Perelandra
Recommended. Age: 15+. A Catholic review of this book for parents.
Our review
A man named Ransom is sent to the planet Venus, a new world of floating islands. There he meets a queen who has never sinned. An evil spirit comes to trick her into disobeying God. Ransom must help her stay faithful, and at last he must fight the enemy himself. This is the story of Eden told again on another world, where the temptation can still be refused. Obedience to God is shown as freedom and joy. The devil is frightening and is never made attractive. Good Books for Catholic Kids recommends the whole Space Trilogy for high schoolers. The nakedness is innocent, and the possessed man's cruelty is disturbing.
For parents
Read aloud from about fourteen. Independent reading from fifteen or sixteen. The Catholic list says 14 and up, and the long arguments are hard going. No Common Sense Media age was found. Know before you hand it over: the unfallen queen is naked and Wikipedia's summary says this stirs no temptation in Ransom. A man becomes demon-possessed, tortures animals, and is fought to the death. Ask: what arguments does the tempter use, and where have you heard them? Why is it not enough for Ransom to win the argument? What does the Queen gain by obeying a command she does not fully understand? Lewis was an Anglican. Set his story beside Genesis 3 and what the Church teaches about the Fall. Talk about how possession is real evil here, never a game.