This parent review of The Silver Arrow by Lev Grossman will help you decide if this book is appropriate for your middle readers. It includes a brief synopsis, a content guide, and my personal likes and dislikes, with some real-kid opinions thrown in as well.
(This post contains affiliate links. I will be compensated for any purchase made through my links. Thank you for helping to support my family!)
Synopsis: The Silver Arrow
Kate is a young girl who longs to move from her seemingly mundane and boring childhood and to do something great and worthwhile in the world. Her parents tend to shield her from “grownup” issues and activities. She wants more than her routine of school, “normal” extracurriculars, dinner, and bedtime. She wants to make a difference, be involved in something bigger.
As Kate’s eleventh birthday approaches, she decides to write a letter to her estranged uncle Herbert whom she has never met. She has heard from her parents that Uncle Herbert is rich and eccentric. This sounds like just the fun she is looking for. The letter simply asks Uncle Herbert to send Kate a present for her birthday. She has no idea how this request will change her life.
The next day, Uncle Herbert shows up in an outlandish yellow suit and, as requested, a gift for Kate. This is not just any old birthday gift, though. Uncle Herbert gives Kate a train – a real, life-size train. He even lays track on which it can run.
Kate’s parents, of course, think this is a terrible gift and demand that Uncle Herbert take it back. Though Kate herself finds it an odd gift, she does not like that her parents are once again trying to take away her fun. She throws an epic tantrum and ends up spending her birthday alone in her room.
That night Kate and her younger brother Tom investigate a fire-like light coming from the engine. As they mess around with the many levers and buttons, the train begins to move. It picks up speed and takes them on adventure like no other. Where is it taking them? What is this mystery task that they supposedly have? Is it really as dangerous as they keep hearing? Will Kate and Tom ever make it home?
Parents’ Guide
- Age Recommendation: read alone – 9-12; read aloud with parent – elementary and up.
- Sexual References: none
- Depictions of Violence: Some discussion of predator/prey relationships in the animal world. Train careening precariously around curves, off cliffs, and toward things. Discussion of poaching and habitat destruction.
- Alcohol/Drug References: none
- Profanity/Crude Language: No profanity. Several uses of the word “hate,” especially directed toward other people. Kate says quite a few unkind words when she is angry at the beginning of the story.
- Scary/Intense Scenes: Mildly intense moments when train seems out of control. Some sadness toward the end. Nothing scary or super intense.
You can find this book on Amazon or if you prefer to purchase from small businesses at Bookshop.org.
What I liked about The Silver Arrow
Kate grows to appreciate her family. She sees her little brother in a new light. Kate realizes that maybe her family isn’t so bad after all as she misses her parents and her life at home.
Kate changes and matures as a character. She finds courage, accepts her role as protector of her brother, and recognizes that real-life is not constant adventure and that’s ok.
The kids find that there is way more in the world than just themselves. They learn of the suffering of others, especially regarding the animal world. And they discover the role that they can play in caring for those who cannot care for themselves.
Kate learns problem-solving, how to be a peacemaker, and what it’s like to be responsible for the lives of others.
Real-life history and educational tidbits are woven throughout the story in a natural and innocuous way. Readers learn about historical figures, the lifestyles of different animals, geography, and the parts of a steam engine without realizing they’re learning.
The story is engaging and fun! Kate and Tom get to use their imaginations to build train cars. They meet exotic animals who talk and share their stories. The Silver Arrow is full of magic, fantasy, and adventure.
What I didn’t like about The Silver Arrow
No honest review of The Silver Arrow or any book would fail to include some dislikes. Kate has a pretty rough attitude at the beginning of the story. She complains about her – very privileged – life. She thinks poorly of her parents and says unkind things to her brother.
When her birthday doesn’t turn out like she hoped, Kate has a major meltdown and begins to name-call. I especially didn’t care for her telling her parents and brother, “I hate you.”
I do believe the author Lev Grossman has included these character flaws in order to show a dynamic change in Kate throughout the story. He presents has as grouchy and entitled at the beginning so that she can learn and grow as the story progresses. I appreciate the roundness of Kate’s character and the realistic attitude she has. I’d prefer if her language toward her family wasn’t quite as strong.
Conclusion
I was pleasantly surprised by The Silver Arrow. The writing is engaging, the storyline original and full of unexpected moments, and the message good. It has plenty of humor and mixes in educational facts into the story with ease.
I did feel there were some holes and unanswered questions throughout the story. But these did not take away from my enjoyment of the story. I hope a sequel will come soon to fill in some of the seemingly intentionally-left-open gaps.
The narrator/reader relationship is reminiscent of The Chronicles of Narnia and Winnie the Pooh. The narrator expresses opinions on the behavior and events in the story, makes jokes and observations, and acts as a character himself/herself. I enjoyed how even the train had its own personality and interacted with the kids personally.
When the story starts, it feels familiar. It seems like it is going to be a light read similar to many other “awakening” stories. But this story takes some unexpected turns. Getting to see through the animals’ eyes and hear their stories (because yes, they talk!) is done differently and effectively in this book.
The message is one of caring for those around you, especially the natural world. Kate realizes how selfish she has been, how she never even knew about the plight of endangered animals and their habitats. She finds purpose for her life, learns how she can make a difference even at her young age, and begins to think of more than just herself. She learns to face and work through her emotions.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book. And my family did too! We actually listened to the audio version in the car on a roadtrip. Everyone was enraptured and there was no fighting in the car while the story was playing! I think your middle readers will enjoy the story, appreciate the little-known animal facts, and be inspired to take care of the world around them.
If you’ve read the book or have a request for a review, I’d love to hear from you in the comments or by email! You can reach me using the Contact Us page or by signing up for the email list using the form above and to the right.
I hope you enjoyed my review of The Silver Arrow by Lev Grossman. I have more reviews of books for your family! Click here for my review of one of my newest favorites Amari and the Night Brothers by BB Alston. Or click the Reviews sub-tab for all my reviews, including those for homeschool curriculum (like Real Science 4 Kids, The Good and the Beautiful, and Logic of English). I also have plenty of book recs in my affiliate shop on Bookshop.org
Follow Chasing Those Moments on Pinterest for plenty of age-specific reading lists and activities.
Like Chasing Those Moments on Facebook to keep up with the latest.
It takes a lot of time and money to maintain a website and continue to produce great content. If you’ve been blessed by the content here and would like to make a donation to help keep the site up and running, I’d be so grateful. You can click here or use the donate button in the sidebar.
