This is a legitimate classic that deserves its Newbery Medal, but let's be honest: many modern kids will find it slow and weird. The opening line ('It was a dark and stormy night') is both iconic and a red flag for the formal, meandering prose style ahead.
That said, if your kid can get past the 1960s pacing, there's real gold here. The ideas are genuinely mind-bending—tesseracts, fifth dimensions, a disembodied brain controlling an entire planet. Meg is a wonderfully imperfect heroine who saves the day not by being special but by being stubborn and loving. The book takes science seriously while also making room for faith and mystery.
The scary parts are legitimately scary—not gore, but existential dread. Camazotz, where everyone bounces balls in unison and children are punished for being different, is more unsettling than most modern horror. IT is creepy precisely because it's just a brain, pulsing with malevolent intelligence.
This works best as a read-aloud for 8-10 year olds or an independent read for strong 10-13 year olds who already love reading. If your kid devours books and likes weird, philosophical sci-fi, they'll probably love it. If they struggle with reading or prefer fast-paced action, this might be a tough sell. The 2007 edition is just a reprint—the text is still from 1962, so don't expect modern updates.






