Cover of Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood

Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood

by Marjane Satrapi

Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi is assigned in US schools at grades 9–12. It appears across 1 curriculum reference, sourced from state DOE pages and AP/IB/Common Core syllabi. Every citation below links to the primary source.

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

Grade range
Grades 9–12
Age range
Ages 14–18
Pages
160
Reading time
about 2h 55m (est.)
First published
2000
Genre
Graphic Memoir
ISBN-13
9780375714573
Buy on AmazonListen free on Audible

Where to find this book

Buy on AmazonPrime · 1-clickListen free on Audible30-day trial

Audible: new members only · many assigned titles are included with the membership.

Other formats on Amazon: Kindle · Audiobook

As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases and membership trials at no extra cost to you. Pricing, Prime, and trial terms shown on Amazon.

About this book

Marjane Satrapi's black-and-white graphic memoir of growing up in Tehran during the Iranian Revolution and the Iran-Iraq War. Widely assigned in 9th-12th grade world literature, history, and graphic-novel-as-literature units; cited in Common Core Appendix B as an informational text exemplar.

Why widely assigned

This Graphic Memoir title, typically at grades 9–12. Written in the 2000s; pairs with curriculum units on revolution and coming of age; cited across 1 curriculum framework.

Themes

revolution · coming of age · religion · identity · war

Content notes

war violence · political imprisonment · execution

Common Sense Media recommends age 14+.

Where this book is assigned

Similar grade-level books

See all books like Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Common questions

What grade level is Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood?
Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 9–12. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.
How long does it take to read Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood?
It takes about 2h 55m to read Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood (160 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 175 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
What curricula assign Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood?
Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood appears on reading lists for AP English Literature & Composition. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood banned in schools?
Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood has documented removals from at least one public-school district in 2 states (IL, TX) per PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. Policies vary by district.
What themes does Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood explore?
Central themes in Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood include revolution, coming of age, religion, identity, war. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.

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
Not classified — this book has no published Lexile measure.
Grade band
Grades 9–12 — drawn from state ELA frameworks and AP/IB syllabi citing this book.
Curriculum alignment
Cited in 1 curriculum on this site (see “Where assigned” above for primary-source links).
State-level evidence
Not yet documented in a state-level framework on this site.
Removal / banning records
Documented as challenged or removed in 2 states per PEN America’s Index of School Book Bans.
Seasonal / contextual tags
No seasonal or program-specific tags on this book.