Welcome to Tumnus’s Book Shelf where we review any and all books related to Narnia and CS Lewis! For this weeks review, we will be looking at Lucy’s Journey the second of two books in the “I Can Read Series”
Title: The I Can Read Series: Lucy’s Journey
Author: Jennifer Frantz ( adapted from the novel by CS Lewis)
Publisher: HarperTrophy (April 1, 2008)
ISBN-10: 0061231630
ISBN-13: 978-0061231636
Summary of the book:
Narnia is in danger and Lucy wants to help. She knows the only one who can do that is Aslan. On their journey to meet Caspian she claims to see him. No one believes her. As everyone prepared for battle Lucy had a different plan. She snuck away to the woods where she encountered Aslan. She asked him to help. He said that not only will he help save Narnia, but Lucy will too. She isn’t sure if she can, but Aslan assures her she can as she is just as brave as a lion.
Review:
Unlike with The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe where there were four books in the “I can Read” series, focusing on each of the children, there are only two that tie into Prince Caspian. This is Narnia was the first book, this one: Lucy’s Journey is the second. Much like with the other book it is an easily written book meant for young readers.
All of the same elements from This is Narnia, are in place. The book is very easy to read, and in essence it is a brief summary of the chapters of Prince Caspian where Lucy encounters Aslan. The style is very quick paced and it contains plenty of verbs to keep the story moving. Dialogue is cut but the general point of this part of the story is in tact.
Jennifer Frantz has to be given credit for trying to do an adaptation of a few chapters of a book meant for older kids. She tries not to sacrifice much from the story but at the same time make it approachable for kids. A lot of the more difficult concepts are missing, and even a few of the allegorical aspects of Aslan are diminished.
Pictures are again taken from the movie. These pictures are essentially, much like with the other books, still shots. The scenery is beautiful, Aslan looks impressive, and Lucy is looking even more like the Lucy I envisioned when I heard the stories younger. Chances are if kids are raised on this, this Lucy will be the version in their minds.
While the message is cut down from the story, it does still have a “positive” message for kids. That message is that a child can be brave and do great things. For most readers they may find this to be an over-simplified message for kids to hear. However, Lucy’s unshakable faith in Aslan as Narnia’s only hope is still present in the book, just as much as it was in Lewis’ original novel.
The story also ends way too abruptly, and would probably even leave a young reader hanging. The story ends with Aslan telling her she can be as brave as a lion and her wondering if she can free Narnia. The readers never get any idea as to whether or not she and Aslan are able to save their beloved country. You end the story, with her only just having met up with Aslan, but Narnia is still in danger. It’s like pausing Star Wars right after Luke Skywalker says, “ I want to learn the ways of the Force and become a Jedi like my father” or ending Lord of the Rings ( both the book, and the film) with Frodo saying, “ I will take the Ring to Mordor, though I do not know the way!” and neither of them heading out on their quest beyond that. One can only hope that the young readers will ask what happens next for Lucy and want to hear the full story.
With the truncated ending and the watered down message , this version of Lucy Pevensies journey isn’t as good as Lucy’s story from the book or the film. However, as a tool for getting kids to read by giving them an engaging story based on a classic, with clear, easy to understand words and concepts Lucy’s Journey serves it’s purposes.
4 out of 5 Shields.