Men of Iron
Acceptable with guidance. Age: 12+. A Catholic review of this book for parents.
Our review
Myles is a boy in England long ago. His blind father is called a traitor, but it is a lie. Myles trains hard to be a knight so he can fight the man who hurt his family. It has sword fights and old-fashioned words, and it is good for kids about twelve and up. This is a classic knight story with a brave hero who works hard, stands up to bullies, and stays loyal to his father and his friend. The Church is part of the world of the story and is shown with respect. We found no Catholic review or curriculum that carries it, so we give it with guidance. The content cells are blank because no content log covers it. Parents should talk about the ending, where a fight to the death is treated as proof of who is right.
For parents
Read aloud from about ten. Independent reading from twelve, because the speech is full of thee, thou and methinks. One publisher sets it at 12 to 17 and another at 8 to 12. The book opens with a boy seeing a helpless man clubbed to death, and it ends with the hero killing his enemy in a trial by combat. Tell your child that winning a fight does not prove a man is right. God is not a referee who makes the good man win, and justice belongs to honest courts. Ask: is Myles fighting for justice or for revenge? How can you tell? What would it look like for Myles to forgive? Readers say Myles talks over his doubts with a priest. Praise that. Ask why it is wise to bring a hard choice to a priest. Myles is hot-headed and often fights the older squires. Ask when it is right to stand up to a bully and when it is pride. The oaths like By'r Lady are period speech. Remind your child that we use holy names with reverence.