Lord of the Flies
Acceptable with guidance. Age: 13+. A Catholic review of this book for parents.
Our review
Golding is right about what the Church calls concupiscence: take away law and the wound of original sin shows. The title is Beelzebub, the beast is 'only us,' and Simon, the one boy who sees that, is killed in a frenzy, a Christ figure the mob never understands. The reservation: there is no grace in the book. Rescue comes from a warship, not from God.
For parents
Independent reading from 13 (Plugged In) or 12 (Common Sense Media); not a read-aloud. Teens meet it at school, so read it with them. Ask: what does the pig's head tell Simon, and why is that voice a liar? What did Golding leave out? CCC 405 on wounded nature and the true Tongan castaways story finish the argument.