Not (Just) For Kids

Children's fiction does not receive the praise from adult readers that it is due. There may be a few explanations for this. One: Readers are not familiar with the gems that exist in the world of fiction for young readers. Two: Readers may possess a fear of or discomfort from being in the Children's section at bookstores, surrounded by stuffed magical dragons and cardboard stand-ups of Eloise. Or three: Readers might assume that all children's fiction is Captain Underpants.

And this is not to criticize Captain Underpants. It is what it is, and it makes no apologies. But for adults looking for a serious read, children's books that fall under the Underpants category are not anywhere near the top of the list.

So, I humbly present a few selections of my own -- children's books that are worth your time and money.

The Giver, by Lois Lowry

Jonas is a young boy living in a strange society. It is a society that does not see in color. It is a society that has lost all memories of its past, of a time before the sameness that has now overtaken it. A person's job is determined for them, and they are expected to carry it out. Jonas, upon coming of age, is assigned the job of Receiver of memories. He works with the Giver, an old man who was the previous Receiver. The Giver, through some sort of power, is able to trasmit the memories of the world to Jonas. He learns so many things that were previously hidden from him: wars, pain, hope and love. He is both tortured and filled with joy as these memories pass from the Giver into his body.

But all is not well. His memories make him long that his world could be as it once was. The decision he ultimately makes could have enormous consequences, and not just for himself.

Lowry gives us a fascinating look at the idea of utopia. She examines what people might be willing to give up, if we were promised security and happiness. Jonas rebels against his society because, like us, he can't imagine a world without all the things we hold dear.

Harry Potter Series, by J.K. Rowling

Harry is a young boy who lives with his emotionally abusive aunt, uncle, and cousin. His parents, we learn right away, were murdered by an evil wizard named Voldemort. When Harry turns 11, he finds himself whisked away from the unhappy home he had known and thrust into a magical school, called Hogwarts. Here he is trained in the way of magic. Those who watch over him secretly hope that he will be the one who, one day, will vanquish Voldemort for good.

Enough adults have read and enjoyed all seven of the Harry Potter books that it almost feels irrelevant to include them here. But still, I can't think of another series of books for children that has gained such popularity outside of young audiences. We are captivated by Harry's growth throughout the series, from wide-eyed child to angsty teen to motivated adult. We fear for him and his friends as they face more trials and tribulations in seven years than most would face in an entire lifetime. And we cheer as the final book comes to a close, and we learn that ulimately, good will always triumph over evil. J.K. Rowling explores complex themes like love and sacrifice. She dances perilously close to the line of what many parents feel is "inappropriate" for children, and yet the redemptive elements of the story far outweigh any negativity that critics have read into it.

The Golden Compass, by Philip Pullman

Lyra is a young girl living at Jordan College, in a strange, alternate-reality version of our world where people wear their souls on the outside -- in this world, they are known as "daemons." Lyra's uncle, the mysterious Lord Asriel, has been away for some time, studying a substance known as "Dust." He presents his findings to a group of people at Jordan College, and Lyra overhears. Lyra soon finds herself thrust into a conflict between Lord Asriel and the Magisterium, the religious ruling body of the world. She is taken away by Mrs. Coulter, a member of the General Oblation Board, a group that is experimenting on children to see if they can physical break the bond between a human and their daemon. Lyra escapes from Mrs. Coulter and must overcome many obstacles on her way to understanding just what is going on in her world.

The Golden Compass has been at the center of a great deal of controversy regarding the manner it references the Church and God, specifically. Pullman, allegedly an atheist, at times seems to show his hand clearly in terms of his views relating to religion. However, taken at a purely story level, it is an exciting, intriguing book that deals with some very grown-up themes. The book is already darkly themed, and it only gets darker as the trilogy goes on. If you're not bothered by the sensitive religious material, The Golden Compass is a worthy read.

The Chronicles of Narnia, by C.S. Lewis

Lewis' famous seven-book series covers the history of the magical realm of Narnia, from its creation in The Magician's Nephew to its ultimate end in The Last Battle. Aslan the lion, creator of Narnia, continually draws children into the world of Narnia. These children must overcome the forces of evil in an effort to restore peace to the land.

In many ways the antithesis of Pullman's His Dark Materials series, The Chronicles of Narnia reads as an allegory of the Christian faith (and it's been said that Pullman wrote his series to be the anti-Narnia, in a way). Aslan is the Christ-figure in the story, and the conflicts in the books parallel many famous incidents in the Bible. However, these elements are not always apparent. It is easy to get sucked into the world of the story and become lost in the fantasy. Lewis' writing style is a bit antiquated, but there is something charming about it (and his reminders to children that it is unwise to shut oneself into a wardrobe).

Coraline, by Neil Gaiman

Coraline is a little girl who has just moved to a new apartment with her parents. Bored one day, she takes her father’s advice and decides to explore her new home. She finds a door that opens to reveal a plain brick wall. Her mother insists that the doorway had once led into the next-door apartment. But when Coraline returns that night, she finds not a brick wall, but a hallway. Down that hall leads to another apartment very much like her own -- complete with an Other Mother and an Other Father. These two look just like her parents, except for their eyes, which are black buttons. Coraline is trapped in this Other apartment by her Other parents, who have kidnapped her real parents and want to suck out Coraline’s soul. She must use all of her wits to escape.

Neil Gaiman’s bizarre novella about a lonely little girl trapped in a bizarre version of her home is odd and frightening, but in a very good way. Gaiman has joked that he often hears that it gives adults nightmares, but kids seem to enjoy it very much without it keeping them up all night. It is a somewhat scary story, but more than anything it is charming in its oddness. For genuinely creepy fun, Coraline is a fantastic read.

There are many more, most of which I’m sure I haven’’t even discovered. Next time you find yourself in a bookstore, it might do you some good to see what gems you can find hidden away in the Young Readers section. With so much available, you won’t be disappointed.