The Veldt, by Ray Bradburry, is a story about a family in the future, who have become too dependent on technology. Lydia Hadley notices that something about their children 's virtual reality nursery is different. Lydia Hadley and George Hadley, the mother and father of the children go into the nursery. While they're in the nursery they hear a scream. Once they're out of the nursery Lydia says "Did you see? Did you feel? It's too real.". Lydia suggest that they shut the house down for a few days. As George and Lydia enter the nursery they yet again hear a far away scream. George tries to change the room, but it does not work. The parents suggest that Peter, their son, got into the machinery and changed something. When the parents ask about Africa in the nursery Peter denies it. Peter sends Wendy, his sister, to go check the nursery, she comes back and confirms that the nursery is not Africa. The parents find Georges old wallet covered in slobber and blood they also find one of Lydia's bloody scarves. When George suggest to Peter that they shut the nursery down Peter threatens his father. David McClean a psychologist arrives at the Hadley's household and say something is very bad. David and George turn off the nursery. When telling Peter about turning off the nursery Peter says he wishes his dad was dead. George and Lydia go into the nursery one last time, the nursery door slammed shut. Lions are surrounding them, and they realized why the screams sounded so familiar.
One of the main themes in this book is to not spoil your children. an example of this theme is when George Hadley says "But nothings too good for our children." (9). Another example is when George says "We've given the Children everything they ever wanted. Is this our reward-secrecy, disobedience?" (18). One more example is when David McClean said " I sensed only that you had spoiled your kids more than most." (22). Don't spoil your children because if you do they might not respect you, and take advantage of you.
I would recommend this book to 7th grade readers, because there is a lot of futuristic technology. There is also technology that wasn't possible when the story was written, but is now used today. There were also things that still have not been invented such as an automatic scrub bath, shoe tier, and picture painter. I would recommend this book to people who are interested in futuristic things or new technology.
