The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is a mesmerizing and classic read that will leave you begging for more. Luckily, there is more to be read, because it is only one in a seven book series called The Chronicles of Narnia. This book will have you on the edge of your seat until the end. I especially recommend it for any children ages 9-12 years. Younger children may find the language a bit advanced and hard to understand, but still enjoyable, and older children can still read this as well.
It all begins with siblings Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie. The children are sent to live with Professor Digory Kirke in his enormous house. The moment they set foot in the house, they are ecstatic. The house holds so many possibilities: unexplored rooms, many curious artifacts to examine, and outdoors, beautiful scenery to enjoy and play in. The Pevensie's are very satisfied, until, one rainy day, they are forced to stay inside. The children begin to play hide and seek, and Lucy decides to hide in a wardrobe. She thinks that no one will find her in the wardrobe, pushing to the back through a sea of fur coats. However, once she reaches where the back should be, there isn't one. Instead, at the end of the wardrobe is a snow-covered world. Lucy wonderingly walks into this world, her footsteps crunching in the snow, gazing at the forest all around. She then approaches, of all things, a lamp post. She is so busy gazing at the lamp post in the middle of the woods with curiosity that she runs into a faun, causing him to drop his things. Lucy is delighted at this turn of events, and especially thrilled when he invites her back for tea. They have a delicious tea with many various kinds of toast, and she is there for hours, when the faun begins to sob, lamenting his fate. He was being forced to lure innocent children in to kidnap them for the White Witch, a most evil lady. Lucy comforts him, but she is worried about what is to happen to her. In the end, though, the faun lets her go, keeping her handkerchief as a souvenir. Lucy goes back through the wardrobe, wondering if her siblings missed her, and if they were worried. She finds them in another room, proclaiming herself back. Her brothers and sister are very confused, for to them, she had only seemed to be away for a couple moments, and they were still searching for her. She claimed that she had been away for hours in a hidden world at the back of the wardrobe, but when she went to show them, the world was inaccessible. Her siblings begin to think that she is crazy, and worry incessantly. But Edmund is not very worried, and his beastly side emerges when he begins to make fun of poor Lucy, to the annoyance of Peter, who was very protective. He and Susan take a visit to the professor's office, asking about Lucy's condition. But the professor does not believe that Lucy is crazy, quite the contrary, in fact. He believes that she is quite sane, saner than most, even, shocking Peter and Susan, who are still a bit skeptical, as well as Edmund, who refuses to even take the professor's opinion into account when informed. Then, Edmund accidentally stumbles upon the world, which is called Narnia, himself. But he does not find the good faun, unfortunately. He is taken into the company of the White Witch when he runs into her sledge. She feeds him candy, wheedling information out of him, and trying to appear as nice as possible. She is thrilled to hear of his three other siblings, and Edmund, unaware of ulterior motives, believes that she is an amazing person and vows to tell Lucy that her faun is bad. But the candy, enchanted as it was, made Edmund feel sick and nasty. When he meets Lucy and accompanies her out of Narnia, once they emerge and Lucy triumphantly tells Susan and Peter that she wasn't joking, Edmund has been there too, Edmund hides the truth and denies it, denouncing her as delusional. Lucy is extremely dejected, crying off and on for days on end. But when a party of tourists comes to visit the house, which is extremely old and historical, the children need a place to hide. In a burst of inspiration, Peter suggests the wardrobe, forgetting the whole Narnia dilemma. They push to the back of the wardrobe, where they find Narnia in its full glory. Peter apologizes profusely to Lucy, while Susan looks on in wonder and Edmund tries to appear unimpressed. They bundle themselves in fur coats, and their real adventure begins. Will they be able to survive a traitorous visit to the dark side, a betrayal of trust, a treacherous journey, a grueling battle, an unexpected calling, a resurrection, and bitter cold?
It's up to you to find out! C.S. Lewis creates a magical tale of magic, friendship, trust, and bravery in the face of danger that will have you clamoring for more. Pick it up at your local library or bookstore today!
Good luck and happy reading!
Pen
