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Parents' Guide to

Lord of the Flies

By Kenneth Butler, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Gripping story of marooned schoolboys and mob mentality.

Book William Golding Literary Fiction 1954
Lord of the Flies book cover: Title in white letters on red background with leaves and reaching light-skinned hands in the foreground and two light-skinned boys standing on either side of the red background

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

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age 13+

Based on 12 parent reviews

gogetguestgreyson
gogetguestgreyson Adult
December 5, 2021
age 12+

Great book for deep discussion

I read this book in middle school and it was great for making me ask deep and theological questions about human nature. I got to have some great conversations with my son a few years ago when he read this book in 8th grade. Be forewarned, there is violence in this book.
samthedragofan
samthedragofan Adult
March 4, 2021
age 14+

the classic of savagery

I think this book was great if you can look past violence in language and you can see there's a true work of art in this story. there is a few gory scenes in which a character's head gets split open by a rock and a kid is burned alive although we never get confirmation. another kid is torn apart by Spears the book overall is a great literature piece but I don't think it'd be good for anybody who can't quite understand the morals. this book is about savagery and Law and Order in about how if we were left to our own devices with no adult around we would probably descend into savagery going to our animal instincts.
See all 12 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In LORD OF THE FLIES, a group of British schoolboys is marooned on a tropical island and left to fend for themselves, unsupervised by any adults. At first, the boys enjoy their freedom, playing and exploring the island. But soon the group splits into two factions: those who try to preserve the discipline and order they've learned from society, and those who choose to give in to every instinct and impulse, no matter how chaotic or cruel.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (12 ):
Kids say (108 ):

This novel has been a perennial favorite since its first publication in 1954, and when he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature, William Golding was lauded for his deep concern for humanity. Today, Lord of the Flies remains a staple of school reading lists, although some of its dated views about the nature of savagery are worth reexamining and discussing. Golding's prose is unadorned and straightforward, and the result is page-turning entertainment -- as well as a highly thought-provoking work of literature.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Lord of the Flies is considered a classic and is often required reading in school. Why do you think that is? Are there aspects of the novel that seem dated now? How does the depiction of the boys' bad behavior rely on stereotypes?

  • The boys on the island hope to survive their ordeal. How do they persevere through their difficult circumstances? What helps them survive?

  • Do you think people are born "good" or "evil" -- is our behavior always the result of choice? How is it that good people are capable of bad behavior, and vice versa? How do you think you might behave under the circumstances of the novel?

  • Is it always best to sacrifice your own wants and needs for the common good of a community? What are some examples of when characters show compassion? What effect does compassion have on the characters and the events of this story?

  • What do you think some of the prominent elements of the story -- the conch, Piggy's glasses, the sow's head, the island's "beast" -- might symbolize?

Book Details

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Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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