The Grapes of Wrath
by John Steinbeck
- Lexile
- 680L
- Grade range
- Grades 10–12
- Age range
- Ages 15–18
- Pages
- 464
- First published
- 1939
- Genre
- American Classic
- ISBN-13
- 9780143039433
About this book
The Joad family leaves Dust Bowl Oklahoma for California during the Great Depression, chasing a myth of plenty that meets them with exploitation and indifference. Steinbeck's Pulitzer-winning novel is a fixture of 11th and 12th grade American Literature courses and appears on AP Literature reading lists.
Themes
- economic injustice
- family
- migration
- resilience
- American Dream
Content notes
- crude language
- sexual content (brief)
- violence
- death
Common Sense Media recommends age 15+.
Where this book is assigned
AP English Literature & Composition
- required· 11th gradesource: AP Lit representative text list
Common Core State Standards (ELA)
- recommended· 11th gradesource: CCSS ELA Appendix B, grades 11-CCR exemplar
Similar grade-level books
Common questions
- What grade level is The Grapes of Wrath?
- The Grapes of Wrath is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 10–12, with a Lexile measure of 680L. 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 The Grapes of Wrath?
- The Grapes of Wrath has a Lexile measure of 680L according to MetaMetrics. Lexile measures text complexity, not content maturity — check the grade range and content notes separately for age-appropriateness.
- What curricula assign The Grapes of Wrath?
- The Grapes of Wrath 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 The Grapes of Wrath banned in schools?
- The Grapes of Wrath has documented removals from at least one public-school district in 2 states (TX, FL) per PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. Policies vary by district.
- What themes does The Grapes of Wrath explore?
- Central themes in The Grapes of Wrath include economic injustice, family, migration, resilience, American Dream. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.