The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe

The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (Narnia Chronicle #2) by CS Lewis 

189 pages 

Fiction - Children's Literature

Four siblings - Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy - enter the land of Narnia through a magical wardrobe and have adventures there. Written in 1945, this was the first and most famous Narnia book published. (Technically, it is the second book in the Narnia series due to the 1955 prequel "The Magician's Nephew".)

This book takes the reader on an amazing journey in just 189 pages - or 4.5 hours on audiobook! It is much more child-friendly than the prequel. It has a bad witch who turns people to stone and a major character is killed toward the end of the book. That death and a later battle are over quickly and the story does not linger on points that might trouble children. All in all, it is on level with Snow White or Sleeping Beauty for age appropriateness. I would say it is appropriate for all ages - with the exception of especially sensitive young minds.

It is a great teaching book for children. In the story, a boy is especially naughty and makes bad choices which result in bad situations. Good choices and sacrifice lead to redemption. There are underlying christian values, including an innocent character self-sacrificing for the sake of a guilty person (an allegory to Jesus).

Centaurs, fauns and mythical creatures abound in story. Father Christmas also makes an appearance and gives the children some (much needed) weapons. :The girls are given weapons but told to use them only in great need as girls are not meant to fight in battle. Women/girls play pivotal roles (both good and bad) but are noticeably separated and protected by men when possible.

This is an adventurous books for girls. But it is also a great book for young boys; the male characters are given leadership roles and allowed to fight for a good cause. Culturally, it felt very different from the modern era of "toxic masculinity" which publicly scorns any acknowledgment of differences between sexes.

Recommended For: Children. Adults who want a short & fun mental escape.