What grade level is Frankenstein?

Frankenstein is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 9–12, with a Lexile measure of 1170L. 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 Frankenstein?

Frankenstein has a Lexile measure of 1170L 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 Frankenstein?

It takes about 5h 15m to read Frankenstein (288 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 315 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.

Is Frankenstein hard to read for 9th grade?

At 1170L, Frankenstein falls within the typical 1050–1335L text-complexity range for 9th grade (Common Core Appendix A) — a grade-appropriate reading challenge. Lexile measures text complexity, not thematic maturity — check the content notes for age-appropriateness separately.

What curricula assign Frankenstein?

Frankenstein 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.

Frankenstein

Name: Frankenstein
Availability: InStock
Author: Mary Shelley
ISBN: 9780143131847

by Mary Shelley

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is assigned in US schools at grades 9–12, with a Lexile measure of 1170L. It appears across 2 curriculum references and 1 state, sourced from state DOE pages and AP/IB/Common Core syllabi. Every citation below links to the primary source.

This page shows where Frankenstein is assigned in US schools — curricula, states, grades, and the primary-source citations behind each placement. Not a summary or study guide.

Lexile: 1170L
Grade range: Grades 9–12
Difficulty for grade: Within the grade 9–10 band (1050–1335L)
Age range: Ages 14–18
Pages: 288
Reading time: about 5h 15m (est.)
First published: 1818
Genre: Gothic Fiction
ISBN-13: 9780143131847

Reading difficulty: At 1170L, Frankenstein falls within the typical 1050–1335L text-complexity range for 9th grade (Common Core Appendix A) — a grade-appropriate reading challenge.

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About this book

Victor Frankenstein, a young Swiss scientist, assembles a living being from dead flesh; the creature, rejected by its creator and by humanity, pursues Victor through Europe and the Arctic. Shelley's novel is common in 10th-grade World Literature units and AP Lit.

Why widely assigned

This Gothic Fiction title, reads at high-school literary complexity, typically at grades 9–12. Written in the 1810s; pairs with curriculum units on ambition and hubris and responsibility for creation; cited across 2 curriculum frameworks.

Themes

ambition and hubris · responsibility for creation · nature vs nurture · isolation · Romanticism · science and ethics

Content notes

violence · death of children · grief

Common Sense Media recommends age 13+.

Where this book is assigned

AP English Literature & Composition
- recommended·11th grade source: AP Lit representative text
Common Core State Standards (ELA)
- recommended·10th grade source: CCSS ELA Appendix B, grades 9-10 exemplar
- recommended·10th grade · New York source: NY Next Gen Learning Standards grade 10 aligned reading

Similar grade-level books

See all books like Frankenstein→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Common questions

What grade level is Frankenstein?: Frankenstein is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 9–12, with a Lexile measure of 1170L. 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 Frankenstein?: Frankenstein has a Lexile measure of 1170L 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 Frankenstein?: It takes about 5h 15m to read Frankenstein (288 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 315 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
Is Frankenstein hard to read for 9th grade?: At 1170L, Frankenstein falls within the typical 1050–1335L text-complexity range for 9th grade (Common Core Appendix A) — a grade-appropriate reading challenge. Lexile measures text complexity, not thematic maturity — check the content notes for age-appropriateness separately.
What curricula assign Frankenstein?: Frankenstein 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.

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: 1170L — sourced from MetaMetrics’ Lexile Hub.
Grade band: Grades 9–12 — drawn from state ELA frameworks and AP/IB syllabi citing this book.
Curriculum alignment: Cited in 2 curricula on this site (see “Where assigned” above for primary-source links).
State-level evidence: Cited in 1 state ELA framework or DOE list (see citations above).
Removal / banning records: No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
Seasonal / contextual tags: No seasonal or program-specific tags on this book.