Content levels
Trigger warnings
Positive tags
Heroine archetypes
Protagonist archetypes
Themes
Synopsis
The Treasure is a 1904 novel by the Swedish writer Selma Lagerlöf. Set in Bohuslän in the 16th century, it tells the story of a group of Scottish mercenaries who escape from prison; they go on to murder a family to steal a treasure chest, after which one of them falls in love with the family's sole survivor.
Is The Treasure appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 16 and up.
Parents should know this classic novel contains family murder by mercenaries and the psychological aftermath. The violence is central to the plot, though the style is literary rather than graphic. A love story develops between perpetrator and survivor.
What to know going in
This book has strong violence, no sexual content, and mild language. Content notes include murder, mass death, death of parent, and grief (see the full list above).
Who'll love this
Teens interested in classic literature with dark themes and moral complexity will find this Nobel Prize winner's tale compelling.