Of Mice and Men

Review

Common Sense Media says

Moving Depression-era story of friendship, loneliness, fate.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

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Kids say

AGE
13
QUALITY
 

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this classic short novel, often required reading in middle school or high school, is one of the most affecting portraits of America during the Great Depression. It offers a glimpse of men attempting to hold onto their dreams of a better life when the odds of their success are miniscule. You may want to check out the 1992 film version on DVD, as well. 

  • Educational value4
    Of Mice and Men presents a vivid portrait of life in California's Salinas Valley during the Depression. Steinbeck not only depicts the hard-scrabble existences of itinerant ranch hands, but also spotlights the flora and fauna once abundant in the area.
  • Positive messages4
    Stresses the importance of social connection during times of trouble. Whatever their faults, George and Lennie are loyal to each other, and their kind of friendship is something most other characters in the novel lack.
  • Positive role models4
    George and Lennie's friendship has its rough edges, but the men look out for each other when things get tough. George knows that Lennie's combination of great physical strength and limited intellectual capacity make him a liability in many situations, yet he does his best to protect his childhood friend.
  • Violence4
    Although the violence in the novel may have a big emotional impact on some readers, there is little description of actual bloodshed. A man has his hand severely injured in a fight. A woman dies from an accidental neck injury. A character is shot to death.
  • Sex3
    The only female character in the novel is viewed as a sexual threat by the men, and she is referred to as a "tramp" and "jailbait." The ranch hands interpret her behavior as flirtatious, but there is a great deal of ambiguity as to the woman's actual motives. The ranch hands visit a local bordello on Saturday evenings, but their activity there is not depicted nor discussed in any detail.
  • Language4
    The ranch hands employ a wide variety of historically appropriate curse words: "hell," "damn," "God damn," "bastard" and "son of a bitch." One use of the "N" word.
  • Consumerism0
    Not applicable.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking3
    Characters smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol, but it happens in passing and is historically appropriate.
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What's the story?

George and Lennie are two itinerant ranch hands who arrive in California's Salinas Valley during the Great Depression, after being run off from their last assignment up north. Lennie possesses great physical strength but has the intellectual capacity of a child. George is the more calculating of the pair, but even he gets caught up in Lennie's dreams of owning a farm. As they find work and try to build a stake that will bring them closer to their dream, George and Lennie discover how easily Fate can upset their best-laid plans.

Is it any good?

 

OF MICE AND MEN is justifiably considered a classic of American literature: a short, direct meditation on friendship, loneliness, and unfulfilled dreams in trying times. Its plot and prose are straightforward and unadorned, but the impact of the final chapters is unforgettable. Lennie and George are iconic characters, and Steinbeck's presentation of their interactions with the hands at the Salinas ranch is pitch-perfect.

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What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about the values of friendship and loyalty and how they can be tested in times of economic hardship.

  • As a child, Lennie suffered some kind brain injury that impeded his intellectual development. How has society's treatment of the mentally disabled changed over the decades?

  • Lennie and George dream of owning a farm of their own, one where Lennie can take care of the rabbits. What kinds of dreams of the future do people have today? What are some of the obstacles they might encounter in trying to achieve them?

This review was written by Michael Berry
Teen, 13 years old
November 23, 2011
AGE
11
 
Really Good Book.
It's a very engrossing book. It has morals, freindship, and the difference from right and wrong. The cussing is a little strong, but nothing a mature ten year old can't handle. It has a unexpected ending, but this is a timeless classic, and shouldn't be banned in schools.
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Teen, 14 years old
November 27, 2011
AGE
12
 
Good book!
I read this when I was 14, and really enjoyed it. The basic plot is two men, Lennie and George start work on a ranch in Salinas, California. It's reasonably short, and Steinbeck compresses the events into a few days, to add to the effectiveness. I would recommend it for ages over 12, due to the fact there is some reference to prostitution (not direct, but still present) as well as bad language and violence which I probably couldn't have handled at any age under 12. Also, it would be most enjoyable for children/teens who are familiar with the time-period of America it is set in (time of Economic Boom, 'Dust Bowl' America, lots of migrants to California etc.), and general attitudes of the time, such as sexism and racism. Anyway, overall this is a great book which I would very much recommend.
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Helped me decide (4) | Had useful details (6) | Read my mind (5)
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Teen, 16 years old
March 27, 2012
AGE
15
 
I read this book in 10th grade, this book is part of school
I think reading this book really helped me improve my reading comprehension for 10th grade. I really enjoyed the movie after the book was finished.
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This review was written by Michael Berry
Topics:friendship
Author:John Steinbeck
Book type:Fiction
Genre:Literary Fiction
Publisher:Penguin Classics
Publication date:January 3, 2002
Number of pages:112
Paperback price:$14.00
Publisher's recommended age(s):13
This review was written by Michael Berry
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.
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