The Magician’s Nephew (The Chronicles of Narnia) by C.S. Lewis

Rating: Needs Parent Supervision

Reading Level: Early Elementary, Mid Elementary, Late Elementary

Another gem from C.S. Lewis, this time with themes related to Genesis and creation.

Possible Concerns:

• Alcohol. Uncle Andrew keeps requesting/referring to brandy so much that the animals name him Brandy.
• Fantasy. Perhaps this is obvious, but we’ve got magic, witches, spells and chants, portals across worlds, and fantastic creatures, and a reference to the Lost City of Atlantis.
• Use of the term “dem fine woman” several times. Uncle Andrew is weirdly infatuated with the witch. He perceives her through rose colored glasses.
• Discussion of Death. As Digory considers his dying mother, he realizes we have to trust that sometimes death is better than other miserable futures we won’t know.
• Gods and goddesses. Although they bow to Aslan, it is still worth mentioning that there are gods and goddesses created in this new world.
• Use of the term, “stupid” in contexts like, “don’t be stupid!”

Things I liked:

• God weeps with us in our sorrow. Diggory wants so much for his mom to be healed, and Aslan has big wet tears about it with him. That serves as a comfort to him later when tempted.
• The Witch tries to Tempt Diggory not to trust God. Her reasoning and her rebukes sound so much like Satan’s taunts and temptings in my own life. And it is beautiful how this story serves as a warning and encouragement to follow God.
• Reflections of Creation. Aslan’s singing brings about the creation of Narnia. It is a beautiful, joyous depiction, full of wonder.
• Character growth. Despite his faults, Diggory in the end chooses to enter a magical world so that Polly is not alone. He scolds his uncle for sending Polly without her consent, and therein stands up for what is right against an adult in authority. I like how this models character and advocacy.
• A prideful character that makes poor choices faces natural consequences. Uncle Andrew loses the ability to hear the animals, including Aslan, and he spirals into hopeless self-pity. This serves as a warning to not harden our hearts.

See also my reviews of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.