program-specific tags on this book.

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