Rating: Not for me

Reading Level: Mid-late Elementary

The bible is clear that we should steer clear of the occult. I believe witches are deceived and we should pray for them, but exercise extreme caution associating with them.

On the other hand, this podcast from the Rabbit Room has me convinced that fantasy books with magic are worth putting in kids’ hands to help develop their capacity to imagine the spiritual realm in all its reality.

Whenever I consider a book with magic (and witches, wizards, etc.) I consider these questions:

  1. Are the witch/wizards portrayed primarily as positive characters/protagonists, or as enemies/antagonists? If protagonists (only), consider carefully what influence this could have on your kids’ treatment of the occult.
  2. Is there palm reading, fortune telling, and other psychic powers? If so, another big red flag. This (to me) is different than a sacred prophecy, which is often over a community and from a respected source.
  3. Is the world the magic lives in so similar to our world that kids will be tempted pursue magical charms, spells, and vexes in reality? Does the book normalize witchcraft in an otherwise realistic context? If yes, then I think there is additional danger there.
  4. Perhaps most importantly: Does the book illustrate deeper spiritual truths? The Chronicles of Narnia, The Wing feather Saga, The Chronicles of Prydain, and The Lord of the Rings are a solid Yes to this question. On the other hand, if the primary agenda is to normalize witchcraft, or simply to entertain, I question whether it is worth putting in little readers’ hands.
  5. Is the book all-consuming in a way that your reader would have trouble stopping reading to engage in healthy relationships? Some magic fantasy books can get dark, and the oppressive evil can be sneakily consuming. Harry Potter is a prime example; while reading it I couldn’t put it down and I didn’t want to stop to engage with humans. In this case, if you think there is value in it (see #3 from above), consider listening to the audiobook as a family or reading aloud together so that you can break into your reader’s world and make it a social, less consuming experience you enjoy together.

This story flunks #1, 3, and (most importantly) #4.

In addition, other possible concerns are

  • References to beer, offering a kid a beer (even though it ends up being root beer).
  • Sneaking out against a parent’s will or knowledge
  • Deciding on an occupational career without parental input/consent (in this case, to apprentice with a witch).
  • The aforementioned issues with witchcraft.