Common Sense Media Review
By Michael Berry
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Classic satirical allegory about the abuse of power.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 11+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 23 parent reviews
Parents say the book has a mix of strong educational value and humor, but opinions are polarized—some find it insightful for discussions on communism and leadership, while others describe it as boring and traumatic. Many recommend it for older children due to its complex themes, although some express concerns about its pacing and dialogue-heavy style.
- educational value
- polarized opinions
- humor present
- pacing issues
- appropriate for older kids
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 171 kid reviews
Kids say the book garners mixed reviews, with some praising its clever allegory and useful lessons on power, corruption, and manipulation, while others find it boring or too violent for younger readers. Reviewers often highlight its connection to real historical events and its educational value, though there are complaints regarding its appropriateness for younger audiences and its pacing.
- power corruption
- educational value
- allegory of history
- mixed opinions
- appropriateness issues
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In ANIMAL FARM, animals rise up against the oppressive Farmer Jones and chase him away. They plan to run the farm themselves, for their own benefit. At first, the animals are able to work together and support one another. But gradually the pigs make suggestions about how the farm should be run. Before long, the pigs are at the top of the social ladder, and the rest of the animals are wondering what happened.
Is It Any Good?
The story and language are very simple but unnervingly precise as this scathing book depicts each step on the road from revolution to tyranny. Animal Farm has been popular and highly acclaimed since its publication in 1945, and rightly so. It's a deceptively simple parable that makes strong points about the importance of education, the perils of propaganda, and the need to keep all leaders in check. It's crushing to watch the idealism of the animals get twisted and taken advantage of by greedy leaders (even more so when we remember this was based on actual human events). Telling the story through familiar barnyard animals makes the bitter pill easier to swallow. In 2005, Time magazine chose it as one of the 100 best English-language novels, and the book ranks at 31 on the Modern Library List of Best 20th Century Novels.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about totalitarianism in Animal Farm: what it means, how it shaped the 20th century, and whether it still exists today.
Soon after they take over the farm, the animals agree to follow "The Seven Commandments." The rules seem fairly basic, but they're changed over the course of the novel. How do leaders today change the rules to achieve their own agendas?
One of the novel's most famous quotes is "All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others." What might that paradoxical statement mean?
Why do you think Animal Farm is often required reading in school?
How do the animals on Animal Farm show perseverance, humility, and teamwork? Which characters show courage and integrity? Why are these important character strengths? How might more courage and integrity from the rest of the characters have changed the story?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Literary Fiction
- Topics : Animals
- Character Strengths : Courage , Humility , Integrity , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publication date : August 17, 1945
- Number of pages : 128
- Last updated : April 1, 2026
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