Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

Where to Read

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Libby

Our reviews and ratings are 100% unbiased, but as an Amazon Associate, Screenwise earns an affiliate fee if you buy a book or game by clicking one of our links. We don't get any credit if you just Google it instead :)

Screenwise Verdict

This is the series that launched a thousand middle-grade fantasy readers in the 2000s, and it holds up. Colfer's underground fairy world is legitimately inventive—think Ocean's Eleven meets Irish mythology meets sci-fi tech. The hook is irresistible: a 12-year-old criminal genius versus an entire fairy civilization.

The catch? Artemis is genuinely unlikeable at first. He kidnaps a fairy. He's cold, calculating, and motivated by greed. Some kids will find this thrilling; others might struggle with a protagonist who's actively doing wrong. The payoff is his character arc across the series—he becomes someone worth rooting for—but you need patience for that.

The violence is real but fantasy-contextualized (trolls attacking, weapons, some gore). One scene in particular made multiple parents flag it as too much for sensitive kids. If your 9-year-old handled the darker Harry Potter books fine, they'll probably be okay here. If they're still processing that Bambi's mom died, wait a year.

Bottom line: This is a smart, engaging series that respects young readers' intelligence and gets them devouring books. Just know what you're getting into with the antihero angle and have some conversations ready.

Age Fit

Best for ages 9-14, particularly confident readers who can handle moral complexity and some violence. The 4.9 Amazon rating and award-winning status show strong appeal, but parent reviews consistently recommend 10+ for the darker content. Kids who loved Harry Potter and are ready for something with more edge will eat this up.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

72

The series features a morally complex protagonist who starts as a criminal mastermind but evolves throughout the books. While Artemis begins as an antihero kidnapping a fairy for ransom, the character development arc shows growth toward cooperation and empathy. The tone is generally age-appropriate for middle-grade readers with humor balancing the darker elements, though some violence and morally gray situations exist.

Imaginative

88

Colfer creates an elaborate underground fairy world with its own technology, magic system, and mythology that runs parallel to our own. The blend of high-tech fairy gadgets with ancient magic is genuinely creative, and the heist-style plotting invites readers to think strategically. The world-building across 8 books is extensive and rewards curiosity about how this hidden civilization operates.

Safe

75

Generally safe for the target age group (9-12) but parent reviews note 'one extremely gory section' and some violence throughout. The criminal elements and kidnapping plot might concern some parents, though it's presented in a fantasy context. No sexual content or profanity. The moral complexity of the protagonist doing wrong things for 'good' reasons requires some maturity to process.

Enriching

78

Strong vocabulary and complex sentence structure challenge middle-grade readers. The series explores themes of redemption, family loyalty, environmental protection, and the consequences of greed. Artemis's intelligence and strategic thinking model problem-solving, though his initial criminal behavior requires discussion. The fairy world includes diverse characters and cultures. Engaging enough to get reluctant readers hooked on a lengthy series.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Genuinely creative world-building: a high-tech underground fairy civilization with its own rules, gadgets, and mythology
Gets kids reading thick books—the series hooks reluctant readers and keeps them going through 8 volumes
Artemis evolves from selfish genius to someone who cares about others, modeling that people can change
Smart, strategic plotting that rewards careful readers and invites problem-solving
Humor balances the action—Butler the bodyguard and Holly the fairy cop bring levity to heist-style tension

⚠

What to Watch For

Artemis starts as a genuine bad guy (kidnapping, criminal schemes) which might confuse younger kids about right and wrong
One particularly gory scene that multiple parents flagged—violence is present throughout but usually fantasy-style
Complex vocabulary and sentence structure mean this works best for confident readers or read-alouds with discussion
The moral ambiguity requires some maturity—Artemis does terrible things for understandable reasons

Conversation Starters

"Artemis does some pretty bad things in the first book. Do you think he's a villain or a hero? Can someone be both?"
"If you found out fairies were real and living underground, what would you want to know about them?"
"Artemis is incredibly smart but uses it for crime at first. How do you think someone decides to use their talents for good or bad?"
"The LEP (fairy police) have all this cool technology. If you could invent one gadget from the books, what would it be?"

Ask Anything

Get a personalized guide on any topic

Artemis Fowl