the Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

The Chronicles of Narnia: the voyage of the Dawn Treader by: C.S. Lewis
Illustrator: Pauline Baynes
Copyright: 1952
Pages: 223
Reading Level: 8-12

"And there we all were, as invisible as you could wish to see"

In this book, we meet again two of the Pevensie children. Edmund and Lucy, at this point in the story Susan and Peter are too old to return to Narnia. Edmund and Lucy and their cousin Eustace are pulled into Narnia through a painting of a ship. they find themselves on the Dawn Treader, captained by Prince Caspian now king of Narnia.
Caspian is looking for the 7 lost Lords of Narnia, also a talking mouse, REepicheep is on board looking for Aslan's country.
Throughout the book they visit many different mysterious islands the first are the Lone islands. This Island has fallen away from Narnia and is abundant in slave trade. the crew is captured and sold until slavery. Eventually they are able to reveal their true identity, restore the island to the Narnian ways and are free to continue their voyage. The next island they visit Eustace, Lucy and Edmund's nasty cousin, gets greedy and accidently transforms himself into a dragon. However, he has a change of heart and Aslan changes him back to himself. They discover a bracelet on the island that belonged to Lord Octesian. They travel to many different islands along their way, along the way they discover Lord Restimar and Lord Rhoop and eventually come to the island of the star, they find the rest of the Lord's in an enchanted sleep.
To awaken the lord's they have to sail to the edge of the world and leave one crew member behind. Lucy, Edmund Eustace and Reepicheep end up sailing to the world's end and leaving Reepicheep behind. They are able to rescue the Lords, Lucy, Edmund and Eustace go home again and everything is right in Narnia.

Reccomend to: Preteens, the story is fairly elaborate and complex, difficult for younger children to follow
Problems: Possibly the idea of other worlds outside our own might offend some people, they also ellude to the world being flat. some might be offended by the christian themes and metaphors.
Reaction: This story is among one of the more abstract and interesting of the series. Lucy and Edmund continue to be developed as older and more mature. The newer characters are interesting and relateable and the many islands that they visit are evidence of Lewis's rich fantasy that creates this fantastic world. The story was beautifully told, i didn't want it to end.