This is my all-time favorite book! The only downfall to it is that neither of the main characters are really anyone a parent would want their kid to act like, so that's why I chose seven and above for the rating.
Howl's Moving Castle
(2005, Fiction - Fantasy, Written by Diana Jones)
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Young girl turned old lives with a wizard.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 9 and Up
The good stuff
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Howl's Moving Castle was written by Matt Berman
Parents need to know that there's not much to concern parents here.
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 what it would be like suddenly to be old, to have a child's mind in an elderly body. There's a lot about adulthood and old age that children don't know or understand, and they may be interested to try to imagine Sophie's predicament.
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More on Howl's Moving Castle
Book Summary
Sophie is trapped in her life as the responsible eldest daughter who runs the family hat business and has nothing to look forward to. Everything changes when the evil Witch of the Waste bursts into her shop and, for mysterious reasons, turns her into an old woman. Wandering away from town she finds herself alone in the wilderness at night, and stumbles across the titular castle, owned by a wizard rumored to take the souls of young girls.
Once there she makes a deal with a captive fire demon -- if she breaks the contract between the demon and Howl, the demon will lift the spell on Sophie. There's only one problem -- no one can tell her what the contract is, or how to break it.
Is It Any Good?
Diana Wynne Jones writes the old-fashioned kind of fantasy: fascinating and original, but slow and meandering. Once Sophie settles in at the castle, it's hard to say what the story is about for the next couple of hundred pages. That's not to say it's boring -- far from it. But, much like the castle that wanders around in the wilderness, it doesn't seem to go much of anywhere, or to have a definite purpose.
Eventually there's a nice climactic showdown; though much of it happens offstage, so to speak, a few secrets and surprises are revealed, and it's wrapped up satisfyingly. Die-hard fantasy lovers adore this and other Wynne Jones books, but those who need action, adventure, or a clear plotline may find it too murky.
Publisher’s Details
Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books, Publication date: 06/14/2005
Number of pages: 336, Price: $6.99 (paperback)
Read Aloud: 9, Read Alone: 10
Number of pages: 336, Price: $6.99 (paperback)
Read Aloud: 9, Read Alone: 10
Our Members Say
See all 6 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
- My concerns are:
GREAT book!
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I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
i laughed and cry becaise of this book
this is really an amazing book and it's really fun to read it so i hope you guys enjoy it too because my family and i enjoyed it
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I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
Classic? Perhaps.
This book is great, and while it may be slow-paced at times, the patient reader will be rewarded. The film is also good.
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I rate this title pause for age 8 and give it
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
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