Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

Amanda | Howell High School, Grade 11

Rating: ***

In the book, “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck, two workers, George and Lennie, have been dropped off a bus on a farm where they need to start work. Lennie has a mental disability and George is his caretaker, in the sense that he provides guidance for him. Throughout the story, George needs to keep their jobs by sometimes speaking for Lennie.

This book has a very strong message of friendship and how important it actually is. Throughout the story, George made a lot of sacrifices for Lennie, even though they were inconvenient from him. George truly cared about him, and was the only person who did. George made a very big decision in the end, for the sake of stopping Lenny from suffering. Although what he did was very tragic, he did it from the heart.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to hear a story about two friends on an adventure to acquire The American Dream. They go through many hardships, only to learn that The American Dream is unattainable, and no one is ever truly happy.

Victoria | Allentown High School, Grade 12

Rating: ***

Of Mice and Men is a classic written by John Steinbeck about two migrant workers, George and Lennie, who are seeking work and have to travel far distances in order to find somewhere to work. George and Lennie are complete opposites, as one is small and one is giant with two different personalities but they tend to always look out for one another. Lennie suffers from a slight mental disability, so George helps guide him most of the time. Both of them dream about owning their own land and having a huge farm with plenty of animals. But, in order to reach that dream, they must work for it. Throughout the novel, both George and Lennie go through a series of events that change their lives forever. But will they reach their American dream?

I really enjoyed this end and was surprised by the ending, as the book takes many twists and turns. I found it difficult to understand their diction at times, but other than that the book was very well written and makes you think about the American dream and what people went through in order to make money and be successful. I love George and Lennie’s relationship and enjoyed watching them progress throughout the novel. Although George had to make a tough decision in the end, it was a difficult decision for George and it was what he felt was best. Although the ending may be seen as controversial, it is for the reader to decide what they think.

Kaylin | Academy of Allied Health and Science, Grade 10

Rating: ***

Of Mice and Men is an American classic about two men named George and Lennie, who move from place to place in search of work. They have a dream, that one day they will have a ranch of their own that they can take care of without having to work for others. They end up finding work in California's Salinas Valley, and it looks like things are finally looking up for George and Lennie. But these hopes take a turn for the worse when Lennie gets into some trouble in the ranch that may render their dream impossible.

I don't usually read classics, and the style of writing was pretty unfamiliar to me, but this book turned out to be pretty engaging and had me shocked at some of the major plot twists. Of course, this is a fairly old book, so the language is pretty old fashioned and outdated, but the plot is easy to follow, as well as interesting. The way Steinbeck writes is very realistic, and the details he uses adds to this as well. Curley's wife is treated pretty terribly in the novel, and she doesn't even get a name, rather being referred to as only Curley's wife throughout the entire novel. Lennie's disability is never really gone into as well; it's only clear that he can't really think for himself and depends on George to stay out of trouble. This is an older book though, so it's more understandable. Overall, Of Mice and Men is a story about friendship, dreams, and harsh reality, and it makes sense that it is a classic.

Megan | Biotechnology High School, Grade 9

Rating: ****

Of Mice and Men is set in a bleak era of American history, the Great Depression, and follows two migrant workers, George Milton and Lennie Small. The two men travel from ranch to ranch in search of job opportunities in order to support themselves financially. Lennie is mentally disabled, and due to his innocent childlike nature, he often unintentionally gets himself into trouble. George is Lennie’s best friend and caretaker, protecting him from the perils of 1930s society. Despite their polar-opposite personalities, they share a special bond and have one thing in commonーtheir American Dream. George and Lennie dream of one day owning a farm of their own, an escape from the constant pressures of their jobs. This dream of self-sustainability and freedom wills them to continue to work hard despite their trials and tribulations. In this heartbreaking novella, Steinbeck tells a tale of dreams, companionship, loneliness, racism, and so much more.

Although this novella was very short, I was very impressed with how much depth and emotion Steinbeck was able to incorporate into it. I read this book for school, and unlike most required readings, I was really interested and invested in the characters and plot of the story. After all, Steinbeck’s vivid descriptions and imagery truly allow the scenery and characters to come to life. I loved following the development of George and Lennie’s heartwarming friendship. However, this book is definitely a heavy read, as it highlights many of the unpleasant and harsh realities that people faced during the Great Depression. Overall, if you are looking for a tragic, soul-crushing, and eye-opening story, I would recommend that you give Of Mice and Men a read.

Joe | Christian Brothers Academy, Grade 9

Rating: ***

Have you ever wondered what true friendship is like? Well in the story Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, two adventurous best friends set out on a journey to fulfill their lifelong dream of owning a farm together. The journey begins in the dry deserts of California, where George and Lennie are two friends who work to earn money. They go from farm-to-farm begging for a job so they both can work together. George and Lennie go through many hardships throughout their long journey. For example, at the first farm that George and Lennie stayed at, they get kicked off because of Lennie’s foolish behavior towards the women on the farm. Another instance is when Lennie spoils their secret that they are trying to own their own farm one day. This immediately gets them kicked off the ranch because of the owner’s jealousy.

The thing I love most about this book is the story of two best friends who overcome many obstacles together. I also love how the setting changes many different times throughout the book, they get new jobs at each ranch they find, and they also meet many new and different people on their journey. Of Mice and Men is a very short book that I would recommend to all readers. I personally loved this book and would definitely love to pick it up again. The story teaches a great lesson about the true meaning of friendship and what it’s like to live in the 1900’s.