For a child struggling with big feelings of injustice or the difficult choice to forgive, this stunning adaptation of Shakespeare's classic offers a magical path to understanding. It tells the story of Prospero, a sorcerer betrayed by his own brother and exiled to an island with his daughter, Miranda. When a storm brings his enemies to his shores, he must choose between revenge and mercy. This book gently introduces complex themes of justice, family conflict, and redemption, making it perfect for ages 7 to 11. Its lush illustrations and lyrical prose provide a safe, beautiful space to discuss how empathy can be more powerful than anger.
The hero seeks revenge and uses magic to control others before ultimately choosing a moral path.
Sensitive Topics
The central conflict involves family betrayal, wrongful exile, and a desire for revenge. Prospero's master-servant relationships with Ariel and Caliban touch on themes of colonialism and enslavement, though this is softened for the target audience and presented metaphorically as a fairy-tale dynamic. The resolution is entirely hopeful, centering on the triumph of forgiveness over vengeance.
Ideal Reader
An 8 to 10 year old who has experienced a significant betrayal, perhaps by a close friend or sibling. This child is wrestling with intense feelings of anger and a desire for payback, and needs a narrative that models a different, more powerful path through choosing forgiveness.
Parent Prep
The book can be read cold as a magical fairy tale. However, a parent might want to preview the illustrations of Caliban, who is depicted as a monster and could be frightening to more sensitive children. Being prepared to discuss why Prospero felt he had the right to command Ariel and Caliban can add depth to the reading experience. The parent hears their child say, "I hate them and I hope something bad happens to them!" The child feels deeply wronged and is stuck in a cycle of anger, unable to see a way to move past the hurt.
Age Experience
A younger child (7-8) will likely connect with the surface-level magic: the powerful storm, the invisible spirit, the love-at-first-sight romance, and the clear happy ending. An older child (9-11) is better equipped to grasp the story's complex moral core: the weight of Prospero's choice between revenge and mercy, the injustice of his exile, and the complicated nature of Caliban as both a sympathetic and antagonistic figure.
What Makes It Special
This book's primary strength is its success in making a complex Shakespearean drama accessible and emotionally resonant for young elementary readers. Unlike more straightforward plot summaries, Marianna Mayer's lyrical prose and the rich, detailed illustrations focus on the emotional heart of the story, transforming it into a powerful, self-contained fairy tale about the magic of forgiveness.
Read plot summary
Prospero, the usurped Duke of Milan, lives in exile on a remote island with his daughter Miranda, the spirit Ariel, and the creature Caliban. He uses his magic to conjure a tempest that shipwrecks his treacherous brother Antonio and King Alonso of Naples on his shores. Through a series of magical trials and encounters, Prospero confronts his enemies, his daughter Miranda falls in love with the King's son, Ferdinand, and ultimately, Prospero chooses to forgive his betrayers and renounce his magic, restoring harmony.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Prospero has the power to punish his brother Antonio for all the terrible things he did. Why do you think he chooses to forgive him at the end?
2
The spirit Ariel serves Prospero but longs to be free. Do you think it was fair for Prospero to command Ariel? Why or why not?
3
Miranda has only ever known her father and the spirits on the island. How do you think her world changed when she met Ferdinand and the other people from the ship?
4
Caliban feels the island is his and is angry with Prospero. Looking at the pictures and reading his words, did you feel sorry for him, or were you scared of him, or both?
