Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

A controversial tale of friendship and tragedy during the Great Depression

They are an unlikely pair: George is "small and quick and dark of face"; Lennie, a man of tremendous size, has the mind of a young child. Yet they have formed a "family," clinging together in the face of loneliness and alienation.

Laborers in California's dusty vegetable fields, they hustle work when they can, living a hand-to-mouth existence. For George and Lennie have a plan: to own an acre of land and a shack they can call their own. When they land jobs on a ranch in the Salinas Valley, the fulfillment of their dream seems to be within their grasp. But even George cannot guard Lennie from the provocations of a flirtatious woman, nor predict the consequences of Lennie's unswerving obedience to the things George taught him.

ALA Reasons:

• Swearing:
• Hell: 47
• Damn: 34
• God: 26
• Christ: 30
• Bastard: 17
• Bitch: 13
• Negro/Nigger: 12
• Morbid and depressing themes
• Racial Slurs