Before I jump into Gulliver's Travels, I think there are some other books that require my attention. I like to try to keep up with reading that Dempsey and/or Palmer may or may not like. That is what led me to The Thief, by Megan Whalen Turner. This is a 1997 Newbery Medal Honor Book.
First, let me say that language could be an issue for some. While the Lord's name isn't technically taken in vain, the term Gods D___ is used, repeatedly. The society is a polytheistic one. To me, it felt like the same thing. I did not think the use of this language was necessary. Also, there are times when death's occur. They are not graphically described, but they are there. I would let my 13 year old read this, perhaps not my 9 year old. I would read this to my 9 year old, definitely, if I thought he would be interested.
The story begins with the main character in jail. He is let out only to do a task for the King's right hand man. The task - steal a stone. This is a pretty significant stone. The story revolves around the journey to the stone's location. While on the journey, we learn a bit about the 5 characters that go on the journey and we also learn about the societies in which they live. There are a few twists to the ending - nothing to be revealed here!
I found the book to be a bit slow at times. Unremarkable. I did like the twists at the end, but I am not sure that made the whole book worth it. If you have a voracious reader you could let them read this, if the language and mild violence doesn't bother you. If you have a reluctant reader, you may want to pass on The Thief and opt for Percy Jackson, Harry Potter,or Eragon!
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