Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

Rating: Needs Parent Supervision

Reading Level: High School

I was surprised to see this book on the “Young Readers” shelf in Barnes & Noble. The near obsession with romance (including the main wizard posing as a womanizer), and the befriending of a demon made this for me suitable for readers older than Middle School.

Serious Concerns:

• Womanizer. The main wizard goes after young girls’ hearts, and loses interest in them once he wins them over.
• Wizzards, witches, spells.
• Obsession with romance. There is a classic over emphasis on marrying and making your fortune.
• Occult. Making bargains with a demon and basically befriending it. This demon is a main character in the story.
• Alcohol. Howl gets drunk.
• Witch as a hero. Sophie is primarily in the body of an old witch; this story inverts the old with as evil trope.

The writing and plot are equally clever. However, avoid this if your reader is romance-obsessed or doubts whether real demons are to be avoided at all costs.