Book Review: The Da Vinci Code
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What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this book was intended for adults.
In addition to ritualistic sex, brutal murders, and self-abuse,
the book contains ideas that may be intellectually confusing
for kids, and even many adults.
Families who read this book together could discuss the religious themes and the book's hypothesis. What do kids think would be different if the story was actually true? Did they wonder if there was any truth to it? How does Brown tell his audience -- besides the fact the book is labeled fiction -- that this is a story and not an alternative version of the truth? Readers who have seen the movie may be interested in comparing and contrasting the two. And discussing how controversy sells.
Common Sense Media Review
The Da Vinci Code, for all its success, is simply a
poorly-written thriller with a controversial hypothesis about
the life of Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church. The
characters are two dimensional and the plot of the novel is
boilerplate suspense novel stuff. Brown has villains, chase
scenes, a character turnaround or three, and some moments of
genuine tension. None of it is really earth-shattering, though
its intricacy is impressive.
Despite all that, it's a fascinating read. The novel opens with a warning that implies that, although the plot is fictional, the research into the development of Christianity is all genuine. (Spoiler alert) Over the course of the book, Brown goes on to question the divinity of Jesus, and to present a supposed marriage to Mary Magdalene and a line of descent that survives through to contemporary times. Those who take it as a legitimate challenge to their faith will find it infuriating.
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
