The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe

Title: “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe”

Author: C. S. Lewis

Genre:  Fantasy                

Publisher: Geoffrey Bles

Copyright Date: 1989

Pages in Book: 208

Reading Level: K-6 grade

Summary: There are four children, Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy who escape from their home in London to Professor Digory’s home during World War II. The children decide to explore the house, and little Lucy finds a wardrobe and a passage way into the magical world of Narnia. She meets a kind faun named Tumnus, and he tells her of the White Witch and her plan to get rid of the two sons of Adam and two daughters of Eve. Lucy heads back into our world, and tells her siblings of what she just experienced. None believe her, but her brother Edmund goes into the wardrobe and meets up with the White Witch. She tries to convince Edmund to bring back his siblings. Eventually, all four children enter into the wardrobe, and into Narnia. They meet Mr. and Mrs. Beaver who tell them of the story of how the witch’s powers will diminish once the two sons of Adam and the two daughters of Eve return to Narnia. They also tell the children about Aslan, the rightful king, who is on the move. Unfortunately, Edmund sneaks off and meets with the White Witch. Peter, Susan and Lucy meet Aslan and his army. Aslan and the White Witch meet, and she tries to convince Aslan that Edmund must be killed for being a traitor. Aslan convinces her to spare his life, and in return he gives up his own life. What the queen doesn’t know is that the “deep magic from before the dawn of time” allows someone to die for another, and then later return to life. There is a great war against the Witch’s army and the witch is killed. Years later, the children are walking around the countryside and come upon a lamp post, and sadly walk back through and out of the wardrobe.

Reaction: I thought this was such an amazing book. I had a great time reading it, and was into it the entire time. I really liked how it was a little different than the movie, so you actually HAD to read, to find out the missing pieces. C. S. Lewis did a great job with the writing. I felt like I was actually there. 

Recommendation: I’d recommend this book to children at the appropriate reading level. There are some unusual words in it that the younger children wouldn’t understand, and would need explaining.

Potential Problems/Conflicts: Like I said above, the words were slightly complex and if you hadn’t read the book already, there’s a good chance that you wouldn’t know what certain words mean. Other than that, I didn’t have any problems with the book.