Adventure

Shadow in the Dark

Book cover: 'Shadow in the Dark'
Author(s): 
Antony Barone
This is a nice little adventure story that centers on Xan, a peasant boy who loses his family and his memory when raiders attack and burn his village. Although the beginning is rather over-the-top, the story does hit its stride after the first few chapters and the remainder of the book is much smoother. Several thematic elements add to the interest, including the lived faith of the Benedictine monks who rescue the boy. The author has created an interesting plot with a clever twist or two so that the story works out positively without being too obvious.

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

Book cover: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
Author(s): 
C.S. Lewis
Illustrator(s): 
Pauline Baynes

The two youngest of the four children – Edmund and Lucy – are staying with a nasty young relative, Eustace Scrubb over the holidays. The three of them are drawn into Narnia together through a painting of a ship at sea and find themselves on a real ship in Narnia with their old friend Caspian from the previous story. He is in the midst of a great sea voyage through many lands beyond Narnia, searching for great men of Narnia the previous king had sent into exile.

The Silver Chair

Book cover: The Silver Chair
Author(s): 
C.S. Lewis
Illustrator(s): 
Pauline Baynes

Eustace Scrubb and a new character, Jill, return to Narnia to save a young prince from his evil captors. Early in the story is a small piece that almost haunts me (in a good way – like something that has become imbedded in my conscience), even as an adult. Because Eustace fails to greet an "old friend" much good that could have happened, is lost, and much work must be done before achieving his mission. The truths that underlie these sorts of details in this entire series are really wonderful.

Prince Caspian

Book cover: Prince Caspian
Author(s): 
C.S. Lewis
Illustrator(s): 
Pauline Baynes

The four children return to Narnia, but don't even recognize it at first because it has changed so much. They slowly discover that time is different in Narnia from their own world and that hundreds of years have past. Narnia is now ruled by a wicked man who has no right to the throne. Their adventures involve meeting the rightful heir and raising up "Old Narnia" behind him.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (Movie)

Shot from 'Fellowship of the Ring' movie
What a happy thing, especially after all the Harry Potter fuss, to have such a revival in interest in the great Lord of the Rings trilogy because of this new movie (if Harry Potter leads people to Tolkien, I couldn't say much against him). I really believe (and I have noticed this with children of neighbors and friends) that in the end Lord of the Rings tends to be more beloved than Harry Potter.

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (Movie)

Still shot from 'The Two Towers' movie
After much anticipation, my seven year old son and I saw the Two Towers on the Saturday before Christmas. My nine year old daughter watched it with my husband the night before in order to switch off with the little ones at home. A year ago I wouldn't have expected to be taking any of my children to see the movie (because of their age), but a lot has changed since then for us. John read the entire Lord of the Rings aloud to the children over the past year. Jacinta read it, again, on her own. She and Matthew have also listened to the 13 disc BBC audio drama numerous times.

Focus On The Family Radio Theater - The Chronicles of Narnia (additional review)

Book cover: 'Focus On The Family Radio Theater - The Chronicles of Narnia (additional review)'
Author(s): 
C.S. Lewis
Our family has been enjoying the first three audio books in this series very much. At this time, most of the stories have been produced in this audio format. The Silver Chair will be made available this spring (2002) leaving only the Last Battle to be produced. The narrator, Paul Scoffield (A Man for All Seasons [1966] and Hamlet [1991]) is just excellent. While the stories are somewhat abridged, they are remarkably complete for an audio drama.

The Magician's Nephew

Book cover: The Magician's Nephew
Author(s): 
C.S. Lewis
Illustrator(s): 
Pauline Baynes

The Magician's Nephew, although chronologically first in the series, should probably be read after The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.. (Even as children should probably be introduced to the story of Christ and his life before going back to the important stories of the Old Testament).

The Last Battle

Book cover: The Last Battle
Author(s): 
C.S. Lewis
Illustrator(s): 
Pauline Baynes

This final book really presents a grand finale as the signs of Narnia's own "end times" begin to appear and the good side makes its preparations for a last stand against all the corruption and evil around. Even as a child, I remember enjoying how the author wove in so many "historical" details from the past books. Salvation and the reality of what life is really about are just over the horizon.

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