The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter & The Sorcerer's Stone 4.5/5
Harry Potter & The Chamber of Secrets 4/5
Harry Potter & The Prisoner of Azkaban 5/5
Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire 4.5/5
Harry Potter & The Order of the Phoenix 4/5
Harry Potter & The Half-Blood Prince 4.5/5
Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows 5/5

I was a tiny bit late to the Harry Potter bandwagon. The first title in the series, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, was released in the U.S. in 1998. I didn’t pick it up until mid 2002 at the suggestion of my then boyfriend (now husband) who had it lying around his apartment. Let’s be clear – I mocked him for both owning a children’s book and suggesting that I read it. But, since he has always been far more responsible than me, he began writing his paper for whatever graduate class had a deadline looming and I was left to choose between staring at the ceiling, going home, watching bad TV, or reading this ridiculous children’s novel. I chose the book. I think I may have finished it in one sitting. I also think it may be the reason why I am a librarian today. I always loved reading growing up but I somehow fell out of the habit of turning to a good book to cure boredom somewhere along the way, probably because debate and college in general dictated reading material. Harry Potter reminded me why I love books.

The Sorcerer’s Stone was the charming tale of a down on his luck English orphan who finds out he is a wizard on his 11th birthday. This knowledge brings with it a host of other information including why he is an orphan – his parents were killed by the most evil wizard of all time who also tried to kill Harry when he was just a baby leaving the lightning shaped scar on his forehead. There is a lot of set up in this book - a lot. In fact, the plot is sometimes lost in Rowling's need to prepare us for the rest of the series. Readers are exposed to the wonder that is Hogwart's School for Witchcraft and Wizardry - ghosts inhabit the castle's hallways; portrait subjects move among the various canvases; there is a marvelous and dangerous sport known as quidditch which requires players to fly on brooms; and much, much more. These details are the delight of the book as is Harry's friendship with Ron and Hermione, two of his classmates at Hogwarts. The three are determined to learn what is hidden on a forbidden floor of the castle, convinced that mean Professor Snape is up to no good. Together they discover that Lord Voldemort, the very wizard that killed Harry's parents, is trying to acquire the Sorcerer's Stone which will grant him everlasting immortality. Can these three friends stop him in time to save the wizarding world?


The second book in the series, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, is my least favorite. That doesn't mean I don't like it, only that compared to the others, it is not as captivating. In this installment, Harry returns to Hogwarts and resumes his friendship with Ron and Hermione. Readers learn more about the school's four houses -Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin. Each is named for one of the original founders of Hogwarts. Not long after the start of the school term, strange things start to happen in the castle. Students are being attacked by an unknown enemy. Strange messages announcing the return of Slytherin's heir are left on the walls. Most ominously, students are told that the Chamber of Secrets will be again be opened. A bit of research by the main trio reveals that 50 years ago a monster that lives within the Chamber killed a student at the school. The plot continues, Harry eventually saves the day, all is right in the world. CoS introduces us to new characters, new spells, and more back story. It is funny, imaginative and charming. Readers learn more about Harry's tie to the ominous Lord Voldemort. It is is excellent but simply my least favorite out of an all together extraordinary series.

Harry Potter & The Prisoner of Azkaban is the third in the series. If forced to pick a favorite, this would probably be it. Rowling hits her stride and the action is virtually non-stop. The book opens with Harry, now 13, spending another miserable summer with the Dursley Family where he is mistreated and often ignored. When Aunt Marge visits, her verbal abuse is enough to cause Harry to accidentally use magic in retaliation. This illegal act (underage wizards are forbidden to use magic outside of school)sends him on the run. He boards the Knight Bus, a phenominal piece of public transportation available to witches and wizards, and learns a prisoner recently escaped from the wizard prion, Azkaban. Sirius Black is a known mass murderer and supporter of the evil Lord Voldemort. Officials at the Ministry of Magic are very concerned - so much so that they overlook Harry's misuse of Magic in favor of getting him safely back to Hogwarts, where the adventure, of course, continues. It is difficult to write about the plots of these books without giving too much away. Suffice it to say Harry, Ron and Hermione are very busy! This book really serves as a transition in the series. The plot is darker, the kids are more mature, the subject matter is at times ominous. It's excellence stems from the way Rowling reveals the complexity of this world in which she has immersed readers. Plot points that seemed inconsequential in the first two books are suddenly fraught with meaning. Readers cannot help but wonder which new details in this book will have significant consequences in future installments. All of this and we are introduced to Sirius Black and Remus Lupin - both of whom I LOVE! It doesn't get much better.

Dragons and Danger and Death, oh my! Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire carries on the precedents set by the first three books - more magic, new characters and a lot of action. From the Quidditch World Cup where Lord Voldemort's supporters crash the party, to the Tri-Wizard Tournament, an event that brings competitors from three different magical schools together to compete for fame and glory, Harry and his friends face new and more difficult challenges. In addition to the threats these events bring, the kids, now 14, must deal with many of the same issues facing adolesents everywhere - including crushes on the opposite sex. Ron realizes it's not always easy being the best friend of someone as famous as Harry. Harry learns that mediocrity may be more desreable than fame. Hermione learns that being in the middle is the worst place of all. The kids are growing up and so are the readers - which means Voldemort returns in a horriffic way, we see our first deaths in the plot and the challenges our fearless trio face are far more dangerous.

Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix sees 15 year old Harry on an emotional roller coaster. Not everyone believes the events of last year. Some, including the Minister of Magic, outright accuse him of lying about Voldemort's return. When he and his muggle cousin are attacked by Dementors, the Ministry tries to expel him for using magic out school. These events precipitate his being moved to the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix, a secret organization of witches and wizards determined to fight Voldemort. The headquarters also happens to be the familial home of his godfather, Sirius Black. While there, Harry, Ron and Hermione learn more about Voldemort's tactics, which include infiltrating the Minsitry. When he returns to Hogwarts there is a new teacher on staff who also happens to ba a ministry official. She refuses to allow any students to learn defensive magic and repeatedly punishes Harry for his "lies." It is now up to Harry to prepare his friends to fight. Throw in the fact that he goes on his first date, has regular nightmares that seem to be coming true, and is facing end of year exams that will determine his future. It all adds up to a thrilling ride with a heart-breaking conclusion as Harry discovers he cannot save everyone.

Harry Potter & the Half Blood Prince keeps with tradition by getting progressively darker, revealing more surprises and increasing the stakes for Harry and his friends. Dumbledore takes Harry under his wing and continues to groom the sixteen year old wizard for his inevitable fututre. Previously minor characters leap to center stage. The war between good and evil is in full effect which, of course, means more people die. Rowling begins to reward readers' infinite patience by revealing more secrets than ever before. Relationships take priority as Harry falls in love with Ginny, Ron gets a girlfriend and Hermione gets her heart broken. Harry takes several trips into Dumbledore's penseive (think pool of memories) and is asked to seek out another person's memories of a young Voldemort. The action ramps up in the final chapters as Harry and Dumbledore travel to a cave full of Voldemort's traps and return to another ambush at Hogwarts. We see the first real battle as students and Deatheaters alike fight for their lives within the castle. Harry must again face the death of a loved one and this time, readers will cry too.

I know a lot of people did not like Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Quite frankly, I really believe those people would not have liked any conclusion to their beloved series. I admit that I was terrified to read it. What if Rowling got it wrong??? I should have had more faith. I think think the most apt description of this book is, "Satisfying." I think all required answers were given. I think all the necessary characters were fleshed out. I think justice was served. I cried on at least three seperate occasions in the story. The complaints I have heard most often are:

1) The three main characters were on the run for too long.
2) (Insert character name here) died.
3) (Insert character name here) did not die.
4) It's all just one big Christ allegory.

To which I respond:

1) No one, including Dumbledore, said Harry's job was going to be easy. I don't understand this complaint, they weren't just sitting there. They were always planning even when they had zero idea what was going on. Also, SOMETHING had to happen to move Ron and Hermione's relationship along.

2) Yes,(Insert character name here) died. It's war, that happens.

3) Correct,(Insert character name here) did not die. I commend Rowling for never being gratuitious. Everything happens for a reason. I expected certain people to die too. I'm glad I was wrong.

4) If you didn't recognize the Christ allegory until this book, you obviously skipped the first six books.

There was action, love, death and huge battle of good vs. evil. I know why people did what they did. I learned that redemption can be found in the oddest of places. I understand a little bit better what true friendship really means. I am satisfied.

When You Reach Me by Rachel Stead

4/5

I usually don't like books aimed at the youngest of young adult readers. Not because they are bad but because they often just don't appeal to me. When I try to read these books, I often feel like I'm the big jerk in a relationship...you know the one who says, "It's not you, it's me!" There are exceptions of course (a certain boy wizard leaps to mind) but, generally, I am more entertained by plots aimed at older teens. For that reason, I am always excited to find books intended for my youngest patrons that I can say I truly enjoyed. When you Reach Me is one of those.

WYRM is set in late 1970s New York and follows 12 year old Miranda during a turbulent time in her life. Her best friend is ignoring her completely, she begins receiving strange notes that seem to predict the future, and she is developing her fisrt crush on a boy. Her activist mother is preparing to compete on the $20,000 Pyramid, the social pressures of school are building, and she has to contemplate complex issues of race and class that didn't seem to matter in elementary school. On top of all of this, she is trying to wrap her brain around the concept of time travel, a theory that plays a prominent role in her favorite book, A Wrinkle in Time, and keeps coming up in conversation with the strange boy who lives above a shop in her neighborhood.

This book captures both time and place magnificently. Stead’s descriptions of Miranda’s neighborhood and the people in her life are vivid. Readers can easily picture everyone from the crazy homeless person who lives on the corner to the friendly old grocer who feeds Miranda vitamin C to the thugs who hang out in front of a car shop cat-calling to all the girls who walk by. Despite its realistic vibe, the ending is truly a surprise that will please fans of the fantasy genre. To be quite honest, I always can guess the ending (I knew Bruce Willis was dead long before he figured it out in the Sixth Sense) but the ending of this one was not only a surprise but the perfect conclusion to a great story. I will for sure be recommending this for grades five and above.

The Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Ummmm/5

I wanted to like this book - mainly because so many other people seem to. I had a really hard time getting into it. I'll admit that I didn't give it much of a chance, maybe 30 pages, but it usually doesn't even take me that long to get drawn into a story. On a snowy, February day I actually put this down and started re-reading The Hunger Games. Maybe I just wasn't in the right mood, perhaps I needed the comfort of a tried and true favorite, possibly I was distracted by real life...whatever. The fact of the matter is that reading this book felt like a chore. No thanks.

I used to feel guilty if I didn't finish a book I started. That is no longer the case. I refuse to waste time reading things that don't appeal to me...I had to do that for too many years in college. That said, there's a fair chance I will revisit this title at a later date because I still feel like I should like it. Maybe. Maybe not.

Copper Sun by Sharon Draper

4/5


Copper Sun is a work of historical fiction chronicling one girl’s journey from her African village through the stark realities of slavery. Fifteen year old Amari lives an idyllic life – she loves the handsome, hardworking boy she is supposed to marry; adores her little brother; and works hard to learn the ways of her tribe. All of that changes when white strangers attack. She soon finds herself in chains, forced to walk for days toward the coast. Anyone with even the basest knowledge of history can guess the general plot that follows but Draper manages to make Amari’s story heart-wrenching, suspenseful and endearing.

An interesting twist is that once purchased by the highest bidder, Amari meets Polly, a white indentured servant who belongs to the same farmer. The author gives Polly her own narrative and begins alternating sections of the book between the girls. This technique forces readers to acknowledge just how significant race was during this era. While Polly endures many of the same abuses Amari does, her skin color does indeed influence her treatment and outlook on life. Eventually the girls escape together which presents an entirely new set of obstacles but I’ll leave those for readers to discover.

The above description is a pretty tame version of the book. The truth of the matter is Draper does not sugar coat the atrocities that were slavery. Her description of the conditions slaves were forced to endure on the boats to America actually made me physically ill. The acts of violence and emotional abuse she reveals made me put down the book and walk away on more than one occasion. That said, I really think this book is appropriate for teenagers. The graphic descriptions are never gratuitous; they are tempered with moments of tenderness and even humor. I usually don’t like YA historical fiction as if often feels like the author is trying to force the lessons of the past down readers’ unwilling throats. Draper’s lesson is an easy if bitter pill to swallow.

The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer

4/5
I have to admit, I am afraid to post this entry. I have a sickening feeling that no matter what I write, people will be angry (assuming anyone ever reads this blog). Rarely do books come along that stir such strong feelings in both fans and detractors…but that’s exactly why I think writing about them is important.

In case you live under a rock, the Twilight Saga is a four book series that follows high school student Bella Swan as she moves to the tiny town of Forks, Washington to live with her father. She soon learns that fairy tales and the monsters that inhabit them are not always make-believe as she becomes the central figure of a love triangle involving a vampire and a werewolf. Can Bella survive in their supernatural world? Will true love really conquer all? Do fairy tales always have a happy ending? The Twilight Saga answers these and many more questions.


Let me start out by saying I KNOW I should not like these books. I accept, even embrace, that fact. But I do. And I don’t just like them, I puffy heart them (if you know me, you know that’s saying something)! I freely acknowledge the many faults of the series – the writing is often terrible and the editing is even worse; the star-crossed lover story is not at all new and Meyer does nothing to reinvent an age-old theme – in fact she often just borrows plot lines from the classics; the ending is far too perfect – EVERYONE gets exactly what they want, even if they didn’t know they wanted it; the final book, Breaking Dawn, takes so many sharp turns, the reader is in danger of getting whiplash. The list of problems could go on and on. Guess what? I DON’T CARE. Here’s why:

1) It is a series for today’s teens. Many of them had never even heard of, let alone read, Romeo and Juliette or Wuthering Heights before devouring this series. Now they are fans of these classics because they wanted to read what Bella and Edward read.

2) The characters are extremely well-developed. Each book reveals more of the history of each character and allows readers to understand why they behave the way they do.

3) I disagree with the scholars. I know several academics have published learned papers as to why Bella Swan is the anti-feminist. She is often seen as the damsel in distress. I think these interpretations are the easiest reads of the text. Personally, I think it makes sense that the only non-mythical creature in the story occasionally requires saving – not because she is female but because she is human. One need only look at Alice, Esme and Rosalie to recognize that not all women are weak.

Other scholars say her happiness is dependent on having a man which is a serious blow to feminism. She centers her entire identity around the male(s) in her life. If she is not Edward’s girlfriend, who is she? Oh, she’s Jacob’s best friend. I really find this laughable…the boys are equally as dependent on her! Both Edward and Jacob are willing to die rather than lose Bella. Call it a story of co-dependency if anything, but I like to think of it as a tale about the power of true love. It’s easier to see Bella’s weaknesses because the story is told from her point of view, but that doesn’t mean hers are the only ones worth examining.

Finally, these scholarly arguments can be applied to just about any star-crossed lover novel in existence. If you are truly concerned about the effect such tales have on young girls’ identity and self esteem, I would hope you are actively attempting to provide a counter example for them to model in real life. Quite frankly, if a girl is old enough to read the Twilight Saga, she is old enough for you to have conversations with her about the very issues mentioned above. Learning moment anyone?

4) Edward Cullen is awesome. Personally, I am still waiting for my husband to leave a note on my pillow saying, “Take care of my heart, I’ve left it with you.” And, before any of you say anything like he’s a stalker, over-protective or anything else, let’s try to remember he always tries to act in Bella’s best interest – not a trait one finds in most abusive relationships.

5) Lastly, can we please stop taking everything so damn seriously??? At the most basic level this is a series for teens about vampires and werewolves. Maybe we should stop reading into it and just read it! I find it difficult to be overly-critical of any titles that get millions of young people to put down the video game controllers and pick up a book.

By The Time You Read This I'll Be Dead by Julie Anne Peters

3.5/5

Really, Julie Anne Peters? Really?? I give you three hours of my life, devour every word on your 224 pages and you pay me back with that ending???...Sigh...SIGH! Ok, I won't spoil it for everyone else.

Daelyn Rice has tried to kill herself in the past. She doesn't consider those suicide attempts, she considers them suicide failures. She plans to be successful this time with the help of a website dedicated to helping "completers." As she navigates the various message boards on the site, Daelyn reveals to the reader the reasons behind her desire to die. We are also given glimpses into the effects her previous suicide attempts have had on her physically and mentally.

BTTYRTIBD is one of many books out today that deals with the consequences of bullying. Daelyn's past is indeed heartbreaking. Her parents' attempts to save her are both heroic and frustrating. Her whole-hearted commitment to completing is complicated by relationships old and new. Should she kill herself when the boy with cancer fights so hard to live? Should she die and leave another girl as the next victim for the bullies? Does her parents' failure to understand deserve a life sentence of grief?

What makes this book stand out is the subtlety the author uses in revealing the methods and consequences of Daelyn's past suicide attempts. It would have been easy for the author to reveal too much too soon. Her restraint is impressive and reinforces the belief that Daelyn is truly willing to walk away from this life. The ending is not delivered in a pretty package. Resolutions do not come easy. The reader will have many questions to ponder...just like the friends and family of completers everywhere.