Of Mice and Men
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is assigned in US schools at grades 8–11, with a Lexile measure of 630L. It appears across 1 curriculum reference and 3 states, sourced from state DOE pages and AP/IB/Common Core syllabi. Every citation below links to the primary source.
This page shows where Of Mice and Men is assigned in US schools — curricula, states, grades, and the primary-source citations behind each placement. Not a summary or study guide.
- Lexile
- 630L
- Grade range
- Grades 8–11
- Difficulty for grade
- Below the grade 6–8 band (925–1185L)
- Age range
- Ages 13–17
- Pages
- 112
- Reading time
- about 2h 5m (est.)
- First published
- 1937
- Genre
- Literary Fiction
- ISBN-13
- 9780140177398
Reading difficulty: At 630L, Of Mice and Men reads below the typical 925–1185L text-complexity range for 8th grade (Common Core Appendix A). It is an accessible read for the grade — often assigned for its themes and discussion value rather than for reading challenge.
Where to find this book
Other formats on Amazon: Kindle · Audiobook
As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Pricing + Prime availability shown on Amazon.
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.
Why widely assigned
This Literary Fiction title, reads at middle-grade prose complexity, typically at grades 8–11. Written in the 1930s; pairs with curriculum units on friendship and loneliness; cited across 1 curriculum framework.
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: LAUSD English 9 core text adoption
- recommended·9th grade · Californiasource: CA common summer-reading list — rising 9th grade
- recommended·9th grade · Californiasource: CA CCSS ELA aligned reading
- recommended·9th grade · Texassource: TEKS English I/II frequently taught text
- recommended·10th grade · Ohiosource: Ohio Learning Standards aligned reading
Similar grade-level books
The OutsidersS.E. Hinton · 750L
Lord of the FliesWilliam Golding · 770L
The Great GatsbyF. Scott Fitzgerald · 1070L
1984George Orwell · 1090L
See all books like Of Mice and Men→ — matched on theme + reading level.
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.
- How long does it take to read Of Mice and Men?
- It takes about 2h 5m to read Of Mice and Men (112 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 125 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
- Is Of Mice and Men hard to read for 8th grade?
- At 630L, Of Mice and Men reads below the typical 925–1185L text-complexity range for 8th grade (Common Core Appendix A). It is an accessible read for the grade — often assigned for its themes and discussion value rather than for reading challenge. Lexile measures text complexity, not thematic maturity — check the content notes for age-appropriateness separately.
- 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.
Why this book is on this list
Each dimension below is sourced from a public reference. The full framework is documented on the classification standard page.
- Lexile measure
- 630L — sourced from MetaMetrics’ Lexile Hub.
- Grade band
- Grades 8–11 — drawn from state ELA frameworks and AP/IB syllabi citing this book.
- Curriculum alignment
- Cited in 1 curriculum on this site (see “Where assigned” above for primary-source links).
- State-level evidence
- Cited in 3 states ELA frameworks 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.
- Seasonal / contextual tags
- Tagged for: summer.