The Pearl
by John Steinbeck
- Lexile
- 1010L
- Grade range
- Grades 7–10
- Age range
- Ages 12–16
- Pages
- 96
- First published
- 1947
- Genre
- Parable / Novella
- ISBN-13
- 9780140187380
About this book
A Mexican pearl-diver finds an enormous pearl that promises to lift his family out of poverty but instead attracts greed, violence, and tragedy. Steinbeck's short parable is a common 7th-10th grade text and appears in Common Core exemplar lists.
Themes
- greed
- poverty
- colonial exploitation
- family
- fate
Content notes
- violence
- child death
Common Sense Media recommends age 11+.
Where this book is assigned
Common Core State Standards (ELA)
- recommended· 7th gradesource: CCSS ELA Appendix B, grades 6-8 exemplar
- recommended· 8th grade · Californiasource: CA CCSS ELA grade 8 novella introduction
Similar grade-level books
Common questions
- What grade level is The Pearl?
- The Pearl is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 7–10, with a Lexile measure of 1010L. 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 Pearl?
- The Pearl has a Lexile measure of 1010L 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 Pearl?
- The Pearl appears on reading lists for Common Core State Standards (ELA). Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
- Is The Pearl banned in schools?
- The Pearl 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 The Pearl explore?
- Central themes in The Pearl include greed, poverty, colonial exploitation, family, fate. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.