For the child grappling with big questions about right and wrong, this thoughtful retelling explores the profound consequences of choices and the nature of good and evil.
When your child starts asking 'why' about big rules and the nature of good and evil, this book offers a foundational story to explore those questions. Willard's prose retelling of John Milton's epic poem, Paradise Lost, makes a classic, complex tale accessible to middle-grade readers. It chronicles the war in heaven, the fall of Lucifer, and the temptation of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. The story directly addresses themes of disobedience, free will, guilt, and the profound consequences of choices. While rooted in Christian theology, its focus on character, motivation, and the battle between pride and love gives it a universal, mythological quality perfect for sparking deep conversations.
Depictions of a cosmic battle between angels are more epic and thematic than graphic or bloody.
Scary ScenesMild
Satan as a serpent is portrayed as a powerful, manipulative figure; the temptation is suspenseful.
Sensitive Topics
The book deals with foundational religious concepts like sin, temptation, divine punishment, and the origin of evil. The approach is literary and metaphorical, framing the story as a grand myth rather than a literal religious lesson. The resolution is bittersweet and ambiguous: Adam and Eve are exiled and must face hardship and death, but they have gained free will, knowledge, and each other. It ends with a feeling of profound loss but also a glimmer of hope for redemption.
Ideal Reader
A thoughtful, inquisitive 10 to 13 year old who enjoys mythology (like Greek or Norse myths) and is ready for a story with deep moral complexity. This is for the child who has moved past simple 'good guys vs. bad guys' narratives and is interested in the motivations behind characters' choices, even the 'bad' ones.
Parent Prep
A parent should be ready to discuss the concept of free will and the idea of a charismatic, compelling villain. Satan is not a one-dimensional monster here; his arguments are persuasive. It may be helpful to frame the book as a work of literature and mythology, an imaginative exploration of a religious story, which can help separate it from strict dogma, depending on the family's beliefs. No specific pages require a preview, but understanding the characterization of Satan is key. The parent has overheard their child asking a challenging question like, "If God is good, why do bad things happen?" or "Why was it so bad to eat the apple? They just wanted to learn things." Or perhaps the child has been caught in a significant act of disobedience and is wrestling with feelings of guilt and the fairness of the consequences.
Age Experience
A younger reader (9-10) will likely focus on the adventure and fantasy elements: the war in heaven, the talking serpent, the beautiful garden. An older reader (12-14) will be better equipped to grasp the complex philosophical and psychological themes: the nature of pride, the moral ambiguity of curiosity, the concept of a 'fortunate fall,' and the tragic weight of Adam and Eve's choice.
What Makes It Special
Unlike direct Bible retellings, this is an adaptation of a specific, classic literary work: Milton's Paradise Lost. This distinction is crucial. It imbues the story with a focus on psychological depth, character motivation (especially for Satan), and epic, poetic language. Willard's accessible prose masterfully captures the grandeur of the original without being intimidating.
Read plot summary
The story recounts the epic war in heaven, where the angel Lucifer, full of pride, rebels against God and is cast down into Hell, becoming Satan. It then shifts to the newly created paradise, the Garden of Eden, and the first humans, Adam and Eve. Bent on revenge, Satan disguises himself as a serpent and tempts Eve to eat the fruit from the forbidden Tree of Knowledge. She and Adam both partake, leading to their loss of innocence, their understanding of shame and evil, and their eventual sorrowful expulsion from the Garden.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Satan is cast out of heaven because of his pride. After reading his story, do you think he was treated fairly? Why do you think other angels chose to follow him?
2
Eve's choice to eat the fruit is central to the story. Do you think Adam shares equal responsibility for what happened? Why or why not?
3
Before eating the fruit, Adam and Eve didn't know the difference between good and evil. Was it possible for them to make a truly 'good' choice without understanding what 'bad' was?
4
At the end, Adam and Eve must leave the garden, but they have each other and the whole world ahead of them. Do you see the ending as mostly sad, or is there some hope in it? What did they gain from their choice?
