The Old Man and the Sea
Recommended. Age: 12+. A Catholic review of this book for parents.
Our review
Santiago is an old fisherman in Cuba who has caught nothing for 84 days. He hooks a giant fish and fights it alone for three days. Sharks take his prize, but he never gives up, and a boy who loves him is waiting at home. This short book is about perseverance, suffering borne with dignity, and the friendship between an old man and a boy. Santiago loses his catch and still is not beaten. Wikipedia reports that many critics see pictures of Christ's Passion in his wounds, though scholars disagree about how far to take that. Catholic schools assign it: Seton in ninth grade and Kolbe in seventh. It is short and clean, with some bloody fishing scenes.
For parents
Read aloud from about eleven. Independent reading from twelve or thirteen, and an easy fit for ninth grade. Common Sense Media says 12+, Kolbe Academy uses it in grade 7 and Seton in grade 9. The fishing is bloody, including the killing of a marlin while her mate watches, and the man and boy drink beer. Ask: Santiago says a man can be destroyed but not defeated. What does he mean, and is it true? Is his endurance pride or humility? Where does he ask for help? Why does Manolin stay loyal when his parents moved him to a luckier boat? Critics see the Cross in Santiago's cut hands and his carrying of the mast. Help your teen see the difference: Santiago's courage is admirable, but human grit alone does not save. Christ's suffering redeems, and ours has meaning when it is joined to His.