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Sherlock Holmes (The Hound of the Baskervilles) – Kid Classics by Arthur Conan Doyle Review: A Gripping Classic, Reimagined for Young Readers
This illustrated, abridged adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle's The Hound of the Baskervilles, edited by Margaret Novak with illustrations by Maïté Schmitt and published by Applesauce Press as part of the Kid Classics series, is designed to bring one of literature's most celebrated mysteries to readers aged 8 and up — retaining the core of Doyle's original text while making it accessible to a modern young audience.
LuvemBooks Verdict
Best for
Young readers in grades 4–7 who are curious about Sherlock Holmes and classic detective fiction but find unabridged Victorian prose too daunting — and for parents, teachers, or librarians seeking a structured, illustrated entry point into the Holmes canon for middle-grade readers.
Worth it if
The reader is aged roughly 8–12, has a developing appetite for mystery and atmosphere, and benefits from illustrated, editorially shaped text as a stepping stone toward Doyle's original novel.
Skip if
Readers already comfortable with Victorian prose — or those expecting the fast, propulsive pacing of contemporary children's fiction — will likely find the measured, atmospheric build-up of the adapted source material slower than they anticipate.
What readers & critics say
The Guardian's review of the original Hound of the Baskervilles — the source text this adaptation draws on — noted that while the language is "very formal" and "a bit slow moving" in places, Sherlock Holmes himself is "intelligent, unpredictable and a master of deductive reasoning," and that the story is "very good; gripping with a good sense of mystery," recommending it to confident readers from around age 11. Publisher descriptions retrieved via bookshop.org and bulkbookstore.com characterise this Kid Classics edition as "abridged and retold for a young modern audience while remaining true to Doyle's original text" and "an irresistible mystery — just the right amount of thrilling."
“The language is very formal and written in the style of an educated man… at times I found the writing a bit slow moving.”
— The Guardian“Sherlock Holmes is intelligent, unpredictable and a master of deductive reasoning — a fascinating character.”
— The Guardian“Modern kids books I've read share the same basic plot structure — the story was very good; gripping with a good sense of mystery.”
— The Guardian4.3from 26 Amazon ratings— reader ratings, not a LuvemBooks score
In This Review
- What Works & What Doesn't
- What This Book Is and What It Contains
- Its Place in the Genre and the Kid Classics Series
- What the Adaptation Does Well
- Genuine Limitations to Consider
- Who This Book Is For
What Works & What Doesn't
What Works
- Abridged and retold specifically for ages 8 and up while remaining true to Doyle's original text, according to the publisher
- Includes illustrations by Maïté Schmitt, adding a visual dimension absent from the original Victorian novel
- Retains the atmospheric Baskerville curse plot and Watson-as-narrator structure that define the source material
- Part of the Kid Classics series, providing a consistent, curated pathway into canonical literature for middle-grade readers
- Serves as a natural bridge to Doyle's unabridged original for readers who grow into the full text
What Doesn't
- The source novel's formal, measured Victorian pacing may still challenge younger or less experienced readers even in abridged form
- Readers accustomed to fast-paced contemporary children's fiction may find the story's atmospheric build-up slower than expected
A faithful yet kid-focused adaptation of one of detective fiction's landmark novels, this entry in the Kid Classics series delivers the Baskerville mystery in a form designed specifically for younger readers without discarding what made Doyle's original so enduring.
What This Book Is and What It Contains
Back cover featuring synopsis, a hound illustration, two figures, and publisher branding.
The Hound of the Baskervilles — Kid Classics is an abridged, illustrated retelling of Arthur Conan Doyle's classic mystery novel, originally published more than one hundred years ago. The story centers on the Baskerville family, who are haunted by a giant, ghostly hound said to glow eerily and howl outside their estate at night on the melancholy moors of Devonshire. When no one else can crack the case, Sherlock Holmes and his partner Dr. Watson are called in to investigate. The plot turns on a family curse, sinister events on the moorland, and the razor-sharp deductive reasoning of Holmes himself. According to the publisher's description, the edition is "abridged and retold for a young modern audience while remaining true to Doyle's original text" — a dual mandate that shapes every editorial choice in the volume. Margaret Novak serves as editor of this adaptation, and Maïté Schmitt contributes the illustrations throughout.
Its Place in the Genre and the Kid Classics Series
The Hound of the Baskervilles holds a foundational place in detective fiction. As Doyle wrote it, the novel helped define the template for the mystery genre — the brilliant, eccentric investigator, the loyal narrator-companion, the atmospheric rural setting — elements that readers of The Guardian have noted are visible in modern children's mystery books to this day. This Kid Classics edition, published by Applesauce Press in 2022, is the fourth entry in the Kid Classics series, which reimagines canonical works of literature for young audiences. Positioning The Hound of the Baskervilles alongside other classics in this series underscores its status as a cornerstone text worth introducing to new generations of readers, not merely a title of nostalgic interest.
Contents page listing fourteen chapters with decorative botanical illustration in the upper right corner.
What the Adaptation Does Well
The core strength of this edition lies in its design intent: to preserve the atmosphere and plot integrity of Doyle's original while stripping away barriers to entry for younger readers. The publisher describes it as an "irresistible mystery — just the right amount of thrilling," a balance the series format is specifically engineered to achieve. The narrative retains the essential drama — the cursed hound, the fog-shrouded moors, the clash between superstition and Holmes's cold logic — while the inclusion of Maïté Schmitt's illustrations gives the text a visual dimension that the original prose, written for Victorian adult readers, never had. The series targets grades 4–7, and the editorial framing of the story through Dr. Watson's voice as narrator remains intact, keeping the distinctive storytelling perspective that gives the original much of its texture.
Genuine Limitations to Consider
The source material itself presents a real challenge that no adaptation can fully dissolve. A Guardian reviewer, reflecting on reading Doyle's work, noted that the language is "very formal and written in the style of an educated man," and that the writing can feel "slow moving" in places — observations that apply to the source text's DNA even when abridged. Readers accustomed to fast-paced contemporary children's fiction may find the pacing more measured than they expect. The same reviewer recommended the original to "confident readers from about age 11," and while this Kid Classics edition is explicitly designed to lower that threshold — targeting ages 8 and up — readers on the younger end of that range who are less experienced with mystery or Victorian-inflected storytelling may still need encouragement to settle into the story's rhythm. The adaptation's challenge is inherent: it is working with a novel whose atmosphere depends in part on a deliberate, atmospheric build-up that resists being rushed.
Who This Book Is For
This edition is well-suited to young readers with a developing appetite for mystery, detective stories, or classic literature — particularly those who find unabridged Victorian prose daunting but are ready for something more substantive than a picture-book retelling. It also serves as an effective bridge title: children who enjoy it have a clear path to Doyle's original text when they're ready. For parents, teachers, or librarians seeking a way to introduce the Sherlock Holmes canon to middle-grade readers, the Kid Classics format — with its editorial shaping by Margaret Novak and visual support from Maïté Schmitt's illustrations — provides a structured, intentional entry point into one of literature's most influential detective stories.
Frequently Asked Questions
is Sherlock Holmes (The Hound of the Baskervilles) - Kid Classics: The Classic Edition Reimagined Just-for-Kids! (4) by Arthur Conan Doyle worth reading for kids
It's a strong pick for young readers with a developing appetite for mystery and detective stories who find unabridged Victorian prose daunting but want something more substantive than a picture-book retelling. Editor Margaret Novak and illustrator Maïté Schmitt work together to preserve the atmosphere and plot integrity of Doyle's original — the cursed hound, the fog-shrouded moors, Holmes's cold logic versus superstition — while making the story genuinely accessible for grades 4–7.
what is Sherlock Holmes (The Hound of the Baskervilles) - Kid Classics: The Classic Edition Reimagined Just-for-Kids! (4) by Arthur Conan Doyle actually about
The story centers on the Baskerville family, who are haunted by a giant, ghostly hound said to glow eerily and howl outside their estate at night on the melancholy moors of Devonshire. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are called in to investigate a family curse and a series of sinister events on the moorland, with Holmes's razor-sharp deductive reasoning driving the plot — and Dr. Watson's voice as narrator remains intact in this adaptation, keeping the distinctive storytelling perspective of Doyle's original.
what age is Sherlock Holmes (The Hound of the Baskervilles) - Kid Classics: The Classic Edition Reimagined Just-for-Kids! (4) by Arthur Conan Doyle appropriate for
Best for ages 8 and up, though the younger end of that range may need adult support to engage with the story's deliberate build-up. The abridged Victorian pacing and mystery atmosphere suit confident readers in grades 4–7; readers accustomed to fast-paced contemporary children's fiction may find the pacing more measured than they expect, which is a product of the source material's DNA even in abridged form.
is Sherlock Holmes (The Hound of the Baskervilles) - Kid Classics: The Classic Edition Reimagined Just-for-Kids! (4) by Arthur Conan Doyle boring or too slow
It can feel slow for some young readers — a Guardian reviewer noted that Doyle's language is "very formal and written in the style of an educated man" and can feel "slow moving" in places, and those qualities persist in the source text's DNA even when abridged. The adaptation is specifically engineered to lower the barrier, but the atmosphere of the Baskerville mystery depends in part on a deliberate build-up that resists being rushed, so children used to fast-paced modern fiction should go in with adjusted expectations.
is Sherlock Holmes (The Hound of the Baskervilles) - Kid Classics: The Classic Edition Reimagined Just-for-Kids! (4) by Arthur Conan Doyle good for a 9 or 10 year old
It can work well for confident 9–10 year olds who already enjoy mystery or detective stories, since the edition is explicitly designed to lower the reading threshold to ages 8 and up. That said, readers on the younger end who are less experienced with Victorian-inflected storytelling may still need encouragement to settle into the story's rhythm, and the review suggests adult support can help bridge that gap.
does Sherlock Holmes (The Hound of the Baskervilles) - Kid Classics: The Classic Edition Reimagined Just-for-Kids! (4) by Arthur Conan Doyle stay true to the original story
Yes — the publisher describes it as "abridged and retold for a young modern audience while remaining true to Doyle's original text," and the review confirms the core drama is retained: the cursed hound, the fog-shrouded moors of Devonshire, and the clash between superstition and Holmes's cold logic all survive the adaptation. Dr. Watson's narrative voice is also kept intact, preserving the storytelling texture that gives the original much of its character.
what should i read after Sherlock Holmes (The Hound of the Baskervilles) - Kid Classics: The Classic Edition Reimagined Just-for-Kids! (4) by Arthur Conan Doyle
The review positions this edition as an effective bridge title: children who enjoy it have a clear path to Doyle's original, unabridged text when they're ready. A Guardian reviewer recommended the original to "confident readers from about age 11," so that's a natural next step — and the broader Kid Classics series from Applesauce Press offers other canonical works reimagined in the same format for readers who want to stay in that middle ground a little longer.
Sources & Further Reading
The key facts and claims in this review are grounded in the retrieved, verified sources listed below.
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Arthur Conan Doyle, Wikipedia
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