Common Sense Media Review
Complex, violent thriller has controversial Jesus theory.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 12 parent reviews
Based on 40 kid reviews
Kids say the book is a captivating and fast-paced read filled with thrilling mysteries, although it contains mature themes including graphic violence and sexual references that may not be suitable for younger audiences. Many feel that while it's intellectually stimulating and thought-provoking, it should be reserved for more mature readers, ideally those over the age of 12.
- engaging narrative
- mature themes
- complex characters
- thrill and mystery
- caution advised
- thought-provoking content
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Religious symbology professor Robert Langdon and cryptologist Sophie Neveu seek to uncover a millennia-old conspiracy hidden, among other places, in the artwork of Leonardo Da Vinci. They are chased by prelates of the sinister Opus Dei society, by police, and by a mysterious mastermind known only as "The Teacher." The story interweaves history, fictional history, famous art, and the architecture of France and England, all while posing and solving various intricate puzzles as Langdon and Neveu solve a deathbed mystery left for them by murdered Louvre curator Jacques Sauniere, Sophie's grandfather. Most challenging is that the two must not only solve the mystery, but also beat Opus Dei to the information, conceal it, and then decide what to do with it.
Is It Any Good?
THE DA VINCI CODE, for all its success, is a poorly written thriller with a controversial hypothesis about the life of Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church. The characters are two-dimensional, and the plot is boilerplate suspense novel stuff. Dan Brown has villains, chase scenes, and some moments of genuine tension. None of it is earth-shattering, though its intricacy is impressive.
Despite all that, it's a fascinating read. The novel opens with a warning that implies that, although the plot is fictional, the research into the development of Christianity is genuine. Spoiler alert: Over the course of the book, Brown questions the divinity of Jesus and presents a supposed marriage to Mary Magdalene and a line of descent that survives through to contemporary times. Those who take it as a legitimate challenge to their faith will find it infuriating.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the religious themes and The Da Vinci Code's hypothesis. How does the book portray the church?
How does the author tell his audience -- besides labeling the book fiction -- that this is a story and not an alternative version of the truth? What would be different if this story was true?
Readers who have seen the movie can compare and contrast the two, and discuss how controversy sells.
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Contemporary Fiction
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Doubleday
- Publication date : June 4, 2006
- Number of pages : 454
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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