The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (Chronicles of Narnia, #5) by CS Lewis 

248 pages  

Fiction - Children's Literature

Originally published in 1952. A highly accessible classic book, but personally my least favorite of the Narnia books so far. Young boys might love this book - it mainly occurs on a ship and the characters have great adventures on the high seas.

This book opens one year after the last book ends. The children's father embarks on a lecture series in America, bringing his wife and Susan along. Peter is studying for college exams and staying with a Professor. So, Edmund and Lucy have to spend the summer in Cambridge with their difficult aunt, uncle and cousin Eustace. While looking at a portrait of a ship in the guest bedroom, Edmund, Lucy and Eustace are magically pulled into another Narnian adventure.

Three years have passed in Narnian time since the last adventure. Prince Caspian has settled his kingdom and sets sail to the end of the world in an attempt to recover seven lost Lords of Narnia. They discover many islands along the way and have a series of distinct adventures in each place. For example, they encounter and end the slave trade on one island. On another, Eustace becomes a dragon and learns to put others before himself. Aslan appears in brief glimpses along the way to direct the course of the journey.

At the end of the adventure, Eustace's character has completely changed and the children are able to talk to Aslan. Edmund and Lucy are told they will no longer be able to visit Narnia because they are getting too old. Aslan says that they will see him again though! He states that the children were allowed to visit Narnia so that they would recognize him in another form in their own world.

You will need to first read Book #4 (Prince Caspian) to fully understand this book. But the other Narnian books were largely irrelevant to this story.

Recommended For: Children of all ages. Adults who want an easy and fun mental escape.