Hurray for Harry Potter!
by Deanna Hanson
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry Potter
and the Chamber of Secrets, and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of
Azkaban. Need I say more? J.K. Rowling has plans to
write four more Harry Potter books, and kids can’t get enough of them.
It’s hard to say exactly what makes Harry Potter so wildly popular.
Part of it may be that everyone loves to see the underdog become the
hero. Harry is an orphan who is raised by his very mean aunt and
uncle. He lives in the dark cupboard under the stairs (along with
the spiders) and is used as a punching bag by his horrid cousin Dudley.
But on his 11th birthday, Harry finds out that he is a wizard, and that
when he was a baby he was the only one with enough power to defeat the
evil Voldemort. Harry is rescued from the world of Muggles and
taken to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where he is known
as a hero and begins to fulfill the great destiny that’s been waiting
for him. Many of the books recommended below also feature
characters who discover their true identities and work through their own
challenges to go on to greatness.
Another reason that kids love these stories is that J.K. Rowling
has created a fantasy that is imaginative, unusual, funny, and fun!
Rowling takes the time to paint a picture that kids can really see.
Harry’s world never gets boring because there is a new surprise around
every corner. Peculiar words, intriguing characters, excitement
and adventure fill these stories. Many of the fantasies listed
below also take the reader into the “other worlds” created by their
authors.
The Harry Potter books also have a wickedly witty sense of humor
that kids (and adults) appreciate. Many of the series and
individual titles suggested below also feature this type of humor.
That may be why many of these great books are enjoyed by such a wide
range of ages.
The Harry Potter books also have very likable characters.
Harry and his friends Ron and Hermione are kids anyone would love to
have as buddies. Kids know they can trust the bumbling giant
Hagrid to try and protect Harry, and the wise wizard Dumbledore is
always fair even when they get into trouble. Many of the other
books listed also have characters that kids will like and want to cheer
for.
Finally, these books have a touch of darkness. They show the
classic struggle between good and evil. These books allow kids to
explore this struggle, and maybe after reading them they will somehow
understand themselves or the world a little better. These books
show that all people have strengths and weaknesses, and that sometimes
it is hard to tell good from bad. Many of the books recommended
below also explore good vs. evil.
