Here's the thing: The Hobbit is legitimately great. Not great-for-1937, not great-if-you-squint—actually great. Tolkien invented an entire world, created a new mythology, and wrote a story about a little guy who just wants to eat elevenses and smoke his pipe but ends up outwitting a dragon.

The challenge is that it was published in 1937, and it reads like it. The pacing is gentle. Tolkien takes his time describing landscapes and singing dwarf songs. Modern kids raised on Percy Jackson's breakneck speed may need to adjust their expectations. But if your kid can get past the first few chapters, they're in for something special.

This works beautifully as a family read-aloud where parents can do voices and help bridge the old-fashioned language. For independent readers, it's best for 9-12 year olds who already love reading and are ready to level up. The spider scenes are genuinely tense, and the Battle of Five Armies has real stakes (characters die), so sensitive kids under 8 might struggle.

Bottom line: If your kid is a reader, this is worth the effort. It's the foundation of modern fantasy, it's actually good, and it teaches patience for rich storytelling. Just don't force it on a reluctant reader—that's a recipe for everyone hating Tolkien forever.