How to get Of Mice and Men free for school
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is one of the most assigned books in school. Here's how to get a copy free, which edition to look for, and what to know before you start.
Is it free online?
Still under copyright
Of Mice and Men isn't free online legally, so skip sites offering free downloads. They're usually pirated and can carry viruses. The free, legal ways to get it are below.
Ways to get it free
- Ask at your school library. Many schools have class sets of Of Mice and Men, since it's assigned year after year.
- Check BookBaton
.com . At schools on BookBaton, students give away copies they've finished, and you can ask for one free. Book Drops happen at the school library. Find your school. - Place a hold at your public library, for the print book and in the Libby app (ebook and audiobook). Do it as soon as you get your reading list, because waiting lists build up before the school year.
- Ask someone a grade ahead. Older siblings, cousins and neighbors often have a copy on a shelf.
- Talk to your teacher or school counselor if getting the book is hard for your family. Many schools can help.
Which edition?
Many schools use the Penguin paperback (ISBN 9780140177398). If your teacher refers to page numbers, ask which edition the class is using before you get a copy.
Why it's assigned
Two migrant ranch workers, George and Lennie, chase a shared dream of owning a little farm during the Great Depression. It's short and powerful, and teachers use it to talk about friendship, loneliness, dreams, and who gets left out. Steinbeck later won the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Heads-up for families: It includes violence, a tragic ending and slurs of its time. Teachers usually prepare students for this in class.
Common questions
Is Of Mice and Men in the public domain?
Not yet. It was published in 1937, so in the United States it stays under copyright until 2033. Use your school or public library, or the Libby app.
How long does it take to read?
It's a short novella, about 110 pages, so many students finish it in a few evenings.
Done with it? Pass it on
When you finish Of Mice and Men, give your copy to the next student who needs it. Someone at your school will almost certainly be assigned it next year.
Get Of Mice and Men from a student at your school
On BookBaton
Last updated October 19, 2026. More help: How to get your required reading books for free.