Of Mice and Men
by John Steinbeck
- Lexile
- 630L
- Grade range
- Grades 8–11
- Age range
- Ages 13–17
- Pages
- 112
- First published
- 1937
- Genre
- Literary Fiction
- ISBN-13
- 9780140177398
About this book
Two migrant ranch workers in Depression-era California — George, small and quick-witted, and Lennie, a physically powerful man with an intellectual disability — chase a modest dream of owning their own land. Their bond collides with the hostility of the ranch and Lennie's inability to control his strength. The novella is assigned widely for its compact tragic structure and themes of loneliness and dignity.
Themes
- friendship
- loneliness
- American Dream
- disability
- Great Depression
- migrant labor
Content notes
- racial slurs (historical context)
- violence
- euthanasia of an animal and of a character
- misogynistic language
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 · Californiasource: CA CCSS ELA aligned reading
- recommended· 9th grade · Californiasource: CA common summer-reading list — rising 9th grade
- recommended· 9th grade · Californiasource: LAUSD English 9 core text adoption
- recommended· 9th grade · Texassource: TEKS English I/II frequently taught text
- recommended· 10th grade · Ohiosource: Ohio Learning Standards aligned reading
Similar grade-level books
Common questions
- What grade level is Of Mice and Men?
- Of Mice and Men is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 8–11, with a Lexile measure of 630L. 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 Of Mice and Men?
- Of Mice and Men has a Lexile measure of 630L according to MetaMetrics. Lexile measures text complexity, not content maturity — check the grade range and content notes separately for age-appropriateness.
- What curricula assign Of Mice and Men?
- Of Mice and Men appears on reading lists for Common Core State Standards (ELA). Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
- Is Of Mice and Men banned in schools?
- Of Mice and Men has documented removals from at least one public-school district in 5 states (TX, MO, FL, PA, SC) per PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. Policies vary by district.
- What themes does Of Mice and Men explore?
- Central themes in Of Mice and Men include friendship, loneliness, American Dream, disability, Great Depression. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.