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Curse of the Night Wolf: Barnaby Grimes, Book 1

(2008, Fiction - Mystery, Written by Paul Stewart, Illustrated by Chris Riddell)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 8, age appropriate for kids over 10; suggested age 8.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Fun series start, but too violent for target age.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 8–10

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Not an issue.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Fairly gruesome for a book aimed at middle-graders: werewolves kill people by ripping out their throats and snapping their necks; they also tear several horses apart; humans are turned into wolves, killed, and skinned to make fur coats; a wolf is killed by falling into a vat of boiling glue; there's a swordfight with injuries; and in a preview of the next book a man is about to have his heart cut out while he's still alive.

  • Sex:

    Not an issue.

  • Language:

    Not an issue.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Adults drink and get drunk.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Curse of the Night Wolf: Barnaby Grimes, Book 1

Parents need to know that the violence here is a bit more gruesome than one might expect from a book the publisher says is for kids as young as 8. Wolves rip out people's throats and snap their necks, tear apart horses, and are skinned to make coats. None of this is described in much detail, but it might be too much for sensitive children.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the popularity of this author/illustrator team's various series. What makes them so popular? Is the violence part of that? Is this series more violent than their previous ones? If you liked this, what makes it appealing to you? Do you think the authors are aware of that?
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