On his eleventh birthday, Harry discovers he is a wizard and his education had been pre-arranged at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry also learns his parents did not perish in a car crash, when he was an infant. They were murdered by the dark wizard, Voldemort, ...er, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. When, Voldemort, ...er, You-Know-Who tried to kill Baby Harry, the spell backfired, banishing or destroying him and giving Harry a lightening-shaped scar on his forehead. All of wizardom was grateful to Baby Harry for ridding the world of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.
At Hogwarts, Harry tries to fit into the scheme of things. He has no knowledge of the magical world, but he quickly masters "Quidditch", a complex, soccer-like game, played while riding a broomstick. His celebrity for destroying He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, causes people, especially the other students, to pre-judge him, either hating or worshiping him. In spite of this, Harry is befriended by Hagrid, the school gamekeeper, and the Head Master, Professor Dumbledore. Harry also makes friends with two first-year students, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger.
The three students have the same classes and spend all their free time together. When He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named returns, it's no surprise they combine their powers to prevent You-Know-Who from obtaining the Sorcerer's Stone - a source of immortality and endless wealth.
This hidden world of sorcery is quite sophisticated in the simplicity of its presentation. The projected appearance is that of a wizarding world has been around for hundreds of years. The reader is also presented with complex details of different facets of daily wizarding life -- a complexity that is imaginative; rather than overwhelming and unbelievable. For example, all the types of candy are well-defined, because that's just the thing children would want to know.
The characters are realistic and the plot is clear enough for children to follow, but complex enough to hold an adult's attention. Of the four books, this one is one is my favorite. It's a highly imaginative story with a delightfully challenging D & D ending. This book is magic itself. I loved this book. :)
Once upon a time, there was a poor, orphan boy named Harry Potter. He lived with his evil Aunt, Uncle and Cousin Dudley, who dressed him in Dudley's cast off clothing, forced him to live in a small cupboard under the stairs, and in general, treated him badly.
One by one, students are found paralyzed and the evidence points to Harry. He's also accused of being the opener of the Secret Chamber and the heir of an evil legacy. The threesome work hard to clear Harry of the "crimes" until Hermione is found paralyzed! To save Hermione, Harry and Ron must solve the 50-year old mystery of the Secret Chamber and discover the identity of Moaning Myrtle's murderer.
I was a bit disappointed by this book, but The Prisoner of Azkaban came along and restored my interest in Harry.
Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger return to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for their second year. The school is haunted by mysterious messages scrawled in blood on the walls, spooky voices in the corridors and Moaning Myrtle -- the ghost from the second floor girl's bathroom.
Harry would prefer to spend his time playing/flying Quidditch, but he readies himself for a possible confrontation with Sirius. Harry is aided by his Defense Against Dark Arts teacher, Professor Lupin, and he is hindered by the Potions teacher, Professor Snape. The strife between these teachers threatens Harry's safety and reveals events that took place when Harry's father, James Potter, attended Hogwarts with Snape, Lupin and Sirius.
Apparently, not all his father's antics were harmless. A student nearly lost his life due to a cruel prank. Harry, Ron and Hermione must uncover the truth about James's mysterious sorcerous ability; Sirius' betrayal; Lupin's dark secret and the root of Snape's hatred, to prevent a murder and to save an innocent man.
The beginning of this book features 13-year old Harry running away from home to escape his abusive Aunt and Uncle. The ending isn't pretty: one professor leaves the school in disgrace, the prisoner of Azkaban escapes again and Harry returns to his abusive Aunt and Uncle. This series is losing it's Narnia-like cuteness. I do not recommend this book for children under 8 years. Personally, I enjoyed this book very much. This is my second most favorite Harry Potter book.
Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger return to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for their third year. Everyone is talking about Sirius Black and his escape from Azkaban. Sirius went to prison thirteen years ago for betraying Harry's parents and leading them to their deaths. Now, Sirius is loose and headed toward Hogwart's to take care of unfinished business: Harry.
The Goblet of Fire selects three champions -- and Harry Potter. Many students and teachers from the three schools accuse Harry of magically deceiving the goblet and fraudulently entering the competition. There have never been four champions, but The Goblet has decided, so the games must begin.
Harry is lukewarm about participating, but the first task proves so dangerous, that he realizes the tournament is an excellent way for the minions of Voldemort to kill him and make it look like an accident. Frantically, Harry, Ron and Hermione search for spells to help Harry compete in each task. If they fail, Harry may not survive the remaining tasks.
This book opens at the Quidditch World Cup, where 14-year old Harry watches wizards tormenting "muggles" (normal people). The reader is given a glimpse at the terrible evil a socerous person can visit upon muggles. The ending is also pretty dark: one student dies, many students and adults blame Harry for that student's death, Harry's reputation is in shambles and He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named returns in the flesh, re-establishing his evil faction.
This series is getting darker, book by book. I do not recommend this book for children under 9 years. This is my third most favorite book. I was a bit uncomfortable that the people in this fairy-tale world are capable of great evil and cruelty. You might say, I was a bit disenchanted!
For fun and entertainment, go to the Scholastic Press' Harry Potter web site. There is a pronunciation guide, trivia quiz, owl post, screen saver and other items.
Goblet of Fire Alert!
<*> Ariann <*>
Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger return to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for their fourth year. Hogwarts has been chosen as the site of the Tri-Wizard Tournament, a sorcerous competition that hasn't taken place in over a century. One champion from each of the three wizarding schools, Hogwart's, Durmstrang and Beauxbatons, will compete in
three tasks to win the tournament and 1,000 gold pieces. Due to the deadliness of the tasks, only sixth- and seventh-year students are eligible to place their names in the Goblet of Fire for selection as their school champion.
One out of every 90 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire books is missing pages 595-626. In my case, I went back to Page One, where the nice people exchanged my book without subjecting me to the Spanish Inquisition. These mis-bound books are likely a plot by He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named to discredit Harry, so check your book before you buy it.