About This Book
Reach for this book when your child starts expressing a desire for independence or when they seem fascinated by the hidden mechanics of how things work. It is a perfect choice for families who enjoy slow-burn mysteries and the idea of secret worlds hiding in plain sight. This classic story follows the Clock family, tiny people who live under the floorboards and survive by borrowing small items from the humans above. As the young protagonist Arrietty longs to explore the dangerous world outside her home, she forms a forbidden bond with a human boy, leading to a beautiful but tense exploration of trust, bravery, and the risks of growing up. It is a gentle yet suspenseful read that encourages children to look at everyday objects with a sense of wonder and creative potential.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
CONVERSATION: Parents should be prepared for the ending, which is somewhat ambiguous and bittersweet. It involves the family being smoked out of their home by a rat catcher, which can be distressing. Be ready to discuss the concept of displacement and the idea that the characters are seeking a new home, even if we don't see them settle in this volume.
Ideal Reader
A curious 9-year-old who loves building dioramas, tinkering with gadgets, or wondering 'what if' about the world. It is perfect for a child who feels small in a big world and is looking for a story about finding agency.
Parent Prep
The final chapters involving the fumigation of the house are the most intense. Read these together to manage the tension of the family's escape. A parent might choose this after hearing their child say 'I'm bored' or seeing them treat their toys with a new sense of imaginative storytelling. It's also a great response to a child asking about why things go missing in the house.
Age Experience
Younger children (8-9) will be captivated by the 'dollhouse' mechanics of how the Borrowers live. Older children (11-12) will better grasp the ethics of "borrowing" versus stealing and Arrietty’s struggle for autonomy.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many fantasy novels that rely on magic, The Borrowers is grounded in 'low fantasy.' The magic is simply the perspective shift. It turns mundane household junk into treasure, fostering a unique sense of resourcefulness.
Read plot summary
The story follows Arrietty Clock and her parents, Pod and Homily, who are Borrowers living beneath a kitchen floor. They survive by taking scraps and trinkets from the Big People, using postage stamps as art and matchboxes as chests of drawers. Their secret existence is threatened when Arrietty is seen by a human boy. Instead of disaster, a fragile friendship forms, but the discovery eventually forces the family to flee their home to survive the humans' attempts to catch them.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Arrietty's father, Pod, is very afraid of the outdoors, but Arrietty is curious. Who do you think is right, and why?
2
The Borrowers don't think they are stealing; they think they are borrowing things that the humans have 'lost.' What do you think the difference is?
3
If you had to make a bed or a table out of something in your junk drawer, what would you use?
4
The Boy and Arrietty come from very different worlds. How does their friendship change the way they see their own lives?
5
At the end of the book, the family has to leave everything behind. What would be the hardest thing for you to leave if you had to move suddenly?
