This book (as well as the whole Narnia series) is a fantasy story that is appropriate for children. Both children and adults can benefit from reading this book, however.
In a line: Aslan creates Narnia ... and humans introduce sin ... again. In depth: Polly and Digory (the nephew of "Mad Uncle Andrew", the magician) explore several different worlds -- including the dying land of Tarn and the land of Narnia, during the moment of its birth. They accidentally bring with them a wicked witch, who immediately begins her work to corrupt Aslan's creation. Symbolism: Although the center of the plot seems to revolve around the creation story, this story really focuses on the difficult choices that humans have to make when tempted by all sorts of different evils. For example, the wicked witch is tempted by political power; Uncle Andrew is tempted by magical power and money; and Digory is tempted by the desire to cure his mother, despite the fact that, to do so, he would have to disobey Aslan.
"Aslan threw up his shaggy head, opened his mouth, and uttered a long, single note; not very loud, but full of power. Polly's heart jumped in her body when she heard it. She felt sure that it was a call, and that anyone who heard that call would want to obey it and (what's more) would be able to obey it, however many worlds and ages lay between. And so, though she was filled with wonder, she was not really astonished or shocked when all of a sudden a young woman, with a kind, honest face stepped out of nowhere and stood beside her. Polly knew at once that it was the Cabby's wife, fetched out of our world not by any tiresome magic rings, but quickly, simply and sweetly as a bird flies to its nest."
"Oh, Adam's sons, how cleverly you defend yourselves against all that might do you good!" -Aslan
"Child," he replied, "that is why all the rest are now a horror to her. That is what happens to those who pluck and eat fruits at the wrong time and in the wrong way. The fruit is good, but they loathe it ever after."
"Oh, I see," said Polly. "And I suppose because she took it in the wrong way it won't work for her. I mean it won't make her always young and all that?"
"Alas," said Aslan, shaking his head. "It will. Things always work according to their nature. She has won her heart's desire; she has unwearying strength and endless days like a goddess. But length of days with an evil heart is only length of misery and already she begins to know it. All get what they want; they do not always like it." --Polly and Aslan discussing the fate of the evil witch after she ate one of the forbidden fruits
"When things go wrong, you'll find they usually go on getting worse for some time; but when things once start going right they often go on getting better and better."
