Romeo and Juliet
by William Shakespeare
- Grade range
- Grades 8–10
- Age range
- Ages 13–16
- Pages
- 320
- First published
- 1597
- Genre
- Tragedy
- ISBN-13
- 9780743477116
About this book
Two young lovers from feuding families in Renaissance Verona meet, marry in secret, and die in a chain of misunderstanding. Shakespeare's most-assigned tragedy is the near-universal 9th or 10th grade introduction to Shakespeare in US public schools and appears on Common Core, AP, and IB reading lists.
Themes
- love
- fate
- family conflict
- youth
- impulsive decision
Content notes
- violence
- suicide
- sexual references
Common Sense Media recommends age 12+.
Where this book is assigned
Common Core State Standards (ELA)
- required· 9th gradesource: CCSS ELA Appendix B, grades 9-10 drama exemplar
- required· 9th grade · Californiasource: CA CCSS ELA grade 9 near-universal Shakespeare text
- required· 9th grade · New Yorksource: NY Next Gen Learning Standards grade 9 Shakespeare
- required· 9th grade · Texassource: TEKS English I required Shakespeare
Similar grade-level books
Common questions
- What grade level is Romeo and Juliet?
- Romeo and Juliet is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 8–10. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.
- What curricula assign Romeo and Juliet?
- Romeo and Juliet appears on reading lists for Common Core State Standards (ELA). Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
- Is Romeo and Juliet banned in schools?
- Romeo and Juliet 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 Romeo and Juliet explore?
- Central themes in Romeo and Juliet include love, fate, family conflict, youth, impulsive decision. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.