Beyond Harry Potter: Rediscovering J.R.R. Tolkein

By Jonathan Berohn

Each time I pick up a new Harry Potter book to read to my 5-year-old and 7-year-old, I always have the same recurring thought. As good as J.K. Rowling’s adventures are, the best thing about them is that they pave the way for 2 more Tolkein lovers.

With the success of Peter Jackson’s first 2 Lord of the Rings movies, Fellowship of the Ring and the Two Towers, J.R.R. Tolkein has never been more popular in mainstream culture. It seems like you can’t turn around without bumping into a product that uses the movies in its advertising, and you certainly can’t miss the glut of Lord of the Rings toys in every toy store. Now that the third and final installment, The Return of the King, is ready to hit the screen, the Tolkein buzz is growing louder and louder.

Yet despite all this, the great classics that the movies bring to life consistently finish distant seconds to J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter when it comes to book sales. Certainly, the books are aimed at different audiences—Harry Potter books focus on the 9-13 set, while Tolkein usually clicks with readers 12 and up. But once ensnared by the magic of Harry and friends at Hogwarts, making the leap to Gandalf, Frodo, and Aragorn in Middle Earth is a joy that more young readers should experience.

Happily enough, Tolkein’s books actually offer a graduated entry into his mythical world. The stand-alone introductory volume, The Hobbit, introduces Middle Earth and sets the stage for what will come all within the action of a rousing adventure to slay a dragon. The Lord of The Rings trilogy picks up where the Hobbit leaves off. What you get in the Lord of the Rings, though, is a whole magical realm—complete with history, mythology, and enough action to keep any reader on his or her toes. Finally, for the dedicated Tolkein convert, The Silmarillion fills in all the details about the history and genealogy of Middle Earth. This last one is a bit dense and not so action-packed. It’s definitely only for the true believers.