Basic Information
Author: J.R.R. Tolkien
Age Rating: Pre-Teen (PT)
Review
Set in Middle Earth, The Hobbit reads as a campfire story or a bedtime story, with adventure and fantasy genres mixed together. A band of thirteen dwarves enlists the help of one Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit, to be their "Burglar." They wish to return to the Lonely Mountain and reclaim it, but a terrible dragon has laid claim to the mountain and the treasure within.
The journey is not an easy one. Goblins, wolves, giant spiders, elves, and a dragon impede the adventure, causing the dwarves to battle enchantment and evil. At the end, Bilbo meets and confuses the dragon Smaug, who has never met a hobbit before.
The novel was clearly written for members of a young audience. Nearly all the characters are male, and the conflicts tend to be stereotypical (one side is "evil" and the other side is "good"). However, this classic fantasy novel is enchantingly entertaining.
Ratings
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