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Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck

Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, is about two best friends who are on wild adventures and who are constantly getting into trouble. George Milton is the person who we can say has the brains and Lennie Smalls is the person who doesn't. These two friends just can't be separated. George finds himself always having to bail Lennie out because at every new job that they get he is always getting into trouble. The story starts in a range which George found that they could work. Everything was going alright, but the problem was that Lennie could mess up at any moment. So George threatens Lennie with something that made him go soft. When the boss's wife gets into the picture, things start to get complicated because she targets Lennie with major flirting. George knows that she is going to be the cause of something that would cause Lennie to snap. Lennie does end up doing something but you have to read in order to find out.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for an adventure and thriller novel. I could read this book four times and I wouldn't get bored of it. Yeah, it's that good. I like the story because it makes you think. Sometimes you have to read a paragraph twice in order to understand it completely. I really enjoyed this book.

-Reviewed by L.U, grade 9.
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Teen Speak said…
This is a wonderful classic about two men that just travel the country looking for work, all in an effort to save enough money to realize their dream: a small farm where they can live their lives for themselves and only themselves. Our heroes are a short smart man named George and a tall large man named Lennie. But what could possibly stop them from getting the money they need? The simple fact that Lennie is mentally retarded and has the mental capacity of a 4th grader, and the fact of the matter is children are much more easily let off for their wrong-doings and a 40-year-old isn't. But will time, determination, and a little opportunity give them the power they need to achieve their dreams or will it all go wrong?

This is a wonderful book full of laughter and misfortune. The situations that Lennie gets himself into will surely make you smile and all the trouble that George goes through to protect his friend will make you read on with anticipation for his next move. This story is a very widely read one and for good reason. It's a fantastic blend of bad humor and good intentions, with Lennie being so simple minded he doesn't know what he's doing until George tells him. I would highly recommend this story to fans of adventure and even more so to comedy fans. You wouldn't want to be the only one who doesn't know about Lennie and his rabbits, would you?


-Reviewed by Ashot C., grade 9.
March 2, 2011 at 4:01 PM
Teen Speak said…
Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck

George and Lennie are the most unexpected of friends. Lennie is mentally retarded and sticks to George in all worldly things. The two friends travel up the Salinas Valley looking for work after getting sacked for Lennie's actions. The only place that they find work leads them to the Northern Salinas Valley. This job is the last one they plan to have before they make their dreams come true. They both seem to be enjoying the new place and even begin to make friends . . . but when Lennie's love for all things soft causes the death of the boss's daughter-in-law, one of them flees and the other wants to stop the pain and suffering. Does the suffering mean one will commit a most unwanted crime?

John Steinbeck is one of the greatest writers of all time. His stories have inspired us in ways nothing else could. George is aware that Lennie could get him into trouble at any given moment. He is careful to watch him and purify his imperfections through work. Lennie thinks of George as a big brother who takes care of him. They work side by side to make their dreams come true. True friendship is a very rare thing that you don't come across every day. These are two friends who battle things out to the end.


-Reviewed by T.A., grade 10.
March 3, 2011 at 5:22 PM
Anonymous said…
I think that this book was interesting. It was pretty good. I would recommend it to my friends. It had a few boring parts, like the beginning but overall a very good book. It showed the bond of a true friendship. I think people that like to read older books or books about the past and the 30s would like this book. It made me cry at some parts and was overwhelming but made me realize how true friendships really are and what friends really do for each other. It shows what they sacrifice for each other. I loved this book.

Reviewed by Janette, grade 9.
Central Library
March 4, 2013 at 5:39 PM
Teen Speak said…
Lennie and George are an inseparable duo that travel from job to job. Lennie is a big man with incredible strength, but with the mind of a child. George is a small man, with quick wit, and like Lennie's protector. George and Lennie have always had a dream to buy their own farm and live there, however Lennie always screws up on the job, getting them fired, so money is hard to save. One day, they get another job, and find someone who's willing to share their dream and they are so close to getting their own farm. But then, Lennie does something that could turn their dream from reality back to imagination. Will they get their dream or will they fail in their attempt?

I'm not really sure what drew me to this book, but I'm glad that I read it. This book was really symbolic, and made me think about the way we treat each other. Of Mice and Men, is just one of those books where you just keep thinking about it after finishing it. I'm really glad that I read this book because it gave me new insight on a lot subjects. I would recommend this book to teens mainly because it's a touching story that might teach them something for the rest of their lives. The book is very bittersweet in many ways.

Reviewed by Julian, grade 9
Glendale Central Library
April 23, 2014 at 3:53 PM
Teen Speak said…
Two friends,George and Lennie, are on a trip to find a job for both of them. Unfortunately, Lennie acts like a child because his mentality has not yet matured. George is very serious and always takes care of Lennie like a brother. Due to Lennie's childish behavior they always get fired from their job. Finally,they find a job at a ranch that they think is suitable for them. At the ranch both George and Lennie encounter big obstacles one where they get into friendships, opportunities, life lessons, and trouble. The big question is will George put up with Lennie? Can they come over the obstacles?


This book can be very boring at times, but the ending is very interesting and shocking. In the beginning of the book it might seem like there is a long way to go, but in the middle of the book it gets interesting. I like how in the beginning of the book it starts off with two characters and later on it introduces more and more characters. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes descriptive or detailed books because throughout the book it includes details where you can actually visualize it as if your watching a movie.

Reviewed by TA, Grade 9
Glendale Central Library
January 22, 2015 at 6:17 PM
Teen Speak said…
Of Mice and Men written by John Steinbeck. Is about two displaced migrant workers named Lennie Small and George Milton. This is taking place in the 1930's during the great depression. Lennie and George move from place to place in order to search for new jobs. George Mliton is smart but uneducated while Lennie is strong but has a mental disability. They stop by a large plantation to work. They chose it there because they can make enough money and are able to survive. A man named Curley who is short and used to be a boxer tries to act all tough on George and Lennie but George shows him a big punch and Curley gets mad. Another man named Candy who is greatly respected throughout the story who has a lot of pet dogs helps the two by giving them a home and food to eat. But at the end something happens one of his dogs die because of a sickness and that it's better for the dog to die then suffer. George the next day sees a girl he likes. He starts talking to her and takes her to a farm. And George has a disability when he touches something soft he squeezes is it. And he did that to the girl and kills her. At the end they get in trouble and run away. And George said to Lenny I'm sorry and Lenny gets sick of George and kills him. Lennie regrets what he did. And learns that two is better than one.

This story is great but heartbreaking they are brothers. Best friends that did everything together and at the end a shocking finish where an important character dies. I think everyone should read this book. It has a great theme which is no matter what give someone a chance and let them be who they really want to be. Everyone should read this book and for me its one of my favorite books its amazing.

Reviewed by Nathan John, Grade 9
Pacific Park Library
January 22, 2015 at 7:41 PM
Teen Speak said…
This story explains a story having to do with two people known as George and Lennie. These two have nothing really in the world besides themselves. They are set out for a dream. They wish to own land in the future. This becomes a problem because of Lennie's cruelty and misunderstanding of human emotions. This story really shows the struggle of two people with the same dream and how they overcome it. They sacrifice everything they need to accomplish their dreams.

Of Mice and Men shows many amazing themes like the nature of dreams and sacrifice and much more. John Steinbeck made a remarkable story that showed perseverance and friendship between George and Lennie. I really love how it shows what someone will do when they have a goal and are determined to do something. It shows how George and Lennie overcome obstacles and do what they want to do, which is an amazing story. I would strongly recommend this to anyone who enjoys a heart-breaking story about two people with a dream.

Reviewed by EB, Grade 8
Grandview Library
February 6, 2018 at 12:38 PM
Teen Speak said…
George Milton and Lennie Small are a duo of travelers looking to accomplish their dream of buying their own farm. They left their previous town to to Lennie grabbing onto a girl's dress. Lennie has a mental disability and George does not like to take care of him. They decide to go work for a ranch a little north as they sleep on a riverbank. George tells Lennie that if anything ever happens that he should come to this brush. Lennie talks about how he should run away and how that would help George. However, George wants him to stay. At the ranch, they meet the swamper, Candy. He tells them about how things work at the ranch and all of the other people: the boss, Curley, Curley's wife, Crooks, Carlson, and Slim. The boss immediately questions Lennie after George answers all of the questions. George says that Lennie is just shy. Then they meet Curley, the boss' son and the member of the ranch that no one likes or respects. Later in the barn, Curley sees Lennie laughing and starts a fight. The fight ends when Lennie breaks Curley's hand. Curley agrees not to tell the boss that Lennis broke it in fear of people knowing that he lost a fight to him. One night, Lennie goes into Crooks' room and Crooks gets made at him for entering. They have a lengthy conversation where Crooks scared Lennie and then settles him down so he does not attract attention. Curley's wife walks in and when Crooks asks her to leave she threatens to get him fired and lynched. Lennie accidentally kills a puppy that Carlson gave him to keep him occupied and Lennie gets really upset. Curley's wife walks in and when she finds out he likes to pet soft things, she offers to let him touch her hair. Lennie pets it a little to hard and she starts screaming. Lennie gets scared and out of fear for George getting mad at him, he accidentally kills Curley's wife by breaking her neck. The other men in the ranch find her body in the barn and go after Lennie, who George knows where he is.

This is a very short and sweet book about the rough lifestyle of the early 1900s. Steinbeck captures the tone of that era perfectly with the way people act and their dialogue. The first page of the book is a brilliant example of imagery used at its best. The introduction of the story was great but the rising action was very slow and plainly boring at some parts. There was a very unexpected twist that was done very well. The final scene with George talking to Lennie at the riverbank was a writing masterpiece. I believe this is a 7/10 book that needs a sequel due to its abruptness.

Reviewed by anonymous, Grade 9
Glendale Central Library
April 25, 2020 at 2:54 PM
Teen Speak said…
In John Steinbeck's novel Of Mice and Men, two physically opposite friends, Geroge who is a short man with small talk, whereas Lennie is a simpleminded tall man. Both aspire to own a farm in the near future, in which they live, and where Lennie can tend his rabbits. Eventually, they head to the farm and meet Curley who runs the farm. Almost instantly he begins to challenge both friends. Luckily Lennie is a good farmer, however, he kills Curley's wife accidentally which caused him to flee. Curley announces a shoot-to-kill policy. At this time, Lennie had run away to a spot he and George had designated for complicated events like these. There he meets up with George who pulls out a gun and shoots Lennie in the back of his head.

Personally, I didn't quite enjoy this read as much as I had expected. The polt seemed familiar and predictable. Steinbeck should have incorporated an unexpected original twist, throwing off his audience. With this, the characters also seemed to have unoriginal characteristics. I would recommend this to anyone who does not like twists or prefers to expect a polt instead of being swept off their feet.

Reviewed by Anonymous, Grade 8
Glendale Central Library
November 13, 2020 at 2:27 PM
Melissa said…
The narrative follows two traveling employees named George and Lennie as they begin work on a ranch near Soledad, California, in the 1930s. The story takes place over four days, starting on Thursday evening and finishing on Sunday afternoon. When George and Lennie visit the ranch, they meet additional folks who underline the land's remoteness and harshness. George is a little, clever man who tends after Lennie, his giant, strong learning-disabled buddy. Throughout the novel, Lennie's strength gets increasingly terrifying as it becomes evident that he has no idea how much harm he may cause. The two men express their desire to have their own ranch and work for themselves throughout the novel, but this is proved to be impossible to achieve at the book's conclusion.


Of Mice and Men depicts the devastating consequences of the Great Depression on average working men in the United States at a moment of economic ruin. This is a very good topic that was expanded on because it was such a difficult time period for the average person in the world, especially someone from the United States. Anyone that likes to read about and learn about The Great Depression should read this book because it creates a bond between the two main characters and makes them extremely likable and fun to read about. This novel really made me think about how important a good friendship is to have.

Reviewed by Anonymous, Grade 9
Montrose Library
May 5, 2022 at 5:43 PM
Melissa said…
George and Lennie are 2 wandering friends searching for work during the great depression. George is small and sly, while Lennie is huge and strong. However, Lennie is extremely clumsy and has a mental disability, which makes it so that George is the one who is usually looking after Lennie, who is clingy and childish. George and Lennie end up with a job at a ranch where they make a couple friends and start developing a healthy lifestyle. George and Lennie are saving up money for their own farm, where they can keep rabbits. But one day, Lennie makes a mistake, and the following events result in a tragedy.

This book put my mind through a whirlwind of emotions. Initially, George and Lennie's bond was so realistic and heart-warming, and it was so entertaining to see the two of them interact with each other. As other characters are introduced, you are able to see new and fresh sides of the protagonist's, mainly George. The final chapter really surprised and broke me, because I was not expecting the ending. This book is one of the rare ones where I really felt the characters, and I was emotional when they had their ending. It was really cool to see Steinbeck foreshadow certain events before they occurred, and all in all this book was a great novella that everyone should experience.

Reviewed by Abraham, Grade 9
Glendale Central Library
July 3, 2023 at 2:24 PM
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