Dickens & Rumi
Cover of PAN'S LABYRINTH: THE LABYRINTH OF THE FAUN

book

PAN'S LABYRINTH: THE LABYRINTH OF THE FAUN

Guillermo del Toro and Cornelia Funke

Ofelia discovers that she's an Underworld princess. Based on the 2006 film. (Ages 14 to 17)

Ages 15+Source checked

Why this age? Graphic violence, torture, wartime cruelty, frightening imagery, death, grief, and disturbing moral situations are central; the prose and themes also require mature reading. This is guidance, not a safety guarantee; reading level and family context may differ.

Quick view

At a glance

Recommended age15+

Strongest cautions

  • Death of a character5/5
  • Frightening scenes5/5
  • Violence5/5

Strongest positives

  • Creativity & curiosity5/5
  • Courage & resilience4/5
  • Positive messages3/5

What’s in it?

Death of a character5/5
Why this rating?

Multiple deaths and killings, including highly distressing losses, are important to the plot and handled with grief and tragedy.

Graphic injury4/5
Why this rating?

Injuries and bodily violence can be vividly described, though the prose is not relentlessly anatomical.

Strong language2/5
Why this rating?

Contains some harsh language appropriate for the violent setting.

Religious themes2/5
Why this rating?

Features minor religious cultural markers of the era.

Romance1/5
Why this rating?

Minimal focus on romance; serves more as a backdrop to the primary narrative.

Frightening scenes5/5
Why this rating?

Menacing fauns and monsters, perilous tests, wartime danger, pursuit, and sustained dread create an intense atmosphere.

Sexual content & nudity1/5
Why this rating?

Adult relationships and pregnancy imply sex, but there is no explicit sexual activity, sexualized nudity, or sustained sexual content.

Alcohol or drugs2/5
Why this rating?

Depicts casual drinking common to the setting.

Violence5/5
Why this rating?

Brutal wartime and interpersonal violence is central, including beatings, torture, executions, shootings, and violent resistance.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience4/5
Why this rating?

Facing terror and tyranny with moral courage is one of the work's central concerns, though bravery brings serious danger.

Creativity & curiosity5/5
Why this rating?

Highly imaginative dark fantasy setting with unique, inventive world-building.

Diverse representation1/5
Why this rating?

Limited in scope; focused on specific historical and cultural Spanish archetypes.

Educational value2/5
Why this rating?

Provides historical insight into the atmosphere of post-Civil War Spain.

Kindness & empathy2/5
Why this rating?

Care, loyalty, mercy, and protection of vulnerable people matter, though kindness often exists amid severe cruelty.

Positive messages3/5
Why this rating?

It explores resistance to tyranny, moral choice, obedience, sacrifice, compassion, and the costs of cruelty.

Good role models2/5
Why this rating?

Courageous and compassionate characters resist oppression, but the story includes compromised adults, dangerous choices, and tragic consequences.

Family discussion

Talk about it

Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.

  1. What was the most imaginative idea in the story, and what would you add to it?
  2. How did the story approach death or loss? What helped the characters cope?
  3. Which choice in PAN'S LABYRINTH: THE LABYRINTH OF THE FAUN would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in PAN'S LABYRINTH: THE LABYRINTH OF THE FAUN, and what caused that change?
Discuss this title with other parents

Community reactions

What families noticed

Add your perspective

Sign in from the homepage to rate this title.

Where to get it

Find in a libraryBuy on Bookshop.orgBuy on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate and Bookshop.org affiliate, Dickens & Rumi may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.

If you liked this

Try something nearby

Related by age fit, format, and catalogue context.

You’re herePAN'S LABYRINTH: THE LABYRINTH OF THE FAUN
Dark Lord of DerkholmDiana Wynne Jones · 1998Ages 14+Drowned Ammet (Dalemark Quartet, Book 2)Diana Wynne Jones · 1977Ages 12+Cart and Cwidder (The Dalemark Quartet)Diana Wynne Jones · 1975Ages 12+The Secret AdversaryAgatha Christie · 1922Ages 13+

These content notes are a starting point, not a guarantee. Review the evidence and use your own judgment before choosing a title.

Report an incorrect rating