The Chronicles of Narnia

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: The Chronicles of Narnia, Book 1

by C.S. Lewis

Fantasy, Classics, Fiction, Young-Adult, Middle-Grade, Adventure

The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe, completed in the winter of 1949 and published in 1950, tells the story of four ordinary children: Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy Pevensie. They discover a wardrobe in Prof. Digory Kirke’s house that leads to the magical land of Narnia, which is currently under the spell of a witch. The four children fulfill an ancient, mysterious prophecy while in Narnia. The Pevensie children help Aslan (the Turkish word for lion) and his army save Narnia from the evil White Witch, who’s reigned over the Narnia in winter for 100 years. Thus begins the captivating seven-book Narnia series, which follows the many adventures of the Pevensie children in Narnia and explores the fantastic wonder of the magical land. (Note: This review follows the original numbering scheme; The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe was the first of the seven books to be written and published. Recent publishers have renumbered the volumes so they are ordered chronologically, therefore numbering this as book #2.)

Recommendations from Common Sense Media

Age Recommendation: 8+

What Parents Need to Know:
Parents need to know that the The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is the first book published in C.S. Lewis‘ classic Chronicles of Narnia series, which children have loved for generations. Lewis, a devout Christian, weaves lots of Christian allegory into the book (and the series as a whole), but the story can be enjoyed on many levels, by all kinds of readers. Expect several violent scenes, including a large battle (axes, clubs, and more are used, and characters are injured and die) and — spoiler alert! — the tense, scary, sad death of a major character. Creepy, evil creatures are also described; their leader is the White Witch, who is cruel and shows no mercy. The main characters are clear role models who valiantly help save Narnia from the Witch; even the one who initially falls under her sway learns his lesson, showing the power of repentance and forgiveness. The book was adapted for a movie in 1988 and again for the blockbuster 2005 film The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. An excellent audiobook version is narrated by British actor Michael York.

Educational Value: 1/5
Kids might learn a bit about British culture and the wartime circumstances that resulted in children being evacuated to the countryside.

Positive Messages: 4/5
If you truly regret mistakes and poor choices, you’ll be forgiven and get another chance to prove yourself. Trust those you love, and believe them when they tell you things that might seem unlikely. Trust your own convictions and faith, too. Don’t hold grudges.

Positive Role Models: 4/5
The main characters act valiantly to help save Narnia from the White Witch. Edmund, said by his siblings to be difficult, resents his older brother and initially aids the Witch to spite the other children, but he definitely learns the error of his ways. Aslan is a wise, thoughtful guide and counselor to the children, sometimes resorting to tough love. The gender roles among the children are traditional, as when the girls are told they must avoid getting involved in an impending battle.

Violence & Scariness: 3/5
Peter kills a wolf that attacks his sisters. There’s a large battle in which people and creatures are killed and injured via axes, swords, clubs, and more. Creepy, scary creatures are described. The Witch treats Edmund cruelly. The girls watch as the Witch’s minions torment Aslan, who allows himself to be sacrificed. (Spoiler alert!) The Witch kills Aslan with an ancient knife in a very bleak, sad scene, but he comes back to life shortly thereafter.

Language: n/a
A few uses of words like “dratted.”

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking: 1/5
Mr. Beaver has beer with his dinner and smokes a pipe. Edmund’s rescuers give him some wine (medicinally).

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