The Hobbit
Recommended. Age: 10+. A Catholic review of this book for parents.
Our review
This is a story about a small person who learns courage, mercy and detachment from riches. Greed ruins Thorin and nearly starts a war, and Bilbo gives up his share to make peace. Catholic schools assign it for good reason. The one reservation is fright: trolls, goblins and spiders want to eat the heroes, and the last battle kills friends.
For parents
Read aloud from 7 or 8. Independent reading from 10. Sensitive children may find the spiders and Gollum scary. Ask why Bilbo spares Gollum when he could kill him. Ask what gold does to Thorin, and what Gandalf means when he says Bilbo's luck was not just luck.