The Hobbit

We’re starting where a lot of us started: a hobbit who wants nothing more than a quiet life, a pantry full of food, and no adventures whatsoever. Then a wizard and thirteen dwarves show up at his door.

Why we picked it

Bilbo isn’t the strongest or the bravest person in the story, and that’s exactly the point. He grows into his courage one hard choice at a time. It’s also just a genuinely fun ride — trolls, riddles in the dark, a dragon — with enough underneath it to talk about for days.

Questions to chew on

• Bilbo almost turns back at the very start. What changes in him along the way?
• There’s a moment where sparing someone’s life turns out to matter later. Why do you think mercy keeps coming up in this story?
• The dragon guards a mountain of gold he never uses. What does the book seem to be saying about wanting more and more?

If you’d rather listen: the audiobook is a great one to share on a long drive. It’s an adventure with real peril, but nothing your reader can’t handle with you nearby.