About This Book
Reach for this classic adventure when your child is grappling with questions of identity or feeling like an outsider in their own world. This foundational survival story follows an orphaned boy raised by great apes in the African jungle, exploring the deep-seated tension between our wild instincts and the expectations of civilization. While it is a thrilling tale of physical prowess and bravery, it also offers a profound look at loneliness and the search for one's roots. Parents should be aware that the book was written in 1912 and contains dated colonial perspectives on nature and culture, making it an excellent bridge for discussing how literature and social views have evolved. It is best suited for mature middle and high school readers who enjoy high-stakes survival and complex internal journeys.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
1. DISTRESS: The book contains visceral descriptions of animal-on-animal and animal-on-human violence, including the death of Tarzan's parents (off-screen but the aftermath is described) and the killing of various jungle animals for survival. There is a sense of constant, lethal peril. 2. CONVERSATION: Parents must be prepared to discuss the historical context of 1912 colonial attitudes. The text reflects Eurocentric biases of its era regarding 'civilization' versus 'savagery.' Parents should be prepared to discuss the overt racism and dehumanizing depictions of Indigenous African people, who are frequently portrayed as violent or inferior compared to the white protagonist.
Ideal Reader
A resilient twelve-year-old who loves survivalist stories like Hatchet but is ready for more complex vocabulary and a deeper exploration of what it means to belong to two different worlds.
Parent Prep
It is highly recommended to read the first few chapters together to navigate the dense, early 20th-century prose and set the stage for discussing the colonialist and racist ideologies prevalent when the book was written in 1912.
Age Experience
Younger readers will focus on the 'superhero' elements of Tarzan's physical feats. Older readers will pick up on the philosophical questions regarding nature vs. nurture and the critique of modern society.
What Makes It Special
Unlike modern survival stories, Tarzan combines visceral pulp action with a surprisingly intellectual self-education arc, as the protagonist learns to read and write in total isolation.
Read plot summary
Lord and Lady Greystoke are marooned on the coastal edge of the African jungle. After their deaths, their infant son is adopted by Kala, a female ape of a fictional tribe. Named Tarzan (White Skin), the boy grows up competing with powerful primates, teaching himself to read using books found in his parents' cabin, and eventually encountering other humans, including the intrepid Jane Porter.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Tarzan teaches himself to read using books in a cabin. How does learning to read change how he sees himself compared to the other apes?
2
Kala protects Tarzan even though he is different from her. What does this tell us about the meaning of family?
3
When Tarzan first sees other humans, he is both curious and afraid. Why is it so hard for him to decide which world he belongs to?
4
The book mentions Tarzan's 'heredity' many times. Do you think he is the way he is because of his parents, or because of how he was raised?
5
Looking at when this was written in 1912, how do you think our ideas of the 'wild' have changed since then?
