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The Hobbit

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 7, age appropriate for kids over 9; suggested age 9.

  • Is it any good?

    5.0
  • Common Sense says

    Brilliantly written, inventive pre-LOTR tale.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 9 and Up

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    At times Bilbo is deceptive and the dwarves, greedy.
  • Violence:

    Much swordplay, fighting, and battles. Many scary but exciting adventures, including capture by giant spiders.
  • Sex:

    Not an issue.
  • Language:

    Not an issue.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.

What Parents Need to Know

This review of The Hobbit was written by Mark Nichol

Parents need to know that while the book gets off to a slow start, it eventually sweeps readers along on a wild ride to the breathtaking finish of this unrelentingly inventive tale.

Families Can Talk About

Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
  • Families can talk about Bilbo's journey and the crucial decisions he makes along the way. What keeps Bilbo going as he faces dangers on his way to the dragon's lair? Why is his decision about the ring so difficult for him?
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More on The Hobbit

Book Summary

In the mythical land called Middle-earth, distinctly unadventurous Bilbo Baggins is swept up in a quest to recover dwarves' treasure from an evil dragon. The author created this story as a read-aloud for his own children, and the progression of Bilbo's character to that of pivotal figure in an epic conflict shows how much the story grew in the telling.

Is It Any Good?

Publisher’s Details

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Children's Books
Number of pages: 272, Price: $12.00 (paperback)
Read Aloud: 9-10, Read Alone: 11+

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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Good role models

    Perfect for tweens and fantasy lovers of all ages

    the best book ever. large battles, awesome characters, and a beautiful setting. some light drug reference. otherwise a great book

  2. Kid Reviewer Age 9
    I rate this title on for age 6 and give it 5.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    GREAT BOOK!!

    I liked the book, but it is hard to read and has some fights that might be scary for little kids

  3. I rate this title iffy for age 5 and give it 5.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!! Tolkien is a great author. for 6 - 7 read it aloud.

  4. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in Washington
    Kids ages: 11
    I rate this title on for age 9 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    The Hobbit

    A fabulous 5 star book with an amazing plot, thats great for all J.R.R. Tolkien fans ages 10+. I've been reading his books since I was 7, and still do to this day. I cant wait till' they make this book into a movie in 2011/2012. Lets just hope it wont get cancelled. Peter Jackson is a great director, and made The Lord of the Rings books into an awesome trilogy. I know he can do the same for The Hobbit as well.

  5. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in Oklahoma
    Kids ages: 6
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 5.0

    I started reading this to my six year old daughter a test to see what kind of books would keep her interested and now she will not let me put her to bed without reading some of it. We have often read for well over an hour. I'm not advocating for all kids at this age, but if you stragegically omit certain parts of the book (such as the Trolls discussing how to eat the Dwarves), then it can be appropriate for most children

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