~ 'ding2
(Oh, one last thing: I've realized these descriptions can make the books sound worse than they are, but I wanted to make sure you had a relatively conservative review.)
- The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis
Most parents should know this one: it begins with a story about a girl who enters a wardrobe. I think this is perfectly okay for any reader who can understand this level of story. They sometimes tend toward thinly-veiled analogy in a way that I personally would not use, but this can be a great way to start spiritual conversations about more "theological" topics with your kids. One thing to note: some Christians might disagree with C. S. Lewis's take on salvation at the end of The Last Battle, so I'd check that out. This gets a bright green light. - Roverandom by J. R. R. Tolkien
A novella about a dog who gets turned into a toy. This is a relatively quick read, told in a more light-hearted style than Tolkien's more famous works. It features several wizards and a dragon, all of which take various roles in the story. Not one with a huge theme other than "be polite," but that doesn't detract from the delightful quirkiness. Unless my memory fails me, there aren't any parental discretionary items, so I give it a green light.
- The Redwall Series by Brian Jacques
A series of twenty-three books about various swashbuckling rodents, nearly all of which feature a certain Abbey full of peaceful woodland creatures. I've read all of the books except for the twenty-third and final novel (though I hope to remedy that), and so I can pretty confidently give a good review to this. The main villain is nasty, but in the typical Red Queen, constantly-grouchy, cutting-off-everyone's-head sort of way. Villainous sidekicks are bumbling and stupid, and frequently resort to backbiting and griping. All good guys stay good guys, so no betrayal or selfishness there, though a common theme is rule-breaking that turns out for the best and so is rewarded. A few books lean a little bit darker--Marlfox, The Outcast of Redwall, and The Sable Quean are the first that come to mind--but most readers should be able to handle it. One last thing to note, however: in many of the later books, the bad guys tend to have a witch/soothsayer/fortune teller working for them, in case that is something you as parents are concerned about. Other than that, I give this one a green light. - The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien
Perhaps Tolkien's single most famous book (remember, LOTR isn't one book, but three), about a hobbit, thirteen dwarves, a wizard, a dragon, and a magic ring. If you haven't read this yet and you're an adult, READ IT! A little more heady than Roverandom, but still very conversational in style, almost ready-made for family read-alouds, if you do that sort of thing. Highlights are an entertaining riddle sequence, banter between a dragon and an invisible thief, and the Battle of the Five Armies. There is death and violence, in case you think your child can't handle that, but mostly clean otherwise. I can't do anything but give this a green light. - The Fablehaven Series by Brandon Mull
Another entertaining series, and much lighter than Inkheart. It's about magical wildlife preserves (fauns, fairies, centaurs, you get the idea) and people who try to exploit them. Something to watch out for is that demons are featured. They're always bad guys, but they're still in the story, as is a portal to hell (though I can't remember if it's explicitly named as such). The bad guys are fairly nasty in a sometimes frightening way, the third book features something akin to a zombie apocalypse, while others have actual zombies. There's mind control, betrayal, magic, and war. It's honestly not as bad as it sounds, but I'd still check on it first, so it gets a yellow light.
- Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan
Okay, so the deal with this one is, Percy's a demi-god, the Greek pantheon is real, and they are the good guys who control everything. Yes they're petty, but they're still in charge, and that's viewed as a good thing. I thought it was entertaining and well-written, and it has many redemptive themes. There are also several covert references to God (as an unknown god, the one in charge of the gods, etc.), but they aren't a heavy focus. The main theme of the series is that, yes there are superior beings, but they can't help you, and often they need your help; live life your way, because ultimately, you're not responsible to anyone. I'd give it a yellow light, but only because of its paganistic overtones. - The Artemis Fowl Series by Eoin Colfer
An imaginative series about high-tech fairies and a criminal mastermind who happens to be twelve. I very much enjoy this series, but it crosses the line into discretionary items. It's moderately seasoned with profanity, and the main character is a criminal (not exactly the best roll model). There is lots of hilarious dialogue, a bit of potty humour, and a cast of memorable characters, but it is more worldly than some other books. I'd give it a yellow light: read it first, parents. - The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini
Take Star Wars, give it a sword instead of a lightsaber, magic instead of the force, add dragons, and you get Eragon. The first book honestly does read like a medieval Star Wars, but Paolini's writing style and originality really pick up as the series progresses. It's a great story about using your abilities responsibly and finding your way in a changing world, and the vessel it uses to convey those messages is entertaining and engaging. It is heavy on violence, and gets slightly bloody in the later books. Some objects of concern include: sorcery, which is external magic (see the Harry Potter section), is set forth as merely dangerous, and in no way evil; there is a scene in Brisingr where a main character cuts herself repeatedly to demonstrate her courage and fortitude (this is also set forth as fine); there is mildly suggestive innuendo in Brisingr, though it should be over the kids' heads; a main character gets his fiancee pregnant out of wedlock, then rushes the wedding so as not to embarrass her. Some other concerns: one of the villains is very conflicted, and is introduced as a genuinely likeable character (possible roll model issues); with regards to the Empire that is set up as the villainous side of the conflict, it is implied that it is actually a fine government, and that the Emperor is the problem--however, the "good guys" are still trying to overthrow the Empire. It's a great story--well-written, engaging--but I'd still suggest parents read it first, so I give it a yellow light. - The Inkheart Series by Cornelia Funke
This is one of my favorite series of all time. That said, it also might be over many kids' heads. Definitely for the older end of the spectrum, with lots of tense family scenes, particularly nasty villains, and questionable role models. The basic premise is that there are people, called "Silvertongues," who can read characters out of books and into the real world. Unfortunately, when villains come out of a book, they stay villainous, and that can cause problems. Imaginative, amazingly descriptive, engrossing, and memorable, but definitely one to talk about. There's lots of violence, moderate profanity, and lying is repeatedly set forth as an approved course of action. A yellow light (for younger kids, maybe even a red light) goes to this one just because it's written for a more mature audience. - The Harry Potter Series by J. K. Rowling
Yes, I seriously just said that, but hear me out. This is probably the most controversial book series in Christian circles (though perhaps rivaled by the Twilight Saga), and I understand the position that says it's evil, I really do. However, I think that the witchcraft and magic forbidden in the Bible and the magic in Harry Potter are two very different things. I believe that there are two different forms of magic: internal magic, almost like an ability; and external magic, which is harnessing some powerful being for your control. Internal magic is completely fictionalized, and is in other great stories, like The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia. External magic, however, is a very real form of magic, and takes place in Satanic cults and primitive tribes even today: this is the type of magic that is forbidden in Scripture. It also appears in many kid's movies--such as Disney's Aladdin, which suggests that the enslavement of the powerful genie is a good thing as long as you have good motives. However, this IS NOT the type of magic that appears in Harry Potter. In Harry Potter, magic is something that you are born with. There is a very clear line drawn between magical and non-magical people (or Muggles, as Rowling names them) in the books, and Rowling actually uses this theme to make significant commentary on modern discrimination. The only form of external magic that occurs in Harry Potter is potion-brewing, although even that is only questionably problematic. All characters use internal magic in the form of spells (or incantations that release power that is already inside the character--a practice similar to calling upon the power of the Holy Spirit, I might add), and so another major theme developed in the story is the responsible use of power you have been given. I'm not trying to tell you that your decision is wrong, but I urge parents to at least read it before you completely write it off as evil.
Now, for those for whom the magic is not an issue, here are other concerns: rule-breaking is often condoned in the story, based on an ends-justify-the-means mentality; there are both bullying and nasty authority figures in the early stories; there is lots and lots of violence in the later books (beginning in number four and escalating drastically in numbers five and six--seven is definitely heavy action and violence); there are a number of deaths of good characters, prompting Harry to significant struggles over the meaning of life and death; the villain is extremely prejudiced and very awful--there are no redeeming factors for him; there are questions of duty and bravery; there is lots of betrayal and cowardice; and there is a significant Messianic parallel in the last book. If you plan on allowing this book and your child is younger, I'd only go with the first one. The second and third ones are okay, but the second gets pretty dark, and the third starts to introduce the overarching conflict of the last four books. For older kids, it's at the parents' discretion--'ding4 read them, and she's eleven, but she's a pretty mature reader, so again, your discretion. I give these a yellow light, edging close to a red light. Again, I strongly encourage you to READ THEM FIRST, before you give your kids the go-ahead.
