Slaughterhouse-Five
by Kurt Vonnegut
- Lexile
- 850L
- Grade range
- Grades 11–12
- Age range
- Ages 16–18
- Pages
- 275
- First published
- 1969
- Genre
- Literary Fiction
- ISBN-13
- 9780385333849
About this book
Billy Pilgrim, an American optometrist who survived the Allied firebombing of Dresden as a World War II POW, becomes "unstuck in time" and relives his life out of order. Vonnegut's anti-war novel is a frequent AP Literature text and one of the ALA's most frequently challenged books of the 21st century.
Themes
- trauma and time
- war and meaning
- free will
- narrative fragmentation
- death and dark humor
Content notes
- war violence
- firebombing
- sexual content
- profanity
- suicide
Common Sense Media recommends age 16+.
Where this book is assigned
AP English Literature & Composition
- required· 12th gradesource: AP Lit — frequently cited FRQ3 text
Common Core State Standards (ELA)
- recommended· 12th gradesource: CCSS ELA Appendix B, grades 11-CCR exemplar
- recommended· 12th grade · New Yorksource: NY Next Gen Learning Standards grade 12 aligned reading
Similar grade-level books
Common questions
- What grade level is Slaughterhouse-Five?
- Slaughterhouse-Five is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 11–12, with a Lexile measure of 850L. 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 Slaughterhouse-Five?
- Slaughterhouse-Five has a Lexile measure of 850L according to MetaMetrics. Lexile measures text complexity, not content maturity — check the grade range and content notes separately for age-appropriateness.
- What curricula assign Slaughterhouse-Five?
- Slaughterhouse-Five 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 Slaughterhouse-Five banned in schools?
- Slaughterhouse-Five has documented removals from at least one public-school district in 4 states (TX, FL, MO, VA) per PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. Policies vary by district.
- What themes does Slaughterhouse-Five explore?
- Central themes in Slaughterhouse-Five include trauma and time, war and meaning, free will, narrative fragmentation, death and dark humor. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.