Review

Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables is a literary classic, and this Bookworm Level 1 adaptation is an excellent gateway for young English learners to explore it. Tailored for primary school-level readers, the simplified text retains the core of Jean Valjean’s transformative journey and the novel’s profound themes of redemption, justice, and humanity. The language is accessible yet retains Hugo’s emotional weight, with key historical and narrative elements distilled into a digestible format. It introduces young readers to 19th-century French history and timeless moral questions without overwhelming them with complex vocabulary. As a starter edition of a masterpiece, it not only builds English reading skills but also plants seeds of empathy and critical thinking. For young learners eager to engage with classic literature, this adaptation is a must-read.