The Man Who Was Thursday
Recommended. Age: 15+. A Catholic review of this book for parents.
Our review
Chesterton turns a spy chase into a fight against despair. The men who defend order feel alone, find out they were never alone, and learn that the good must suffer so they can answer the accuser. Sunday's last words are Christ's question about the cup. The reservation is the ending. It is a dream, it is strange, and Sunday is not a neat picture of God.
For parents
Independent reading from about 15 for strong readers. Good read-aloud from 13, with laughs. Sources file it as adult for difficulty, not content. Ask who Sunday is, and why Chesterton called the story a nightmare. Read Mark 10:38 and Job 1 together, then ask why the good men had to suffer.