Parents' Guide to

The Fellowship of the Ring

By Mark Nichol, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Spectacular fantasy classic is where Frodo's journey begins.

The Fellowship of the Ring Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

age 10+

Based on 6 parent reviews

age 13+

Greatest fantasy adventure book with high moral character

Incredible book with wonderful themes of Good vs Evil and light vs dark. The greatest evil of all might just be the battle going inside the heart. Tolkien pioneered the fantasy genre and unlike contemporary fantasy writers he paints a sensory delight without unnecessary gore or sexuality. This book series has mature themes that are best understood at minimum the Jr. High age.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
age 12+

Not for kids under 12

This book is not for kids under 12. My son who is 10 started reading It because his class mates had started it and he previously hadn't been into those kinds of books he only really wanted to read skull D pleasant and the book gave him bad nightmares for nearly a week. My 12 year old has read it and didn't get nightmares but he is has always liked those kinds of books so I recommend it for no younger then 12 but a great book for 12 year olds.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (6):
Kids say (55):

With this spectacular tale, Tolkien invented not only a language and a land in which it was spoken, but also -- unintentionally -- a new literary genre. Tolkien was perhaps the first author to create a fully realized, authentic-seeming world. Brimming with various cultures and creatures engaged in an existence that accepted magic, it is as fully realized as our own.

What is it that draws generations of adolescents -- and latecomer adults -- to Middle Earth? Epic battles, yes, but inner turmoil too; Overwhelming forces of evil, but also temptation and greed within oneself; potent sorcery, but perhaps more so the magical spells of friendship and loyalty and devotion. This is the kind of story the word epic seems to have been invented for, but it's also an intimate tale about the bonds among companions and about the human instinct to do the right thing. From these simple features it derives its true power.

Book Details

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