Some violent content and scary scenes, but it's a fabulous fantasy book.
Plot
When Frodo Baggins is given his uncle Bilbo's magic Ring, little does he know he is about to be drawn into an epic battle for Middle Earth. The One Ring he has inherited is an evil creation of the Dark Lord Sauron, and now Frodo and his eight companions, dubbed the Fellowship of the Ring, must journey to the evil land of Mordor in order to destroy the Ring forever.
Morality
There is a clear distinction between the forces of good and evil. The major downfall for characters like Bilbo in the beginning, Frodo and Boromir is their temporary infatuations with the Ring. However, these are clearly depicted as wrong, and the characters repent of their obsession.
Spiritual Content
The battle of good versus evil is possibly a mirror for the real battle of Good (God) vs. Evil (Satan). The story, however, is not intended to be a Christian allegory.
Magic is used by the wizards Gandalf and Saruman.
Violence
Well, it is an epic fantasy novel, so expect a lot of action and battles. On the way to Rivendell, the hobbits and Aragorn fight Ringwraiths pursuing them. The Fellowship faces numerous battles on their journey - in the mines of Moria, the Uruk-hai of Saruman that attack them, etc. Tolkien is a very detailed writer, so some of the battle scenes get a bit gory.
Drug and Alcohol Content
Mentions of alcohol at the Green Dragon Inn in the Shire, as well as drinking in the town of Bree, but that's it.
Sexual Content
None.
Crude or Profane Language or Content
None that I recall.
Conclusion
Fellowship of the Ring is a great read and a superb start to the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. It's one of my favorite books, and I enjoyed it immensely. I'd recommend this book to all fantasy lovers - this is the ultimate fantasy epic! The themes in the book are great too, as Tolkien focuses on friendship, loyalty, etc. It is an adult book though, so some content, such as the battles, may not be suitable for younger kids. Overall it's a wonderful read. I really grew to love the world and characters Tolkien created.
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