The Borrowers (1973) Parents Guide: Is the book OK for kids?

There is no sexual content or romantic subplots present in this story. The narrative focuses entirely on family dynamics, survival, and the platonic friendship between Arrietty and the boy. The characters' interactions remain wholesome and appropriate for a young audience, centering on their intellectual curiosity and shared loneliness. There is no physical intimacy or suggestive dialogue between any of the characters throughout the 20th-century setting. The tone remains purely focused on the wonder and danger of…

Moderate peril exists due to the characters' small size relative to their environment. Borrowers face threats from a farm cat, a predatory crow, and later, the threat of being smoked out by a rat-catcher with poisonous gas. During the climax, Mrs. Driver’s aggression toward the 'pests' creates a palpable sense of terror as she tries to block their exits. There are descriptions of the dangers of the 'great outdoors,' including the risk of being trodden on or eaten by wild animals. While no physical harm is…

Language is very mild and consists mostly of period-typical British terms like 'dash it' or 'confounded.' No modern profanity is present in the text, and the characters speak with formal, mid-century British manners. There are occasional uses of words like 'stupid' or 'wretched' used in moments of frustration by the adults, such as Mrs. Driver. The boy and Arrietty speak to each other with a respectful, curious tone that avoids slang. The writing style is sophisticated yet accessible, reflecting the social…

Substance use is minimal and treated as a plot device for the characters' invisibility. There are multiple references to the human 'Great-Aunt Sophy' who stays in bed drinking fine old Madeira wine, which she attributes to her 'hallucinations' of seeing the Borrowers. The wine is shown to make her sleepy and less observant, allowing Pod to 'borrow' from her room safely. There is no depiction of the Borrowers themselves consuming alcohol or any other substances. The boy also mentions his father in India, but there…

Themes include the loss of home, the ethics of 'borrowing' versus stealing, and the vulnerability of being small in a large, often indifferent world. The story heavily explores the fear of extinction, as Arrietty realizes her family might be the last of their kind in the house. There is also a recurring thread about the social isolation of the elderly, seen through Great-Aunt Sophy and the lonely 'boy' from India. The narrative balances the whimsy of their tiny lifestyle with the harsh reality of their constant…