book review of the harry potter

A review of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone By J. K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone By J. K. Rowling Bloomsbury Pub Ltd Paperback: 224 pages, Feb 2000, ISBN-13: 978-0747532743

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J. K. Rowling is a book about bravery and courage. As Professor Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, says “It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.”

I enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it for muggles aged eleven and up. This is the first in the seven book Harry Potter series. I think readers must read Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone before reading the other books in the series, as this book sets the scene for the Harry Potter world.

As the title suggests, the main character in this book is Harry James Potter, also known as the boy who lived. The book follows Harry in his first year at Hogwarts, where he meets Hermione Jean Granger, a genius, and Ronald Bilius Weasley, a red head with six siblings.

When he was just a baby, Harry’s parents were killed by a Dark Arts wizard named Voldemort. Voldemort also tried to kill Harry but failed, leaving Harry with a scar in the shape of a lightning bolt on his forehead, and giving him the title the boy who lived. On the night of his parents’ death, Harry was placed on the doorstep of his aunt and uncle, the Dursley’s, much to their displeasure.

“Harry – yer a wizard” Harry was told on his eleventh birthday. With this news, he left the Dursley’s grasp for Hogwarts.

Harry, Ron and Hermione discover that in a room in the Forbidden Corridor on the third floor at Hogwarts, covered by spells and curses, lays the one and only Philosopher’s Stone – a stone that can transform any metal into pure gold and also produces the Elixir of Life, which will make the drinker immortal. During his time at Hogwarts, Harry develops the feeling that his potions teacher Professor Snape hates him, and has a gut feeling that Snape will try and steal the stone. One night, Harry, Ron and Hermione sneak up to the Forbidden Corridor to get the stone before Snape does. The trio pass through challenging obstacles. In the end, Harry has to finish the mission on his own and to his surprise, it’s not at all what he expected.

The theme of this story is magic and mystery. Nothing is as it seems, with changes at every turn.

This book is unlike any other; J. K. Rowling has opened the door to a whole new world of reading. Those readers who enjoy the Scarlet and Ivy series by Sophie Cleverly should also enjoy the Harry Potter series.

About the reviewer: Cleo was Commended in the 2019 Hunter Writers’ Centre/Compulsive Reader Review competition. She is in Grade 6 and her favourite subjects are novel study, reading groups and writing. Cleo has participated in the Premier’s Reading Challenge since she started school. Cleo plays as the Goal Shooter and Goal Attack in her local netball team, which she loves. Cleo’s dream is to have a dog and she is yet to know what she wants to be in the future.

muddledmumbles

Book review: the harry potter series by j.k. rowling.

Over the last month or so I have re-read the entire Harry Potter book series by J.K. Rowling . Something I haven’t done since I was a child. It reminded me why I feel in love with reading, a throwback to my childhood. A must read for everyone everywhere.

The series consists of seven books. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is the first book in the series. I gave it 5 stars. From the first chapter you are drawn into this fantastic world and that you just want to be part of. An adventure from the beginning to the very end. The friendship between Harry, Ron and Hermione is also developed so naturally. I also love how much more assertive Harry is compared to the films.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is the second book in the series. I was surprised how much I enjoyed this book as it is my least favorite film in the series; I gave it 3 stars. There is so much cut out of the film compared to the book. I also love the introduction of Tom Riddle . Every villain needs a beginning.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was a 4-star read. I only marked it down as it did drag a tiny bit. Remus Lupin and Sirius Black are brilliant additions to the world. They provide a new layer of History to the world. They add back story and a new list of emotions for Harry to deal with.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is a 5-star read. J.K. Rowling really stepped up her game with the introduction of the Triwizard Tournament ; I was hooked. I really enjoyed how the friendship between Harry and Ron was tested and how the relationship between Hermione and Harry blossomed. You really felt that they were friends through thick and thin. This book contained so much in its pages and all of it seemed relevant. The ending was so shocking, I couldn’t wait to pick up the next edition in the series.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was really long. The narrative was interesting, but I found it drawn out in parts. I only gave it 3 stars. I may have just be overloaded with info, but I found the climax hard to follow. There were a lot of characters and I felt it difficult to follow each strand of the battle. The ending was heart-breaking, another loss for the boy who has lost so much already.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was a 4-star read. I loved the expansion of the friendship group into the other houses besides Gryffindor lot. I felt in this book you got a real sense that the characters had matured. The twist and turns still surprised me after all these years. The twist at the end made me tear up. A twist that I didn’t see coming.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was a fantastic end to the series. A 4-star read, I only marked it down as I felt that it was a slow start to the action. This book had more twists and turns than a roller coaster. It incorporated so much and made a call back to each and every book in the series. I felt I didn’t fully appreciate this book the first time I read it. The characters throughout the series all play such critical roles both big and small.

J.K. Rowling has created something amazing with this series. Stories that don’t age and can be passed down. There is no age limit, they can be enjoyed by young and old. I think I’ll make it an annual read. I think I might even treat myself to the illustrated version for my next excursion into the fantastic wizarding world of Harry Potter .

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The latest book reviews and book news, harry potter and the sorcerer’s stone: book review.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone novel by J. K. Rowling

A novel that needs no introduction is Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J. K. Rowling. It is the novel that has shaped the lives of millions of readers and is still one of the most read novels today! Keep reading to find out why this novel and series is as popular as it is.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone Summary

On his eleventh birthday, Harry Potter finds out he is a wizard and will be attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Before then, Harry did not even know that magic was real or that he was famous. As Harry learns about his past and his parents who died protecting him, he prepares to embark on a new journey.

Harry arrives at Hogwarts and becomes friends with two of his classmates Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger. The trio all are members of house Gryffindor and help each other pass the first year at Hogwarts. But as they find out throughout the course of the year, they will face many challenges and enemies.

Suspicious activity at Hogwarts like a three-headed dog guarding a trap door and a troll somehow entering and attacking Hogwarts makes the trio suspicious. Harry, Ron, and Hermione soon discover Professor Dumbledore is hiding something at Hogwarts and someone is trying hard to steal it. As the first years try to manage the workload, they must also stop whoever is after the secret artifact before it is used by the dark forces at the school.

Originally published as Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in the United Kingdom in 1997, within the first six months of release, the children’s book took off. When Scholastic bought the U.S. rights, Scholastic’s Arthur Levine believes that the title wouldn’t work for American readers. After some discussion, the novel’s title was changed to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone which was suggested by Rowling.

Rowling went on to say that she wished she hadn’t changed it but since it was her first novel, she didn’t have as much leverage. The title change was not necessary and makes it a bit confusing for some people. The good thing is that that is the only novel where that happened. Maybe Scholastics should give readers a little bit more credit.

I was first introduced to the Harry Potter world by the movies. As a kid, I was always intimidated but the size of the Harry Potter novels and did not believe I would be able to read a book that big. It was later on in my life that I tackled bigger novels and even later when I finally read the Harry Potter novels.

I fell in love with the novels wholeheartedly. The writing is great, the characters are wonderful, and the overarching plot and how everything connects was done perfectly. One thing the movies never did well was showcase Harry’s struggle of not having a family and his loneliness. In the novel, we see how they affect Harry’s state of mind and acting out because of those feelings, something the movies don’t do that well.

This novel and the whole Harry Potter series should be read by every reader in my opinion. Not everyone has to like it but reading it and finding that whether you do or not should be a test given to everyone. It will get a lot if children into reading and that is always a great end result. Expect reviews for all the novels in the series in the coming months!

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In the first paragraph u wrote eep instead of keep… XD

Thanks I’ll fix it now 🙂

I used to be a huge fan of the movies but never read the books. It’s always interesting to hear the differences. Good to know that the book expands on the characters a bit more!

The entire series ends differently in the books than in the movies. the boom ending in Deadly Hallow makes much more sense.

My daughter made sure all her copies were the the UK versions

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these series made a reader out of me, thanks for sharing 🙂

Thanks for reading! 👍

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I also saw the movies first. It wasn’t until after “The Goblet of Fire” film came out that I started reading the books. But I read the 4th one first, and the rest out of order, until “The Deathly Hallows” book was released. Not too long ago, I started rereading the 1st “Harry Potter” novel, and picked up on some new details and moments that I’d missed before, including some dark ones.

Rereading them now and there’s a lot that you realize that you missed. Rowling thought it all out!

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I love Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s stone also known as. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.

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The cover was good, but I read a little, and I thought that if I read more it would be more interesting. Well, beyond interesting, but my new favorite book!

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Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by JK Rowling (Harry Potter: Book 1)

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by JK Rowling book cover

The Philosopher’s Stone is the first in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series of seven novels that have made her the most successful literary author of all time, selling in excess of 400 million copies world-wide. The books are read and enjoyed by children and adults alike and have also been made into hugely popular films.

Do the Harry Potter books live up to the hype? When I first began reading the Philosopher’s stone I was immediately struck by how good - and laugh-out-loud funny - the humour was. You usually need to read a Terry Pratchett novel to ensure constant laughter throughout but Rowling has managed to infuse this book with a lovely wit and charm that will both amuse and delight adults and children.

Here is an example, with the ending being particularly good:

"Harry was frying eggs by the time Dudley arrived in the kitchen with his mother. Dudley looked a lot like Uncle Vernon. He had a large, pink face, not much neck, small, watery blue eyes and thick, blond hair that lay smoothly on his thick, fat head. Aunt Petunia often said that Dudley looked like a baby angel – Harry often said that Dudley looked like a pig in a wig." Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone: The Vanishing Glass

There are characters in this book that will remind us of all the people we have met. Everybody knows or knew a spoilt, overweight boy like Dudley or a bossy and interfering (yet kind-hearted) girl like Hermione. A large number of the younger readers will also be able to easily identify with Harry, especially with his initial feelings of isolation and not belonging, and then through to his excitement at finally leaving that life behind in favour of one where he belongs and will be happy.

When Harry begins his first term at Hogwarts (a wizarding school) he is not alone in being overawed:

‘Yeh’ll get yer firs’ sight of Hogwarts in a sec,’ Hagrid called over his shoulder, ‘jus’ round this bend here.’ There was a loud ‘Oooooh!” The narrow path had opened suddenly on to the edge of a great black lake. Perched atop a high mountain on the other side, its windows sparkling in the starry sky, was a vast castle with many turrets and towers. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone: The Journey From Platform Nine and Three-Quarters

Hogwarts is a truly magical place, not only in the most obvious way but also in all the detail that the author has gone to describe it so vibrantly. It is the place that everybody wishes they could of gone to when they where eleven. And there many adventures befall the trio (Harry, Ron and Hermione) and the stone in the book's title is centre to all that happens. The story builds towards and exciting conclusion that has the ultimate feel-good factor.

J.K. Rowling should be commended for getting so many people reading and excited by books. The biggest surprise must be the effect that this novel had on the adult population, both male and female - at the time the books were published many a commuting train was spotted with Harry Potter books providing world-weary workers with a wonderful sense of escapism. This book is highly recommended to anybody between the ages of 8 and 80.

Is all the hype about the Harry Potter books justified? In a word, yes, the books are a joy to read and possibly the most rewarding young adult’s book since The Hobbit.

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Review by Amanda White

136 positive reader review(s) for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

380 positive reader review(s) in total for the Harry Potter series

JK Rowling biography

Harry Potter

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (Harry Potter: Book 1)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Harry Potter: Book 2)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter: Book 3)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter: Book 4)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter: Book 5)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter: Book 6)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter: Book 7)

Noona from Australia

This book is satisfyingly good, the entire idea of having a young boy who’s parents die in the hands in an blood thirsty super villain isn’t that unique... *cough* *cough* *Batman*. But she makes it so original with hoggwards and the mirror makes this book so good

Athena-Jayde from New Zealand

Best book of all time love the writing and the dream J.k Rowling is my all time favorite writer

Anon from UK

I never thought I'd enjoy Harry Potter so much! It's become my favourite series and absolutely LOVE the magic and everything about the book honestly. You can never get bored and all the chapters always leave you asking tons of questions! Love it! P.S. Joanne Rowling- I love your books. Keep on doing, what you're doing! You are such an amazing author and angel. 😃

Samuel from Australia

Could not tear my eyes away from this book.

Haniya from Pakistan

Harry Potter is the best English novel I read.

Priyal from India

We all know that the book is fab, but have you ever wondered , what if J.K. Rowling ended the book with the the last line saying- '' and then Harry woke up from the dream lying in the cupboard under the stairs....''

Great book for young and old, I have read it so many times i could say it word for word. I think that it is one of the best books that I have ever read.

Anonymous from Rather not Say

An interesting beginning for the award-winning series. This, unlike the other Harry Potters, wasn’t that good. Nearly each on got better. But some kids may find this book boring and lose interest. It just doesn’t have the action and sci-fi like the rest. Philosopher’s Stone: 6/10 Chamber of Secrets: 7/10 Prisoner of Azkaban: 9/10 Goblet of Fire: 9/10 Order of the Phoenix: 10/10 Half-Blood Prince: 6/10 Deathly Hallows: 9/10 Cursed Child: 2/10 Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them: 5/10 The Tales of Beedle the Bard: 4/10

Beauty Queen from India

It was very nice book. I am still reading it even after 100 times. It interesting you see I am a fast reader so I completed the book in 1 day. It tells about how Harry Potter a wizard and how his parents were murdered so he had only one relative his mom's sister Aunt Petunia and her family. Then a letter arrives at his house but his uncle won't let him see it but a giant named Hagrid the gamekeeper says the truth that he was an wizard like he studied in the school Hogwarts the magic school and made some friends too. But he needed to save the philosopher stone from the deadly wizard named Lord Voldemort but the problem was his least favorite teacher Snape who Harry thinks works for Voldemort but that isn't the end but I don't want to be a surprise spoiler so read it yourself I felt it was a good book. How about you?

Anoymous from Somewhere

Very good book. I had read it for more than 5 times.

Anonymous from Somewhere

It’s OK. There’s been better Harry Potters. But Artemis Fowl is more enjoyable.

Mia from Australia

This is the Summary Harry Potter he a kid on his eleventh birthday a big giant man name Hagrid told him that he was a wizard and his parents were witch and wizard too he never knew that he was famous. He started at Hogwarts. Harry made some new friends name Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger there found a three head dog name Fluffy and there need to find out what in that trap door let the magic begin. This is plot When Harry Potter start Hogwarts school of wizard and witchery and Find out what happen to his parents and he find the murder of his parents his name is Voldemort. This is imagery and symbolism That in Harry Potter has a lot of bright colours and some dark colours. Book is mostly about how Harry starts and through the year of Hogwarts. One of the may symbols are Harry scar because he the boy who lived right after Voldemort disappeared. Themes are magic, Friendship and Love because it shows the magic in Hogwarts, friendship between Harry, Ron and Hermione and love between Harry and his mother and father who Harry lose.

Bill from UK

Harry Potter are the greatest books ever. I really enjoy these books the most book I like is The Prisoner of Azkaban because Buckbeak who is a magical creature is cute and the best it is the best book I have.

Sanu from Australia

It enthralled me and I finished all the books in grade 3. But I re-read them and still do! These wonderful masterpieces are perfect for kids and adults. Take a look at it.

Samiya from Bangladesh

Only one thing can say, the book is awesome and every moment and every chapter is incredible. It is the best book I ever read.

Harry Potter are the greatest books ever. I really enjoy these books, the book I likemost is The Prisoner of Azkaban because Buckbeak, who is a magical creature, is cute and the best. It is the best book I have.

Rose from Holly wood

Maria from Pakistan

This book has had me taken into another land in which i remain till now...even though i finished the whole series! I simply cannot get enough of harry potter and i highly recommend this book if you guys love fantasy and a bit of wizard action!😍😍😘😊

Rachel from United Kingdom

Simply the best!

Anna from United States

I don't like fantasy books. This is my one time I have to go against it. Harry Potter is in my top 2 favorite books of all time. It's amazing with all the unique things that you see around the magic world. You will have to think again when you chose a favourite book.

Suzanna from Wales

One of the best book series ever!! Charming and Witty, you just cant put the book down.

Nicole Fernando from Sri Lanka

Harry’s perfectly normal life at number 4 privet drive becomes extraordinary when he finds out that he is a wizard and Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry will teach him all he needs to know.Ignoring his aunt’s and uncle’s(Mr. and Mrs.Dursley) screams of protests Harry ventures into the wizarding world. But even in The wizarding world bad things happen like, the evil wizard ,Voldemort who killed who many innocent people( including Harry’s parents ) coming back to life.Even though Harry escaped from Voldemort once, Harry is not certain he can do it again.Join Harry Potter and his newly found friends Ron Weasly and Hermione Granger to save the wizarding World.Can they do it? Find out in Harry Potter and the philosopher’s stone . This book is great for all ages.The author J.K Rowling created a world full of adventure,fun and mystical places and creatures.This is only the first book from a set of seven.People all around the world would love this series.This book is one of the greatest books I have ever read.

Anna from UK

It’s very good because I enjoy it and it makes me wanna read it a lot and see what happens next.

Anjitha from India

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is one of my favourite books in the Harry Potter series. Reading this book has made me crazy about Harry Potter and I wish to be one among the magical community. I can't imagine how thrilled I would be if I get a letter from Dumbledore saying that I am admitted to Hogwarts!!!!!!!

Cira from Canada

This book made me feel like I was taken to another land. I love it and others should too. I really enjoyed the humpr and thrill that were somehow mixed together into a perfect story. J.K Rowling has that little touch that makes everyone LOVE her books. EVeryone needs to buy it!

Risha from India

One of the best books I've read. Highly recommend it. It's for all ages and it's the best! Humour, thrill, action and a little love. A combo of everything.

Amber from India

It was the best book I had ever read. The first book was a blast. J.k Rowling has really outdone herself this time.I am reading the 7th book now, and it seems to be really interesting. Young readers, I am advising you to start reading Harry Potter, as it is truly amazing and interesting to boost your imagination..... The magical world of Harry Potter is includes dangerous, fun and legendary adventures, starring Hermione Granger, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley, who are three best friends in this fabulous story. They fought together against many fantastic and dangerous creatures, and came across many obstacles. Finally, it was the time, for Harry Potter to fight against the most powerful, dangerous wizard all the magical people could think of. You wanna know more about this legendary adventure, then reading the Harry Potter series is the best way possible.

Jotaro from Japan

It is very good.

Samit from India

Truly amazing

Neil from Malta

Purely amazing.

Sofia from Mexico

It was good.

Ava from Australia

Get ready to wave your wand, for this wizardry adventure. It start off with a young boy not knowing that he's a wizard until his 11th birthday, on his journey to Hogwarts Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) makes amazing friends with Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) and Ron Wealsy (Rupert Grint). On learning how to prounce the famous spells like wingardium leviosa, lumos and alohomara, but in every story there's a troubling part were Harry fights for his life.

Jade from UK

This book is the only book I read because nothing else is interesting for me and I could never stop re-reading it.By now I must of read the Harry Potter series 20 times,they are just WOW and AMAZING.I would recommend this book to anyone!

Aoife from Ireland

Just perfect.

Amaal from Austrailia

It is definitely the best book I've ever read! I need to read all!!!! :) SO AMAZING! I now know 100% understand why J.K. Rowling is the most successful and richest author there is! 9.9 STARS!

Palak from India

i have read harry potter book it was amazing i like it

Sofia from USA

Harry Potter and the philospher's stone is one of the best series I have read it more than 8 times

Namratha from India

This is amazing I love it 😙😙😙😙😙😙

Shravani from India

I really loved Harry Potter series. It is one of the greatest fictions for children. The writing, the character development is very good. I really liked it.

Harry from Australia

Best book series if you ask me. I have read each book over 15 times except The Order of the Phoenix and Goblet of Fire. JK Rowling's writing is better than any other writing. I love Emma Watson / Hermione Granger. I have loved Harry Potter since I was in year 2.

Manya Rathore from India

It is the most interesting book I have ever read and It is a wizard story and is a inspirative story.

carissa from singpore

I LOVE harry potter so much that I can read the whole book series like about 20 times. I think that everyone should a lest try reading Harry Potter .

Mubeen from India

When i started reading harry potter and the philosophers stone i was unable to stop myself by reading i read it continously and i hd cmpltd it in just one day without getting bored.....these are the amazing book series i hv ever read....i would luv to read it again and again..

Juveriya from India

I love the harry potter series

Katie from 1 Direction Fandom

Get ready for swish and flick and wingardium leviosa! The best part is the last against Lord Voldemort.

Imogen from UK

Good book =-)

Electra from Greece

I love Harry Potter and I love the Philosopher's Stone so much because it is the book where all the magic began.

Olivia Myers from Australia

I love Harry Potter but I would rather watch the move than read the book :}

Heramb from Australia

Harry Potter was the best book series I've ever read and it is beast. If I could I would rate this 2,000,000 stars out of ten!

Ben from UK

Definitely advise reading these books.

Sanjanaa from India

I like Harry Potter.

Thomas from America

AMAZING! RECOMMEND IT!!!

Aaradhana from India

Whatever it has use for us , whatever it teaches , friendship , believe in magic , confidence in ourselves , whatever , its the craziest thing i have ever read or ever known in my life...I just go mad and imagine myself in that world and actually i wont ever be tired of reading it if its even 100 times 😃😃😃😇😇😌😌 I just love it n u r the most imp part of life-review of others who just shown me that its what makes the harry potter the best story ever atleast fr me... its my life. If i would even be of 50 yrs or more i won't stop admiring it and readinb... yes i am not the best fan but fr me its the best book/series 😁😁 Love u harry pottrr stories.... and yeah 1 thing i forgot to tell u i am really a great fan of Draco Malfoy/TOM FELTON....😍😍�...😄......was that too much to read!!!!�......

Rachana from India

What a nice book it was!

Keira from Canada

This book review is magical and helps me understand what this book is about. Also in my class we are making book reviews and you have helped me alot with exmaples! Thanks.

Frutopia10 from New Zealand

It was awesome! A book that is unforgettable! Even though the series gets better and better this book is a all time favorite for me.

Hemanth from India

This is the book that everyone has to read in their lifetime and the graphics are awesome. Thanks to J. K. Rowling for giving us a awesome book and after reading I realised why the book is so famous.

Akash from India

This book is so amazing. That I can't narrate and Ys I have decided to know what people are so much crazy about these series. At last the thinking of writer is lunatically awesome!!!!

Abcd1234 from Israel

An amazing start for an equally amazing series . The plot is immersive, it takes you by the hands and pulls you into the books. I Read the whole seven books in a row. Must read!!!

Lily from Australia

OMG! this book is amazing. JK Rowling is really good with words i have read this book 100 times i love it keep up the good work JK

Sahla from UK

The magic begins!!! This book is bewitchingly beautiful. I have read all of the Harry Potter books including the Cursed Child and I have to admit that this one never gets old! All book lovers across the world, children or adults, can enjoy this book. Honestly I believe no one can ever say they hate this book true to their heart unless their pathological liars.

Annie from India

This book is amazing. I really like that and I think everyone also like this boo . This book show a philosopher's stone that amazing and their wand spells superb . Thanks to J.K Rowling that gives us very interesting book.

Savannah from Australia

This book is amazing.

Satwika from India

AMAZING!!! I love the book. It is my all time favorite. I am dieing to go to a magical school like Hogwarts. I am inspired to write a fantasy novel.

Harry Potter Fan😍 from Hogwarts

I love this book. I saw the movie and have read the book a million times now!!! (LOL)😍😃😘

Ahmed from Saudi arabia

Awesome Book but chapter one was very boring plzz in the next series dont write all those kind of stuffs. Plzz begin the story neatly and nicely

Sohini from India

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is written by J.K Rowling. Even By reading this small summary I am well liked of the story. And really from now I like Harry Potter.

N from Ireland

AMAZING 😁

Sophie from UK

It was Fantastic!

MAISHA from INDIA

It's a fabulous book, I had heard about it from my friends, and when I found it very interesting. It was like I am in the story watching everything happening. I will now start to read the second book. From my point of view, I feel that JK ROWLING IS THE BEST WRITER IN THE WORLD IN THIS GENERATION.

David from US

The first book in the Harry Potter series has much going for it but I think it is the humour that stands out most for. It is many things but I just found it plain funny. Consistently. This is fantasy in its purest form and it offers wonderful escapement and wish-fulfilment. When a book becomes as massively popular as this those who do not like it tend to really hate it. But make up your own mind - if a school for wizards and oodles of adventure and excitement sound like your type of thing then your not going to find much better than this.

Great story mixed with fantastic world - building combine to form a literary classic of immense proportions.

Emma from America

Chamber of Secrets is the classic that started a classic story about the boy who lived. The book features well rounded characters, a mysterious plot, and heartwarming world-building.

Jessica from Australia

It's amazing! I recommend this book to all ages ❤️

Indrajeet from India

Best book in my life I have ever read before and I have all the version in my home and I read it in leisure time.

Sindhu from India

This wonderful book takes us on a magical journey you can't help falling in love with. The plot, the characters, the tiny details that Rowling so masterfully brings together... mindblowing. Easily the best book series I've ever read. Recommended for everybody- young and old.

ledi from Albania

I love this book because it is a very interesting, mysterious and thrilling book.

Lavisha Malik from India

I like this book. I thank the writer to write such a interesting type of book.

Houssem from Tunisia

What an amazing and fascinating book ! Wow. The journey passed so fast, how you dive into the pages,sink in the events and travel with the characters, how fantastic that is, purely wonderful ^^

Sashreek Havelia from India

This was an amazing book and was my second novel ever. I find myself in a stronghold of books just because of this wonderfully written and out of the box book. I must congratulate author J.K.Rowling on the success of all her books and her skill as an author.

Disha from India

It is very nice.

Harry from UK

I quite liked the book it was interesting I am now on the 2nd book of Harry Potter.

Trevor from US

The only people who don't like Harry Potter books are adults who seem to think that admitting they like Harry Potter makes them less of an adult. Oh, it's a great children's book. STFU. It's not a great children's book. It's just a great book. PERIOD.

Safia Ali from India

I just want to say that I AM MAD ABOUT THIS MAGICAL WORLD AS IT DID A GREAT MAGIC ON MY MIND AND HEART. JUST LOVE IT!

Brychan from UK

An excellent book combining magic and reality in a sensational mix. J.K Rowling has definitely succeeded in writing a brilliant book perfect for all ages. She has created a combination of happy, exciting and sad scenes to create an amazing book. If you have not already read the series then I definitely recommend that you read it as soon as possible. 9/10

Jasmine from India

This book is the best book I have read in a entire life. Love u JK Rowling.

Potter fan from India

Good book but lacks action...

Navneet from India

It really is the most fantastic book which I have ever read in my life.

Michael Anthony from US

Great book!!! Love it.

Himansh from India

Great book! I had read this book almost 10 times but am not at all bored of it. People who feel bored are dumb. The only word for this book is - awesome!!! But the Deathly Hallows is the last part. I'll miss Harry Potter!!!

#potterhead from Pakistan

Oh my god! These books are life. I just cannot describe how amazing they are. I've read them like a million times and I'm still not tired of them. Favourite books and I also lovvveeeee the movies. Potterhead for life!

Priyanka from Dubai

It is such an awesome book, I felt so sad when it was coming to an end. I wish there were more than 7 Harry Potter books.

Gordon from England

It is very funny those who give this book a bad review have a very poor grasp of the English language. Maybe they lack the intellegence to appreciate literature beyond wiser and chips? Totally awesome book.

Faizan from India

Excellent! Wonderful! I love the series of Harry Potter. I have read it 7 times continuously. No words to appreciate. Just enjoy the fantasy world of magic.

Sheepish from India

It is a nice and thrilling book which I had never read in my life. I love this book, thanx for this, bye.

Anakha from India

I love it. An amazing book!

Annastacia Buckley from Singapore

I absolutely loveee this book!! But, I would give it a 10 if the review was longer and have more coverage! Awesome book!

Gregory from Australia

This book was very impressive... how can people hate this book?

xxpa from canada

Great book, I couldn't put it down once I started reading this book. Dark, amazing, fast and thrilling. A must read for all!

Jack from US

It's so good, thanks, you gave me an idea for a book review.

Gunnhildur from Iceland

I loooooved this book! Those dumb Harry Potter haters don´t understand what they are missing! I really hope J.K. Rowling writes more of these, I have read all of them twice! Maybe some stories about Harry and Ron doing Aura business and other stuff!

Deepika from India

The only review is that they are... AWESOME!!!

Pinky from India

I can't give 10 points because it's not enough! Hey! I've started reading Chamber of Secrets. After I completed reading I came to this website. Ah! This book has fans all over the world.

Ramya from India

The best ever book I've read. Fascinating, mesmerizing, so on!!! No other words I've to describe it. I normally hate books but this is the one which gave me the interest to read novels. I'll say this book is best because it's SIMPLY GREAT GREAT GREAT... VERY GREAT!!!

Trina from US

You can't put it down. I really recommend this book, it's filled with enjoyment and it's fascinating. OK, I don't want to say really smart words but just kick back your feet and read - it is so good.

Harry Potter (wink wink) from Privet Drive

i just finished it and it only took me a day.... i couldn't put it down it was AMAZING. I came to this website before I read it just to be sure it is worth while. If you're doing this now... STOP and read it. No words can explain how good it is, I have already started Chamber of Secrets. There is so much detail in JK Rowling's books! I recommend read this first then watch the movie. It's a great book for all ages :)

Aymar from Canada

Honestly loved the first the most. But the entire series was the best series I have a ever read!

Xavier from Austria

Although I am not totally enamoured by the series as a whole I think the Philosopher's Stone is a beautiful stand-alone book. It oozes charm and offers wish fulfilment on a level I've only ever encountered in the Lord of the Rings. At turns funny, heart-warming, exciting and full of tension it is a book that everyone should read. Even if it is just to find out what the fuss is all about. A great book to read every Christmas.

Ilma from Bangladesh

The best book I've read!

Himika from India

This book taught me to love fantasy! I have read many books ever since, but HP for me is always special!

Rithu from India

The most exciting and interesting to all class of people.

Dang Trung Hieu from Vietnam

Great book!

Iris from Mexico

It was the book that taught me to love reading. And discover the feeling not to be able to leave the chair until you have finished the book. Highly recommended.

Harihara from India

No words can say how much I like this. The best series ever.

Sweata from India

It is a very thrilling book and also it has an interesting mythology... I loved this book very much... I thank J.K. Rowling for writing such a great book...

Samantha from Canada

Amazing, gripping, magnificent.

Sathwik from India

Harry Potter is awesome. It has a lot of action.

Joshua from England

Harry Potter to some is a "boring", "overexaggerated" book with no life in it whatsoever. Those people are absolute idiots. J.K. Rowling's books are gripping, stunning and filled with so much literature. The magic between the pages is just thrilling, when I started reading this particular book in my youth - around 4 years ago, I'm 13 now - it was impossible to put down, I would not sleep until it was finished. Lucky for me I'm a fast reader. In a few words Harry Potter is amazing: gripping and intelligent.

Shubham Mk from India

Just one word... CLASSIC!!! Thumbs up!!

Sarah from Pakistan

I liked this book very much, but this is my first book in the Harry Potter series and now I am very excited to read Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets which I've got to read in the school holidays but this book is really awesome and I hope Chamber of Secrets will also be as interesting as this!!!

Julia from America

I thought it was brill!

Jimwel from Philippines

I really love the Harry Potter books, in fact I already finished reading all those 7 series and I really crave for more books. Hope J.K. Rowling make additional series but I don't suppose she will. But who knows?

Tom Marvolo Riddle from England

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is the best book of all time!

Ieuan Jones from UK

I love Harry Potter but I think the first one lacks some action, where as the others have a lot of action from near the start, like Chamber of Secrets - there's the bit near the end where Harry kills the Basilisk and the Prisoner of Azkaban, there's the Womping Willow, whereas the first one isn't very exiting because all it is the first part of the end they get through that in like 2 mins of the film and then all they do is play chess and then Harry goes on to get bought in a fire for like a minute and then all it is is him in bed and Dumbledore steeling his sweet. So yeah, it isn't the best book but I think I would put it about 6th out of the eight :D

Amelia from Australia

I LOVE THIS BOOK AND ALL THE OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES!! They are so engaging and make the reader actually want to be a wizard!! I am absolutely crazy about Harry Potter!! My room is filled with Harry Potter stuff because I am so in-love with these books!!!

Andy from Reading

I have heard a lot of criticism of these books by quite a few adults, and whilst the writing may not be the best they are quite clearly wrong. These books have successfully engaged not just millions of young people across the world but millions of adults as well. Any author who can achieve such a following must be doing something right. Sometimes you just have to enjoy the story and go with the flow, yes there are shortcomings, however in this case it doesn't really matter if it gets millions of people engaged in reading.

Sarah from London

GREAT! That's all I can say!

Cat Fitzpatrick from London

A children's classic, what more can you say? Luckily I was eleven when the first book came out so I was the right age to follow them over the years, but I go back to them again and again even though I'm an adult because there's so much joy to be had in this magic, vivid world. It's funny, charming, heart-breaking and utterly wonderful.

Visenna from Poland

Really great, but still rather for younger readers.

Ankita from India

I love to watch the Harry Potter series.

Adam from Gregory

J.K. Rowling has sharp, lucid prose that carries Harry Potter beyond the realms of simple children's fantasy and into that of timeless literature. It's accessible and clear but at times it can be poetic and downright funny. In addition to her concise writing style, Harry Potter is populated with interesting and relatable characters that the reader can (and will) fall in love with. Yes, you could argue the plot devices are nothing we haven't seen before. Sometimes they even border on cliche. And yes, you could also argue that the villain is a bit too simple on the morality side of things. But none of this really matters, because the Harry Potter series are a helluva lot of fun to read and have a blast-ended-skrewt-sized heart.

Ian from Lisburn

The greatest fantasy series of a generation. If you haven't read these books yet please come out of your cave and rejoin the rest of the world!!! They reminded me why I love reading and fantasy.

Sharnali from London

The Harry Potter books to me are AWESOME!!! They are legendary. J.K Rowling is an inspiration, a William Shakespeare of the present day! ;]

Leisale from Vanuatu

The only word I have for the Harry Potter series is that they are... AWESOME!!!!

Kaan Can from Turkey

Harry Potter's magical world was created perfectly by JK Rowling. It's really interesting!!! The book series and movies are great!! This is a world phenomenon!! Read these books!

Samir from Oran

I wasn't going to read the Harry Potter series because I thought it was an overrated children's book. But one day, I decided that I had to see for myself why so many people liked this series. I couldn't be more wrong. It's an amazing fantasy series with a very solid and interesting mythology. The first book is great but the following books are even better.

Laura from England

I love Harry Potter, I started reading it in primary school and I keep re-reading the whole series - it's amazing! I love the magic of it all, it's so unique. I must have read the series through at least 6 times now, and I don't get bored! They are brilliant. I love all the characters, they're so interesting. This book is just....wow! Not my favourite of the series but I still love it... I like it when they go through the trap door, it's hard to stop reading :)

9.7 /10 from 138 reviews

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Book review: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter is the biggest-selling book series of all time. The books have gone on to produce one of the biggest movie series of all time. If you haven’t heard of Harry Potter, you’ve surely been living under a rock? But is the first book The Philosopher’s Stone actually any good?

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone book review

Please note that this article contains affiliate links. This means if you choose to purchase The Fellowship of the RIng via one of these links, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you to support the blog. These links do not affect my final opinion of the product.

An introduction to Harry Potter

For the one person reading this who’s never heard of Harry Potter – it’s a seven-book series written by British author J.K. Rowling. The Philosopher’s Stone , the first in the series was first published in 1997 to commercial and critical success. The first book was then turned into a film in 2001 to, once again, huge critical and commercial success. What then happened was a snowball effect that saw Harry Potter become a household name across the world and become synonymous with the British.

Harry Potter is a boy who was abandoned at a very young age with his nasty Aunt and Uncle who make him live under the stairs. One day he is visited by a man who tells him he’s a wizard and whisks him off to Hogwarts, the wizarding world’s most famous school. Harry then makes friends, saves the world multiple times and comes up against some of the darkest, most evil wizards to ever live, fighting alongside some of the most powerful and greatest too.

The books instilled a huge sense of friendship – they’re imaginative, they’re witty, they’re sad at times, happy at others. They are a journey unto themself with some of the latter books hitting the high-hundreds in page numbers. They’re a book series that will likely never be matched for popularity. But what is the first book like? If you read the first book now, would the same success snowball from it or was it the subsequent books that built upon it making it the phenomenon it is today?

Plot – 4.5/5

The plot of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is simple: a young boy lives with his mean aunt and uncle whom he despises. His Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia clearly dislike him and so treat him so, having him cook for them, clean for them and live underneath the stairs. One day he receives a letter saying he is due at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, however, his Aunt and Uncle quickly dismiss this and move away. He’s then visited by a large man, Hagrid who claims to be the groundskeeper at this school and tells him he must come with him to Hogwarts. On their journey there, Harry realises he’s incredibly famous due to the scar on his head: the most powerful evil wizard to ever live – Lord Voldemort – tried to kill him as a baby but he survived.

During his time at Hogwarts, he makes two very important friends Hermione and Ron – the three of them quickly realise that someone is trying o steal something from Hogwarts and people may well be in danger if they don’t soon figure it out.

It’s hard to review the plot for this first novel is there’s so much nostalgia and love for this series in my heart. However, even without this, I must say, I found my reread of it utterly captivating. I was turning the pages so quickly or always had the audiobook on. The mini-stories within the larger story are written at such a good pace that they’re interesting within their own right, let alone the overarching story and direction you can feel Rowling taking you in. It’s not the strongest Harry Potter book plot-wise – you’ll have to wait and find out which my favourite is as I slowly review them all – however, it is a very strong entry and has a first hundred pages that would captivate any reader.

Characters – 4.5/5

One of the things mentioned throughout the Harry Potter series is the incredible friendship that J.R. Rowling develops between the main three: Harry, Ron and Hermione. However is this friendship evident in the first book? Well… yes. It’s obvious Rowling was aiming this book at people in high school – the relationships are tricky and well earned and the dynamics between characters isn’t always smooth. But what builds over the book is an obvious bond between the three main characters. Ron is the nervous but pure-hearted character, Harry has been thrown into this world and must adapt to it around him and Hermione is a magical genius but who doesn’t necessarily play well with other people. How they all develop over the few hundred pages is great to see and definitely makes you want to read the subsequent books.

The supporting cast throughout this book is also utterly wonderful. Hagrid is the big friendly giant who you can’t help but love, Dumbeldore is a wise and mysterious character who seems to have much more going on than the simple role of Headmaster, Malfoy is utterly diabolical and annoying as all good enemies are, and everyone else that pops in either offers comic relief or builds on the storyline.

The Philosopher’s Stone summary – 5/5

If you’ve read the previous 900 words and gotten to this point then I congratulate you. If you’re somebody who has already read HP a million times over and are simply here to read another view – thank you. If you’re somebody who has never read the books and wants to know if they’re any good – I hope I’ve summarised the book well enough for you.

I would recommend Harry Potter to absolutely everybody. It transcends the fantasy or YA genres some would argue it fits into. The Philosopher’s Stone is a very solid first book and you can see why (after her many attempts to actually have it accepted by publishers – google it) J.K. Rowling hit a home run with this first novel.

One thought on “ Book review: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling ”

Is it Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone? Or is it really the first act in the lamentable tragedy of Albus Dumbledore? Arguably the most powerful wizard of all time, self-imposing a constraint on himself as the school headmaster to contain his lifetime lust for power and domination.

Intelligent enough to manipulate nearly every character throughout the course of the all seven books – either directly or indirectly – he has to be content with nurturing Potter who, by all accounts, is a reasonably mediocre wizard who is elevated by far more powerful witches and wizards around him.

Not forgetting it was Dumbledore himself who was partly at fault that Harry is an orphan in the first place.

Harry Potter, the boy who lived, the first instalment of a magic-fuelled Bildungsroman. 4/5

The first act of Albus Dumbledore, master manipulator, the man behind the curtain. Rowling creates a juggernaut of a character that shows evil on multiple levels… even hiding behind a warm smile, long silvery hair and half-moon glasses – 5/5

HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS

From the harry potter series , vol. 2.

by J.K. Rowling ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 2, 1999

Readers will be irresistibly drawn into Harry's world by GrandPre's comic illustrations and Rowling's expert combination of...

This sequel to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (1998) brings back the doughty young wizard-in-training to face suspicious adults, hostile classmates, fretful ghosts, rambunctious spells, giant spiders, and even an avatar of Lord Voldemort, the evil sorcerer who killed his parents, while saving the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry from a deadly, mysterious menace.

Ignoring a most peculiar warning, Harry kicks off his second year at Hogwarts after a dreadful summer with his hateful guardians, the Dursleys, and is instantly cast into a whirlwind of magical pranks and misadventures, culminating in a visit to the hidden cavern where his friend Ron's little sister Ginny lies, barely alive, in a trap set by his worst enemy. Surrounded by a grand mix of wise and inept faculty, sneering or loyal peers—plus an array of supernatural creatures including Nearly Headless Nick and a huge, serpentine basilisk—Harry steadily rises to every challenge, and though he plays but one match of the gloriously chaotic field game Quidditch, he does get in plenty of magic and a bit of swordplay on his way to becoming a hero again.

Pub Date: June 2, 1999

ISBN: 0-439-06486-4

Page Count: 341

Publisher: Scholastic

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 1999

CHILDREN'S SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY

Share your opinion of this book

THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL

From the school for good and evil series , vol. 1.

by Soman Chainani ; illustrated by Iacopo Bruno ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 14, 2013

Rich and strange (and kitted out with an eye-catching cover), but stronger in the set pieces than the internal logic.

Chainani works an elaborate sea change akin to Gregory Maguire’s Wicked (1995), though he leaves the waters muddied.

Every four years, two children, one regarded as particularly nice and the other particularly nasty, are snatched from the village of Gavaldon by the shadowy School Master to attend the divided titular school. Those who survive to graduate become major or minor characters in fairy tales. When it happens to sweet, Disney princess–like Sophie and her friend Agatha, plain of features, sour of disposition and low of self-esteem, they are both horrified to discover that they’ve been dropped not where they expect but at Evil and at Good respectively. Gradually—too gradually, as the author strings out hundreds of pages of Hogwarts-style pranks, classroom mishaps and competitions both academic and romantic—it becomes clear that the placement wasn’t a mistake at all. Growing into their true natures amid revelations and marked physical changes, the two spark escalating rivalry between the wings of the school. This leads up to a vicious climactic fight that sees Good and Evil repeatedly switching sides. At this point, readers are likely to feel suddenly left behind, as, thanks to summary deus ex machina resolutions, everything turns out swell(ish).

Pub Date: May 14, 2013

ISBN: 978-0-06-210489-2

Page Count: 496

Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins

Review Posted Online: Feb. 12, 2013

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2013

CHILDREN'S SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

by Soman Chainani ; illustrated by Iacopo Bruno

More by Soman Chainani

by Soman Chainani ; illustrated by RaidesArt

by Soman Chainani ; illustrated by Julia Iredale

Netflix Drops ‘School for Good and Evil’ Trailer

THE LAST EVER AFTER

From the school for good and evil series , vol. 3.

by Soman Chainani ; illustrated by Iacopo Bruno ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 21, 2015

Ultimately more than a little full of itself, but well-stocked with big themes, inventively spun fairy-tale tropes, and...

Good has won every fairy-tale contest with Evil for centuries, but a dark sorcerer’s scheme to turn the tables comes to fruition in this ponderous closer.

Broadening conflict swirls around frenemies Agatha and Sophie as the latter joins rejuvenated School Master Rafal, who has dispatched an army of villains from Capt. Hook to various evil stepmothers to take stabs (literally) at changing the ends of their stories. Meanwhile, amid a general slaughter of dwarves and billy goats, Agatha and her rigid but educable true love, Tedros, flee for protection to the League of Thirteen. This turns out to be a company of geriatric versions of characters, from Hansel and Gretel (in wheelchairs) to fat and shrewish Cinderella, led by an enigmatic Merlin. As the tale moves slowly toward climactic battles and choices, Chainani further lightens the load by stuffing it with memes ranging from a magic ring that must be destroyed and a “maleficent” gown for Sophie to this oddly familiar line: “Of all the tales in all the kingdoms in all the Woods, you had to walk into mine.” Rafal’s plan turns out to be an attempt to prove that love can be twisted into an instrument of Evil. Though the proposition eventually founders on the twin rocks of true friendship and family ties, talk of “balance” in the aftermath at least promises to give Evil a fighting chance in future fairy tales. Bruno’s polished vignettes at each chapter’s head and elsewhere add sophisticated visual notes.

Pub Date: July 21, 2015

ISBN: 978-0-06-210495-3

Page Count: 672

Review Posted Online: June 25, 2015

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Harry potter and the sorcerer's stone: harry potter, book 1.

Common Sense Says
Parents Say 63 Reviews
Kids Say 379 Reviews

Common Sense Media Review

Magical start of the fantastic boy-wizard series.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 8+?

Kids are in peril often, but it's mostly at the hands of fantasy creatures. A th

Hagrid mentions having way too much to drink one night and giving away a dangero

One instance of "damn" and a "Good Lord."

Any Positive Content?

Friendship and bravery are more important than books and cleverness. There are m

Main characters Harry, Ron, and Hermione, models of dedicated friends, are rewar

Author borrows many magical creatures, people, and concepts from other fantasy t

There's a little diversity at Hogwarts. Lee Jordan is described as having dreadl

Violence & Scariness

Kids are in peril often, but it's mostly at the hands of fantasy creatures. A three-headed dog threatens Harry and friends. Harry and Draco see a dead and bloody unicorn and are chased by a hooded figure in the Forbidden Forest. Harry and friends fight a troll and knock it unconscious, are nearly crushed by a constricting plant and pummeled by a life-size chess board. Some minor injuries: a dragon bite that swells up and a broken wrist after a fall off a broom. Some bullying and a fistfight. One minor character dies. Mostly friendly ghosts roam the halls; the ghost Nearly Headless Nick shows how he got the name. Talk of Harry's childhood with his Muggle family, how his cousin bullied and hit him and his aunt and uncle neglected him. Harry's uncle points a gun at Hagrid. Flashback to the (bloodless) deaths of Harry's parents and much discussion about how they died and the one who killed them.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Hagrid mentions having way too much to drink one night and giving away a dangerous secret. At another time Hagrid carries and drinks from a flask, and at Christmas dinner he drinks heavily and kisses Professor McGonagall on the cheek. Vernon Dursley is served brandy after a trying day. Witches drink sherry, and someone smokes a long pipe at a wizard bar. Baby dragons drink a mixture of brandy and chicken blood.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Positive Messages

Friendship and bravery are more important than books and cleverness. There are many kinds of bravery, and it's even braver to stand up to your friends than to your enemies.

Positive Role Models

Main characters Harry, Ron, and Hermione, models of dedicated friends, are rewarded for their bravery. They are usually punished for rule-breaking but also get away with quite a bit, especially when Harry gets his hands on an invisibility cloak. Harry always means well, though, and just like the sorting hat says, he has a "thirst to prove himself." Dumbledore (Hogwarts' eccentric headmaster) is a wonderful mentor to Harry, showing up with sage advice at just the right times.

Educational Value

Author borrows many magical creatures, people, and concepts from other fantasy traditions and puts her own spin on them: Nicholas and Perenelle Flamel and their Sorcerer's (or Philosopher's) Stone, wands and potions, unicorns, goblins, centaurs, dragons, giants, trolls, and more.

Diverse Representations

There's a little diversity at Hogwarts. Lee Jordan is described as having dreadlocks, and the Patil twins are sorted into the Gryffindor house. Some diverse family structures are described: Harry lives with his aunt and uncle and Neville with his grandmother. Harry and Ron bond over growing up with second-hand clothes and wishing they had more money; Ron's insecurity over being from a poorer family comes up a lot. Women have prominent roles at Hogwarts: Professor McGonagall and Professor Sprout are both heads of houses. There are two girls on the Gryffindor quidditch team. There's only one larger-sized character who isn't a bad guy, and that's Hagrid. Lots of negative language around the size of Dudley and his father and Malfoy's Slytherin friends Crabbe and Goyle.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Parents need to know that Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is the first book in J.K. Rowling' s Harry Potter series about an orphan boy who begins his studies at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The novel respects kids' intelligence and motivates them to tackle its greater length and complexity, play imaginative games, and try to solve its logic puzzles. Book 1 is the lightest in the series, but it still has some scary stuff for sensitive readers: a three-headed dog, an attacking troll, a violent life-size chess board, a hooded figure over a dead and bleeding unicorn, as well as a discussion of how Harry's parents died years ago and how he was raised by an aunt and uncle who neglected him. Some adult wizards drink, especially Hagrid, who drinks to excess more than once. There's little diversity at Hogwarts beyond a few students of color, but women have prominent roles at the school, and the smartest kid in class is Hermione, a girl. The 2015 lavishly illustrated, larger-format edition features a new cover (different from the original U.S. cover pictured here) and more than 100 full-color illustrations by Jim Kay ( A Monster Calls ) that depict shimmering ghosts amid breathtaking scenes of Hogwarts, character portraits, and pages from magical textbooks. Parents who want to learn more about the series (and spin-off movies and games) can read our Harry Potter Age-by-Age Guide .

Where to Read

Parent and kid reviews.

Parents say (63)
Kids say (379)

Based on 63 parent reviews

Great book for kids and adults alike. Beautifully written :)

What's the story.

In HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE, Harry Potter is left on his aunt and uncle's doorstep as a baby after his parents are killed. For 10 years he's forced to sleep in a cupboard under the stairs while his bullying cousin, Dudley, is spoiled rotten. The summer before the start of secondary school, a letter arrives with his name on it, no stamp, and a mysterious seal. Uncle Vernon snatches it away before he can open it, but it doesn't matter. More and more letters arrive and the family is eventually chased down to a rocky island by a large hairy man named Hagrid. Thanks to Hagrid, Harry finally gets to open his letter: an invitation to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. And, surprise! "You're a wizard, Harry." It turns out that Harry is one of the most famous wizards ever, called the Boy Who Lived after he survived an attack from the evil Lord Voldemort. Not only did Harry survive the attack that killed his parents, but somehow baby Harry also managed to defeat Voldemort in the process. So that's how he got that lightning-bolt scar on his forehead.

Is It Any Good?

There are two kinds of magic in this phenomenal boy-wizard tale, the literal spell kind and the spell cast by a thrilling world for young (and old) fantasy readers to explore. While Harry Potter and his new friends Ron and Hermione get their first lessons in potion making and how to make a feather fly ("swish and flick!"), readers are getting lessons in delightful ideas like owls delivering the post, secret train platforms, pictures and staircases that move, sports played on broomsticks, and even odd-flavored jelly beans. Readers will want to grab their owl, cat, or toad (how can you choose just one?!) and hop on the train to Hogwarts immediately.

But it's not all fun with flying broomsticks. Harry Potter isn't called the Boy Who Lived for nothing. He's an orphan because an evil wizard killed his parents and wanted to kill him, and that evil still lurks at the school. As Harry, Ron, and Hermione uncover a plot to steal the Sorcerer's Stone of the title, more and more school rules must be broken (and some serious house points must be lost) to figure out who the enemy at school really is. Readers will enjoy the twists, danger, and kid wizard heroics that drive the final action.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about when kids knew they were ready to read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone . Did you feel pressured to read it when your friends did? Were any parts too scary for you? How did you handle it?

Kids just getting into the series will find a whole world of Harry Potter available to them, from Chocolate Frogs for sale at the grocery store to theme parks. A die-hard Potter fan can spend a lot of money in their lifetime on merchandise and experiences. Do you think this is worth your money? Are there other ways you can celebrate books you love without raiding your piggie bank?

This series has been commended for getting so many kids to love reading. Which books made you start to love reading? Or are you still looking for them?

Book Details

Author : J. K. Rowling
Illustrator : Mary Grandpre
Genre : Fantasy
Topics : Magic and Fantasy
Book type : Fiction
Publisher : Scholastic Inc.
Publication date : September 1, 1998
Publisher's recommended age(s) : 9 - 12
Number of pages : 309
Awards : ALA Best and Notable Books , Common Sense Media Award , Kids' Choice Award
Last updated : May 5, 2024

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Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

By j.k. rowling.

'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince' is significant because of how well there is a transition in the relationships between several major characters in this book.

Article written by Mohandas Alva

M.A. Degree in English Literature from Manipal University, India.

‘ Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince ‘ by J. K. Rowling does a wonderful job as the penultimate book of the renowned Harry Potter series. Not only is it a book that ties up the plot together between the first five books and the final one, but it also creates significant conflicts for the final book by changing the nature of relationships between several major characters. This subtle yet strong transition between the characters defines the nature of the plot of the final book, ‘ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows .’

Furthermore, ‘ Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince ‘ works really well on its own accord, creating several emotional and significant scenes that resonate feelings that have remained unacknowledged in the whole series.

Complexity of Relationships

‘ Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince ‘ is the most important book when it comes to the exploration of relationships in this book series. It deals with a lot of significant relationships and is considered the pinnacle of change in terms of relationships between characters in this book series .

Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore

Harry Potter has been under the constant protection of Albus Dumbledore since the beginning of this book series. However, in this book, for the first time, in the cave where Voldemort ’s Horcrux is hidden, Dumbledore is at his most vulnerable and looks to Harry for protection. The frame of the relationship is shifted swiftly, and Harry is forced to become the protector of Dumbledore.

As Harry forces the dangerously painful liquid into Dumbledore’s mouth, he grapples between his need to not cause pain to Dumbledore physically by letting him drink it and the need to stick to his word, the need to render his promise. It is never easy to be faced with such situations, but it is necessary to make firm choices instead of half-hearted attempts at neither, thereby reducing either possibility from realizing – something that Harry learns through this endeavor.

Harry Potter and Severus Snape

Another example of a very similar yet mysterious relationship that changes frame is that between Severus Snape and Albus Dumbledore. While the events of the final book will clear up the confusions that persist in the minds of the reader about this relationship, there is a significant shift in their approach towards each other in this book.

Throughout the book series, Dumbledore has always been the higher authority on anything concerning Snape, and despite constantly defending his past, Dumbledore has always held Severus Snape under his control by not entertaining his constant pursuit of wanting to teach the Defence Against the Dark Arts, and by not indulging him in his constant disapproval of Harry. However, in the story of ‘ Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince ,’ from the very beginning, the frame is shifted, as Snape has finally got what he wants. He has become the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, and he eventually ends up shooting the killing curse at Dumbledore, a man he always obeyed without question.

Harry Potter and Voldemort

The primary relationship that causes the plot of this entire book series to unravel, that between Harry Potter and Voldemort himself, is also subject to the changing frame in ‘ Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince .’

Till this point, Harry had only seen Voldemort as the murderer of his parents and an untrustworthy, completely evil being who had to be vanquished for good. However, in this book, after his constant visits to the Pensieve and his exposure to Voldemort’s origins, Harry is humbled by how complex even ‘evil’ is within the ethics of its existence. Harry cannot help but feel sorry for and relate to young Tom Riddle, who had a very difficult childhood as an orphan, just like Harry.

This book humanizes Tom Riddle and portrays him in a light that understands the complexity of the human condition instead of one that villainizes him by default – something every book prior to ‘ Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince ‘ has done.

Other Significant Transitions in Relationships

Some other transitions in relationships that define ‘ Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince ‘ include the relationship between Harry and Draco, which, after Harry attacks Draco with the spell ‘Sectumsempra,’ sees Draco hesitating to kill Dumbledore, changes from pure hatred to a slight sense of empathy. Furthermore, both Harry and Ginny and also Ron and Hermione eventually end up getting together, respectively, after their romance has long been teased throughout the book series. All these new relationships, too, end up being really important and are a cause of severe tensions in ‘ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. ‘

Is Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince a good book?

Yes, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood is a very good book in that it has a very interesting plot and is also a crucial book in the series. It anchors the plot and events of the first five books to the finale of the series, which ties all loose ends and cliffhangers that leave the readers hanging. Furthermore, ‘ Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince ‘ does a great job showing several of its ‘negative’ characters in a positive light, humanizing them further in the eyes of the reader.

Why did Voldemort make seven Horcruxes?

While it is not clear as to why Voldemort made an exact number of Horcruxes, it is clear that he chose seven because he thought that to be a significantly big amount of partitions for his soul to hide in. He was confident that it was impossible for anyone to find all seven of his Horcruxes and destroy them, let alone figure out what Horcruxes are in the first place.

How does Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince end?

‘ Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince ‘ ends with the death of Albus Dumbledore in the hands of Severus Snape, someone whom Albus Dumbledore trusted all this while. Furthermore, Dumbledore’s funeral is held at Hogwarts, which is attended by several people from all across the globe. At the end of the book, the trio is left with the choice of attending Hogwarts for their seventh year or looking for the remaining Horcruxes to destroy. They end up choosing the latter.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: A Pioneer in Character Development

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Digital Art

Book Title: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Book Description: 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince' excels in character development, revealing deeper motives, humanizing villains, and introducing pivotal, emotionally charged plot twists.

Book Author: J.K. Rowling

Book Edition: First Edition

Book Format: Hardcover

Publisher - Organization: Bloomsbury Publishing

Date published: June 21, 2005

ISBN: 978-0-439-35806-5

Number Of Pages: 672

Writing Style
Lasting effect on the reader

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is a pioneer in character development as it digs very deep into the source of the characters’ purposes in the entire series. Furthermore, it humanizes several of its negative characters, surprises readers with sudden twists in the plot, and engages the reader emotionally through significant events that change the course of the series.

Has a very rich array of characters, especially the antagonists.
It has very good character development, and it shows the other side of the antagonist’s purpose, thereby humanizing him.
The relationships in this book define the evolution of the series from that of children’s books to young adult or even adult books.
It is a very long book and therefore feels overdrawn at times.
It deals with romances a lot more than focusing on the major plot, sometimes making it unnecessarily dramatic.
Some parts of the plot are very predictable, thereby reducing the interest of the reader.

Harry Potter Quiz

Summon your wit and wisdom—our Harry Potter Trivia Quiz awaits you! Do you have the knowledge to claim the title of Master Witch or Wizard? Take the challenge now!

1) What potion is known as "Liquid Luck"?

2) What is the core ingredient of the wand owned by Harry Potter?

3) What does the Mirror of Erised show?

4) Who teaches Herbology at Hogwarts?

5) Who is the Half-Blood Prince?

6) What specific type of dragon does Harry face during the Triwizard Tournament?

7) What creature is Aragog?

8) What does the incantation "Obliviate" do?

9) What animal represents Hufflepuff house?

10) Who was the Peverell brother that owned the invisibility cloak?

11) In which Harry Potter book does Harry first speak Parseltongue?

12) What is Dumbledore's full name?

13) What is the name of the train that takes students to Hogwarts?

14) Which character is killed by Bellatrix Lestrange in the Battle of Hogwarts?

15) Which potion did Hermione brew in her second year that allowed her, Ron, and Harry to assume the identities of Slytherins?

16) What is the name of the goblin who helps Harry, Ron, and Hermione break into Gringotts?

17) What is the name of the goblin-made object that is supposed to bring its owner prosperity, but also brings them into conflict with goblins?

18) Which creature can transform into a person's worst fear?

19) Which spell is used to open the Marauder's Map?

20) What is the name of Harry Potter's pet owl?

21) What is the effect of the Cheering Charm?

22) Who originally owned the Elder Wand before Dumbledore won it?

23) What was the last Horcrux to be destroyed?

24) What are the dying words of Severus Snape in both the book and the film "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows"?

25) What form does Hermione Granger's Patronus take?

26) What is the name of the book Hermione gives to Harry before his first ever Quidditch match?

27) In the "Order of the Phoenix," who is NOT a member of the original Order of the Phoenix shown in the old photograph that Moody shows Harry?

28) Which object is NOT one of the Deathly Hallows?

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About Mohandas Alva

Mohandas is very passionate about deciphering the nature of language and its role as a sole medium of storytelling in literature. His interests sometimes digress from literature to philosophy and the sciences but eventually, the art and craft of narrating a significant story never fail to thrill him.

About the Book

The Harry Potter section of Book Analysis analyzes and explorers the Harry Potter series. The characters, names, terminology, and all related indicia are trademarks of Warner Bros ©. The content on Book Analysis was created by Harry Potter fans, with the aim of providing a thorough in-depth analysis and commentary to complement and provide an additional perspective to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

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‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’: Her Dark Materials

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By Liesl Schillinger

July 31, 2005

HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE By J. K. Rowling. Illustrated by Mary GrandPré. 652 pp. Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic. $29.99.

LATE on an ink-black night in June in the Lebanese hill town of Zahle, a teenage boy sidled up to two travelers as they strolled along the bank of a river. In French-inflected English, he asked an urgent question: "Have you seen the new Harry Potter book?" Despite receiving a negative reply, he pressed on, "Have you heard what happens in it?" When the answer again was "no," he sighed in vexation. He had read the five other Potter books many times, he explained -- both in French and in English, which "takes longer, but it's better, because it's her words." "Her," even to a boy growing up in the Bekaa, meant She-Who-Must-Be-Read: J. K. Rowling, author of the cliffhanger chronicles of the young British wizard Harry Potter and his pals, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, from the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

The boy's inquiry did not produce the results he'd hoped for, but it may have settled a larger question: is there a book-loving child on the planet who isn't obsessed with Harry Potter? Um (or "er," as Harry would say), perhaps not. But, like other susceptible children (and grown-ups), who among them own 270 million copies of the first five books in the series, the Lebanese Potter fan had to wait until one minute past the witching hour of July 15, 2005, to satisfy his curiosity about what had befallen Harry since he battled the evil allies of Lord Voldemort (more prudently referred to as He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named) in "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix." What this young reader -- and everyone else -- will discover is that Rowling has succeeded in delivering another spellbinding fantasy set in her consummately well-imagined alternate reality.

These newest 652 pages -- far darker than those that preceded them -- are leavened with humor, romance and snappy dialogue, and freighted with secrets, deepening bonds, betrayals and brutal lessons, many of them coming from the sinister, Harry-hating Severus Snape, master of the dark arts. Up to now, Harry, while overcoming any number of harrowing trials, has managed to retain a trusting nature; but at 16, worsening circumstances force him to realize that even though he regards himself as "Dumbledore's man through and through," he must also be his own man. Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts School and the only mature wizard who poses a real threat to the foul Lord Voldemort, cannot protect Harry forever -- nor can Harry be sure that he can protect himself.

Because Rowling's gift is not so much for language as for characterization and plotting, to reveal much of what happens would wreck the experience for future readers. Suffice it to say that this new volume culminates in a finish so scorchingly distressing that the reader closes the book quaking, knowing that out of these ashes, somehow, the phoenix of Rowling's fiction will rise again -- but worrying about how on earth Harry will cope until it does.

To read Rowling's novels as an adult is to sink into a half-remembered state of childhood rapture, the trance produced when you gobbled up fantasies for the first time. In the series's fourth volume, "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," Dumbledore lets Harry stumble across the Pensieve, a collecting dish for excess memories. To extract a memory, a wizard holds a wand to his temple, draws a silvery strand of thought from his head and taps it into the basin. Any wizard who touches the swirling contents of the bowl drops into the visions it contains, reliving them as if he had been present at their inception. Dipping into the fiction that is Rowling's Pensieve, adult readers tumble into an eerie but familiar realm, containing not only Rowling's images of Harry but their own memories of books they loved when they were Harry's age and younger.

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Book Review: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

For people who want to enjoy an intriguing, fast paced novel, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is the perfect book to read. It keeps you involved throughout the book as most chapters have cliffhangers at the end. This novel is the first of the seven famous Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling.

The book is about 11 year old Harry Potter, who receives a letter saying that he is invited to attend Hogwarts, school of witchcraft and wizardry. He then learns that a powerful wizard and his minions are after the sorcerer’s stone that will make this evil wizard immortal and undefeatable. Harry decides to go after the sorcerer’s stone before the wizard reaches it, but his loyal friends, Hermione and Ron don’t let Harry face this danger alone.

This book is full of fantasies and imagination like at one point, Harry Potter is asked to catch a flying golden ball while flying on his broomstick. Eventually Harry Potter stands on his broomstick and tries to reach for the ball, but he falls off the broomstick in a very tense moment. He unexpectedly throws up the golden ball winning the game for his team.

Harry Potter and a sorcerer stone is a good book to spark joy and imagination for anyone, regardless of age. But I would say it is most enjoyable for elementary school students, who can very well relate to the fantasy world. So I would say that it is a must read for younger audiences, but it’s a good read in general.

Supposedly Fun

Book review: harry potter and the sorcerer’s stone, by j.k. rowling.

Perhaps nostalgia is a powerful steam engine, but I got lost in the first book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone every bit as easily as I did back in the day. There was definitely an element of comfort and familiarity at play as I got pulled back into the story. Pulling this book off the shelf was like visiting with a beloved friend you haven’t seen in a long time for a hearty meal.

But you can’t put it all on nostalgia. That takes away from the effortless charm and breezy wit Rowling employs in building the world of Harry Potter in this first installment. She makes this introductory volume less plot heavy in order to focus on world building without overwhelming the reader. The plot isn’t so much about a hero and a villain like all the others would be (the villain is practically an afterthought). Here, the plot is about Harry’s first year at Hogwarts. As such, we get to follow along on the journey and get to know all about what it is to be a student at Hogwarts–and a wizard living in this world. With this framework established, Rowling would be able to play about more boldly in subsequent books.

It also allows Rowling to keep the focus light and airy. Sorcerer’s Stone is solidly in the intermediate level. As the series progresses it will get darker, trending further and further into the young adult level–aging along with Harry himself and the seriousness of the dangers he faces. In comparison to where we’re going, Sorcerer’s Stone is practically a children’s book. Even Harry’s concerns in this book are childish. His biggest goal here, at age 11, is winning the house cup for Gryffindor. For context, by the time Harry is fourteen in book four the house cup will barely even rate a mention. Even Quidditch will barely factor into the later books. To be fair, by the end a lot of heavier plot devices have been set in motion that make it impossible to include everything that happens in a school year. But the point stands: at this point in time, Harry has a lighter view of the world and lighter cares. Winning the house cup means the world to him because he can’t imagine anything worse than being a loser anymore.

The fact that Rowling makes plot take a backseat to world building is probably a smart decision in the long term, but there’s no denying that it makes the conclusion problematic. Because there has to be a showdown of some sort, and she needs to get to work setting up Voldemort’s eventual return, otherwise Sorcerer’s Stone would go nowhere and it wouldn’t do a proper job setting up the conflict Harry will face over the course of seven books. So the villain plotline is relegated to a subplot that gets teased out in hints and details here and there, finally coalescing into something actionable only in the last forty pages. At that point it feels rushed, slightly haphazard, and doesn’t come together. Just as it’s forming, we get a deus ex machina to take care of everything. I suppose that makes sense considering that Harry only just learned that he’s a wizard–there’s no way he would be able to believably win a fight against a powerful wizard, especially one powered by Voldemort. Employing a deus ex machina allowed Rowling to hew closer to the reality of Harry being a child. Having someone else essentially fight the battle here makes it more effective when he grows up and fights his own battles beginning in the next book.

Except there’s also no denying that the plot, as much as there is one, doesn’t make much sense if you stop to think about it. There are entire plot points built around the flimsiest of premises. So when we’re expected to follow the reality of Harry’s youth sidelining him from the big fight at the conclusion just as it’s about to get interesting, we’re also somehow expected to believe that Harry, who has never flown on a broomstick, is such a natural at it that he’s not only good at it but he becomes the youngest player on his house’s Quidditch team and gets himself out of serious trouble simply by being so inherently good at it. That’s problematic. More problematic for 33 year-old me to accept than 18 year-old me. I was more willing to check my brain at the door and go with the flow as a youth, I suppose.

To be fair, it doesn’t help that the market is currently saturated with “chosen one” stories that have essentially ripped off Harry Potter. 18 year-old me would naturally have an easier time going with the flow in a story like this because I wouldn’t have learned to be jaded by all the low-quality imitators glutting the market. The very fact that Rowling attempts a balance puts Harry Potter head and shoulders above the pretenders to its throne (most of whom now also wear the dystopia badge after The Hunger Games ). Even here, when she is introducing her protagonist, Rowling was never interested in making Harry perfect. Yes, he’s impossibly brave and noble. Yes, he tends to make the difficult choices in order to do what’s right. But he’s also impetuous. He has a temper at times and can be stubborn. He can be misled. He can even be rude and thoughtless.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. Sorcerer’s Stone is still great, charming fun, even if it was a little disappointing to realize how shallow it is. It does an excellent job of setting up the drama to come, but that’s about it. I’d probably grade it a touch lower, but in the end I appreciate that the time Rowling spends establishing what a typical year at Hogwarts is like in this book allows her to use that framework to break those very boundaries in subsequent installments.

Read on for more about this installment. Or check out my Harry Potter page for more. Up next: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets .

New Characters

Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher

Professor Quirrell has precious little to recommend him or make him memorable, despite his passion for turbans and his zest for garlic. Until his villainous reveal, that is. But since the action of Sorcerer’s Stone is relegated to the background until the final forty pages–and Quirrell only spends twenty of those pages in the spotlight. As DAtDA professors go, Quirrell is far and away the most forgettable of the lot. Which shouldn’t really be allowed to happen since the dude has Voldemort living on the back of his head . I mean, that should count for something, right? Grade: 2/5

Special Artifacts or Spells

Harry spends most of the book obsessed with his Nimbus 2000 broomstick, but of course the entire book hinges on the safety of the titular Sorcerer’s Stone (known in the UK as the Philosopher’s Stone). The Sorcerer’s Stone is the creation of alchemist Nicolas Flamel and using it can grant a person immortality. Dumbledore has it moved to Hogwarts to protect it, but Professor Quirrell and his oversized Voldemort pimple quickly infiltrate the school and conveniently take the entire school year to figure out how to get beyond the defenses Dumbledore set up around it. Nevermind that the centerpiece of those defenses, the Mirror of Erised (which shows you your heart’s deepest desires) spends half the school year located somewhere else so Harry can stumble on it, see his parents, learn an important lesson, and understand how the mirror works when he encounters it in the final showdown. Harry also gets his first uses of his invisibility cloak , a tool which will allow him to sneak about the school for years to come.

The State of Harry’s Legacy

Solid as a rock. In this super-wholesome entry everything is sunny all the time, so no one other than Draco Malfoy or Severus Snape (or the Dursleys) would dare question Harry Potter’s noble intentions or do anything but admire him for being ‘the boy who lived.’ Harry won’t get his first taste of suspicion or fear until the next book in the series, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets , and even that will look tame compared to what lies in store in the future.

Dumbledore Wisdom

In his introduction Albus Dumbledore remains a peripheral character, albeit one of striking nobility, honor, wisdom, and wit. It’s no mistake that Dumbledore serves as the novel’s deus ex machina. The impression he makes on Harry Potter–and us–will have repercussions throughout the series. Rowling goes to great pains to establish Dumbledore as a great and honorable man, then in the later books will force us to question his every method, just as Harry will be forced to do the same. But that’s later. For now he’s just lovable old sweets-loving Dumbledore, spouting wise turns of phrase like a fortune cookie. Here are his best bits of wisdom from Sorcerer’s Stone :

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Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince...

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Book 6

J.K. Rowling has kept her promise --- that each of Harry Potter's years at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry will be darker and more difficult than the one before. This sixth installment is the darkest and most complex of the books yet. But just in case you have any doubt, Harry is proving well up to the tasks at hand --- and his magical world seems more vivid and real than ever.

Harry's sixth year at Hogwarts is off to a rocky if exciting start. The Wizarding world is at war after the violent showdown at the end of Book Five that saw the death, injury or arrest of several key characters --- and the clear return of evil Lord Voldemort/ He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Mysterious murders and magically triggered disasters continue, and there has been a mass breakout from Azkaban, the wizard community's prison. Even Muggles are starting to notice, including the Prime Minister. Families of students heading back to school on the Hogwarts Express are on high alert, but reassured that new security measures are in place along with a tough new Minister of Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour.

Meanwhile, Harry has received an unusual summer visit from Hogwarts headmaster Professor Dumbledore during which the trusted mentor explains just how different Harry's upcoming school year will be. Among other things, it will include private study sessions with Dumbledore where the elder wizard will shed more light on the prophecy about Harry laid out in Book Five and help Harry discover --- through memories viewed via Dumbledore's magical Pensieve ---Lord Voldemort's heritage and just what makes him tick, including the dark magic that has rendered him seemingly immortal.

Now 16, Harry and his pals Ron and Hermione have received their O.W.L. exam results and must buckle down in their studies to focus on the more specialized N.E.W.T. level. As in years past, there is a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher; this time a most surprising candidate fills the post. All this means piles of homework and ever-more-challenging classroom projects. It's a good thing that Harry has discovered a used potions textbook filled with helpful --- and sometimes dangerous --- spells and hints scribbled in the margins. The book says it was once property of the Half-Blood Prince, a mystery that Harry and company are determined to solve. And sneering bully Draco Malfoy continues to be an annoyance and more as he sorts out where his own loyalties lie and tries to master more complicated magic.

The little free time Harry has is spent captaining the Gryffindor Quidditch team, and readers who love the high-flying action of the game won't be disappointed. Social lives are not completely put on hold either, as Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny Weasley are among those contemplating their fluttery romantic feelings (sometimes for each other). And Fred and George Weasley's joke shop is doing booming business, which accounts for some of the good bits of humor throughout.

As spring arrives and the end of the school year nears, Harry accompanies Dumbledore on a secret and perilous mission that at its heart contains a key to Voldemort's undoing. The two brave wizards could not know, however, that their actions would help trigger a high stakes battle back at Hogwarts pitting Death Eaters (Voldemort's henchmen) and yes, vicious traitors to Hogwarts, against the good guys. When the blood and the Dark Mark in the sky are cleared, not everyone survives.

When it comes to the clever weaving of plot threads all the way back to the sorcerer's stone and Chamber of Secrets, Rowling is at the top of her game. She keeps a broad roster of familiar faces in the fore and reminds us of past characters and events and how they play perfectly into her ultimate plan for Harry. She also writes in a slightly more sophisticated style than the earlier books, with a richer emotional tone that matches Harry's developing maturity.

Away from all the action of his latest story, Harry is indeed growing into a young man. He is still grieving over losses experienced during his fifth year but knows he must move on. He's learning to be more comfortable in his own skin, even if it means accepting being “The Chosen One” singled out by Voldemort and a subject of constant scrutiny and curiosity to classmates, teachers and the public at large. It's the kind of stuff that makes a guy really appreciate who his true friends are, and Harry has some gems in Ron and Hermione.

By the end of HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE, Harry emerges as a calmer, more psychologically deep teenager who seems to have lived lifetimes far beyond his 16 years. He is now fully confident about his life's calling --- to defeat Voldemort at any cost --- and has developed a steely resolve, bolstered by great emotional pain, to carry it out. Whatever the wait for a final battle-to-the-death in Book Seven, it will be too long.

--- Reviewed by Shannon Maughan

And don't miss Jim Dale's stellar performance of Book Six on the audiobook from Listening Library. It's a blast to hear his character voices, and the dramatic flair --- and care --- he uses in unfolding Harry's story.

Reviewed by Shannon Maughan on July 16, 2005

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Book 6 by J. K. Rowling

Publication Date: June 26, 2018
Genres: Fantasy
Paperback: 688 pages
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
ISBN-10: 1338299190
ISBN-13: 9781338299199

This Key Harry Potter Ship Was Infinitely Better in the Books

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It's important to remember the ongoing controversial statements by the creator of the Harry Potter franchise. CBR supports the hard work of industry professionals on properties fans know and love and the wider world of Harry Potter that fans have adopted as their own. You can find CBR's continuing coverage on Rowling here .

The Harry Potter novels have been praised for its storytelling, the characters and their intricate arcs, the worldbuilding, and the mystery aspects that make up what made the Harry Potter franchise so successful. However, one aspect of the Harry Potter series that many found underwhelming was the romantic relationships.

While the arc between Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley was mostly well done, built up throughout the seven novels with various obstacles until finally being resolved in the final book, the relationship between the main protagonist, Harry, and Ginny Weasley was much less developed. While the novels gave the pairing some development, starting as early as Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix , the relationship in the film adaptations was seriously underdeveloped. With HBO planning on remaking the Harry Potter story into a TV series, there's a lot they can improve from the movies in terms of the romantic relationship, taking what is in the novels and expanding on it.

Harry and Ginny's Relationship, Explained

Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley in the Great Hall from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Harry Potter was born on July 31, 1980.
Ginny Weasley was born on August 11, 1981.

Harry potter characters Cho Chang, Oliver Wood and Lavender Brown

Every Named Hogwarts Student in Harry Potter, Explained

Hogwarts is a massive school in Harry Potter with with many students from the books that sadly didn't get enough attention.

The Harry Potter novels introduce Ginny Weasley as the younger sister of Harry's best friend, Ron. Ginny being the youngest Weasley sibling, avoids Harry as much as possible due to her massive, bordering on fanatical, crush on him. This crush lasts through most of the series, with Hermione revealing that Ginny had gotten over her crush by the fourth year in Order of the Phoenix . Harry begins to develop romantic feelings for Ginny in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince , where the two share their first kiss towards the end of the novel . However, their relationship is cut short when Harry breaks up with her at the funeral of Albus Dumbledore, fearing that Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters would try to use her to get to him.

In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows , the two begin the novel in a complicated situation, where the feelings are still present, but the two choose not to be together in light of the Second Wizarding War. When Harry, Ron, and Hermione go on the run, Ginny returns to Hogwarts for her sixth year. After spending months apart, Harry and Ginny reunite at the Battle of Hogwarts. While the two do not rekindle their romance at this time, the 19 years later epilogue reveals that the two went on to marry, having three children.

Harry and Ginny in the Books

Harry and Ginny are about to kiss in the Room of Requirement in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Ginny's actress, Bonnie Wright, is one of the 14 actors to appear in all 8 Harry Potter films.
Ginny's full name is Ginevra Weasley.

The Harry and Ginny dynamic, though not perfect, was much better developed in the novels. The two interact many times in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets , with Ginny's crush on Harry playing a big role. At the end of the novel, Harry saves Ginny in the Chamber of Secrets when it is revealed that she was the one who opened the Chamber, under possession from Tom Riddle's diary. After Chamber of Secrets , however, Ginny is a much less important character. She is practically non-existent in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and her only notable moment in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is when she went to the Yule Ball with Neville Longbottom. However, this night could be considered the most important for Ginny and Harry's relationship, as it was the event that changed Ginny's character. In Order of the Phoenix , it was revealed that Ginny had met Michael Corner, a Ravenclaw boy in Harry's year, at the Yule Ball. By the fifth book, they were an official couple, with Hermione revealing that Ginny had gotten over her crush on Harry. Ginny getting over her crush marked a significant change in their dynamic, now being able to comfortably speak around Harry. A highlight of Order of the Phoenix was when Harry was throwing a tantrum after learning he might have been possessed by Voldemort, and it was Ginny who stood up to him, reminding him that she had also once been possessed by the Dark Lord. This both shocked the readers and Harry himself, highlighting how much he takes her for granted as simply Ron's younger sister.

Later in the same novel, when Harry is in the library upset over not being able to communicate with Sirius Black, he shares a sweet moment with Ginny, who cheers him up with some words of inspiration and a chocolate Easter egg. This moment could be considered the first indication of Harry's feelings, with the novel stating that "he felt a bit more hopeful..." unsure whether it was from the chocolate or voicing his frustrations. In Half-Blood Prince , Harry first becomes fully conscious of his feelings for Ginny after seeing her kiss Dean Thomas. He spends most of the Half-Blood Prince novel crushing on Ginny and is jealous of her relationship with his classmate. After Ginny and Dean break up, Harry and Ginny share their first kiss at the Gryffindor party, celebrating their Quidditch victory. The two are an official couple throughout the rest of the novel, spending around two months happily together before their breakup at the end of the novel, a stark contrast to Harry's tumultuous relationship with Cho Chang.

Harry and Ginny in the Movies

Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley about to kiss in Weasley Kitchen from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1

The epilogue revealed that Harry and Ginny had three kids: James Sirius, Albus Severus, and Lily Luna.
In the film, Harry and Ginny's first kiss was in the Room of Requirement, while their first kiss in the novels took place in the Gryffindor Common Room.

Split Images of Hermione, Harry, Nymphadora, Remus, James, and Lily from Harry Potter

20 Most Popular Harry Potter Ships, Ranked

Potterheads love to indulge in their favorite and most popular Harry Potter ships, whether they be Ron x Hermione or Harry x Draco.

One of the major criticisms the Harry Potter films faced in terms of its adaptation was the relationship between Harry and Ginny. The films start off strong, featuring Ginny as a prominent character throughout the Chamber of Secrets adaptation. However, from what little there is of Ginny in the Prisoner of Azkaban and Goblet of Fire novels, there's even less in the films, with Ginny given one line in each film. Order of the Phoenix is where the issues truly began, with Ginny's conversations with Harry excluded, as well as her relationship with Michael. While Ginny can be seen sitting next to Michael in the Hog's Head scene, viewers who hadn't read the books were given no indication that they were dating. The film also strangely included scenes of Ginny looking at Harry jealously when he interacts with Cho, which completely goes against the fact that she was fully over him at that point. This has a negative impact on Ginny's character, specifically, defining her only through her relationship with Harry and Harry alone.

Half-Blood Prince rightfully gave more attention to Ginny, but in a much more awkward manner. When Harry first arrives at The Burrow, his interactions with Ginny are immediately framed as romantic, despite Harry in the novels not having conscious feelings for her at that point, leaving the romance to feel rather out of nowhere from Harry's end. When the two share their first kiss, it's rather awkward compared to the triumphant moment described in the book. The films don't even establish that Ginny and Dean had broken up at that point, which likely confused audiences. The film also neglected to include Harry and Ginny's, and as far as film viewers were to believe, the two were still together throughout Deathly Hallows . Deathly Hallows Part II included a kiss between Harry and Ginny during the Battle of Hogwarts , which does help to reestablish their romance, though the desired effect was rather underwhelming, with Ron and Hermione's kiss, in comparison, given much more gravity, with swelling music, and actor chemistry built upon years of interaction, which Harry and Ginny's actors lacked due to their minimal amount of one-on-one scenes up to that point.

What Went Wrong With the Movies

Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley kiss in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

Harry Potter's Patronus is a stag, while Ginny's is a horse.
In Half-Blood Prince , Ginny adopts a pet Pygmy Puff named Arnold.

It can be argued that the biggest misstep the film adaptations made when adapting Harry and Ginny's romance was their lack of attention to Ginny's character arc. The films cut most of Ginny's significant moments, only including the moments that directly further the plot rather than the arcs of the characters. It has often been critiqued how little character Ginny was given in the films compared to her book counterpart. The later novels described Ginny as fiery and confident, while the films portrayed her as mostly quiet and meek. With HBO planning on remaking Harry Potter and promoting the series as a faithful adaptation of the novels, it would be wise to focus more on Ginny's character and her romance with Harry.

While the Prisoner of Azkaban and Goblet of Fire novels don't feature Ginny prominently, it would be wise for HBO to include her as much as possible such, as when the dementors board the Hogwarts Express, they could briefly focus on Ginny's reaction to them, as they would remind her of the dark times she faced the previous year. The adaptations of these novels specifically would also be the time to establish Ginny as her own person outside of Harry, showing her with her own group of friends (who do appear rather out of nowhere in the Half-Blood Prince novel) in the background of scenes, as well as her close friendship with Hermione. When adapting Order of the Phoenix , they should make her relationship with Michael more clear, and include the significant conversations she shares with Harry, which would be a good set up for their romance in the following season. When adapting Half-Blood Prince , it would do well to portray Ginny as the confident, popular Quidditch star she is and give her relationship with Dean the time it deserves, which would mean that when she and Harry do get together, she is a fully-formed individual, rather than just a love interest to the main character. This would strengthen their romance for fans and new viewers alike.

Harry Potter

The Harry Potter franchise follows the adventure of a young boy introduced a whole new world of magic, mayhem and darkness. Traversing the obstacles in his path, young Harry's rise to heroics pits him against Lord Voldemort, one of the most dangerous wizards in the world and all his minions.

Screen Rant

The best new harry potter character introduced in each book (that isn't harry potter).

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Harry Potter: Every Owner Of The Elder Wand

Harry potter: 15 must-read fanfics, harry potter star admits she briefly forgot she was in the magical franchise.

Decades later, Harry Potter 's beloved cast of characters help the story continue to endure. Unlike many other popular franchises, where the protagonist is the main draw, Harry Potter is only one of many compelling characters in his story , with some of the characters surrounding him proving at times to be even more intriguing than him. This begins in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone , as most of the characters it introduces are fascinating to begin with and given further depth as the series continues.

As the magical Harry Potter universe expands in the sequels, each installment introduces new characters who become integral to the series, despite being absent from the previous books. While there are many characters to choose from, the best new characters introduced in each book are the ones who are most entertaining, well-developed, and influential to the overarching series. Many of these characters are just as central to the narrative as Harry proves to be.

Harry Potter, Dumbledore, and Voldemort with the Elder Wand

The Elder Wand has had several owners throughout the Harry Potter franchise. Here's every wizard who has owned or possessed the famed Deathstick.

7 Hermione Granger

Harry potter and the sorcerer's stone.

The Sorcerer's Stone introduces many essential characters other than Harry, but none are quite as compelling as Hermione. As a fiercely intelligent, compassionate, loyal, and brave individual, Hermione easily could have been the protagonist of her own series. She is the glue that holds the main trio of Harry, Ron Weasley, and herself together , and without her, Harry and Ron would not have gotten very far, with Hermione being responsible for many of the group's greatest discoveries and achievements.

Even with her ambition and penchant for overachieving, Hermione never loses sight of what matters most as she remains loyal to her loved ones and consistently demonstrates kindness to others.

Despite Harry and Ron's close friendship, Hermione proves to be a better friend than Ron as she stays by Harry's side in Goblet of Fire and Deathly Hallows, whereas Ron's jealousy and insecurities cause him to temporarily abandon his friends. Even with her ambition and penchant for overachieving, Hermione never loses sight of what matters most, as she remains loyal to her loved ones and consistently demonstrates kindness to others. Even as an 11-year-old in the first book, Hermione is already an inspiring character who is wise beyond her years.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

The Chamber of Secrets expands the magical universe with the introduction of house-elves. While Dobby is mischievous and brings humor to the story, Dobby has valid reasons behind his actions that provide greater insight into the dynamic of wizarding families like the Malfoys and their dark connections. Dobby winning his freedom and the relationship he forms with Harry is a deeply satisfying arc and one of the best parts of the Chamber of Secrets ending .

Dobby's story could have ended there, but he instead becomes a recurring character throughout the series, appearing in every book that followed, except for Prisoner of Azkaban . He becomes a delightful source of assistance for Harry, from telling him about the Room of Requirement, the perfect place for Dumbledore's Army to practice, to freeing Harry and his friends from Malfoy Manor. All this time spent with Dobby makes his eventual death all the more heartbreaking.

5 Sirius Black

Harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban.

The Prisoner of Azkaban dives further into the story of what happened to Harry's parents, James and Lily, and who betrayed them to Voldemort. Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew all bring something unique to the story and their own connection to Harry's parents, but none of them are as captivating as Sirius. From believing he betrayed James and Lily and was Voldemort's right-hand man to learning that he was framed for crimes he did not commit, Sirius' Prisoner of Azkaban story is an emotional roller coaster .

Sirius Black spent 12 years imprisoned in Azkaban.

His impact goes beyond Prisoner of Azkaban , as he takes his responsibilities as Harry's godfather seriously and becomes a paternal figure in Harry's life. This makes Sirius' death in Order of the Phoenix all the more devastating, as Harry loses the man who was his godfather and his parents' best friend. Other than Cedric Diggory in Goblet of Fire , no other prominent and likable characters had unexpectedly died up to this point in the series, making Sirius' death all the more shocking and impactful.

4 Barty Crouch Jr.

Harry potter and the goblet of fire.

Barty Crouch Jr. impersonating Mad-Eye Moody is one of the Harry Potter books' best plot twists , a genuinely surprising and sinister revelation that completely recontextualizes Moody's actions throughout the story. While there are many Death Eaters in the series, Barty Crouch Jr. feels more unique than most of them. Nothing in the series can rival his journey as a ruthless teenage Death Eater, an Azkaban prisoner, secretly escaping and living under his father's Imperius Curse, and spending a year in disguise as part of an elaborate scheme to bring Voldemort's return to fruition.

Part of what makes Crouch such an interesting character is the mystique that surrounds him , as much about him remains a mystery after being given the Dementor's Kiss. Most of the time spent with him in the story is in the guise of Moody, who, despite being rough around the edges, seems like an ultimately well-intentioned ally of Harry's. Crouch manages to be resourceful and even likable through this disguise, all while manipulating events to bring back Voldemort, which completely changes the entire series.

3 Luna Lovegood

Harry potter and the order of the phoenix.

As memorable as Order of the Phoenix 's villainous Dolores Umbridge is, the best character this book introduces is Luna Lovegood. Despite entering the series at a relatively late stage, Luna quickly feels like a natural extension to the core group that includes Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny Weasley, and Neville Longbottom. Luna's eccentricities, her kindness, and her knack for saying uncomfortable truths make her a wonderful and valuable character to have in the story.

With the majority of prominent Hogwarts student characters being from Gryffindor or Slytherin, it is a refreshing change of pace for Luna to be a Ravenclaw, and her belonging to this house helps with finding Ravenclaw's lost diadem, one of Voldemort's Horcruxes.

The connections Luna makes with these characters and as a member of Dumbledore's Army extends into Half-Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows , where she remains a vital character. With the majority of prominent Hogwarts student characters being from Gryffindor or Slytherin, it is a refreshing change of pace for Luna to be a Ravenclaw, and her belonging to this house helps with finding Ravenclaw's lost diadem, one of Voldemort's Horcruxes. Luna also provides much of the comedy and heart during the final books.

2 Horace Slughorn

Harry potter and the half-blood prince.

Instead of introducing a new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor , Severus Snape takes the position in Half-Blood Prince , with Horace Slughorn replacing Snape as the Potions professor. While many characters who knew Harry's parents were more so associated with James, Slughorn's connection was to Lily, who had been one of his favorite students, giving Slughorn and Harry a distinct connection. Slughorn's past with Tom Riddle was even more important, though.

Both Lily and Harry were members of the Slug Club, an exclusive club for Slughorn's favorite students who were talented or famous.

Slughorn being the one to tell a young Riddle about Horcruxes was a game-changing revelation that clarified a great deal about Voldemort and finally exposed the way to defeat him for good. This set up the plot of the final book and moved the story into its endgame stages. Beyond his importance to the plot, Slughorn has a satisfying arc of his own as he divulges the information he regrets sharing all those years ago, and fights alongside his colleagues and students during the Battle of Hogwarts, even dueling Voldemort at one point.

1 Gellert Grindelwald

Harry potter and the deathly hallows.

Gellert Grindelwald is first mentioned on the back of Albus Dumbledore's chocolate frog card in the first book, but he does not appear until the last book in the series. Grindelwald proves to be integral to Dumbledore's backstory and to the discovery of the Elder Wand. As a powerful dark wizard decades before Voldemort's rise to power, Grindelwald adds new dimensions to the history of dark magic, which was later explored in the Fantastic Beasts films.

Much of the mystery and intrigue in Deathly Hallows ties back to Grindelwald , as Harry gradually learns more about the dark wizard's role in Dumbledore's past and why he is the key to what Voldemort seeks. Grindelwald is one of many ways that Deathly Hallows pays off small details from earlier in the series in a surprising and satisfying fashion. He is the best new character introduced in Deathly Hallows who shaped the trajectory of the Harry Potter franchise in later years.

Harry Potter

Harry Potter is a multimedia franchise about an orphaned boy who enrolls at Hogwarts School of Wizardry, where he learns the truth about himself, his family, and the terrible evil that haunts the magical world. Adapted from the novels, Harry Potter is an eight-episode film saga that follows the journey of Harry Potter and his friends, Hermoine Granger and Ron Weasley, as they navigate the tricky world of growing up, school life, and magic. Starting from year one and moving to their seventh year, the films chronicle the students' time at Hogwarts while unfurling a sinister plot that centers around the unsuspecting Harry. With the return of the dark wizard, Voldemort, the students and professors at Hogwarts will fight to carry on as the world around them may change forever. Harry Potter has expanded beyond the world of its films and novels with several video games, a spin-off film series titled Fantastic Beasts, and even attractions at Universal Studios.

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Recommended Reviews

Harry Potter didn't 'save the world' at the end of the series, and the last sentence of the book is proof

At the end of "Harry Potter," the titular hero didn't save the Wizarding World from all its evils.
Harry's last thought before the series' epilogue is if a house-elf will make him a sandwich.
Wizard supremacy appears to be alive and well 19 years after the Battle of Hogwarts.

Harry Potter is lauded as the brave and successful hero of his titular fantasy series , but what actually changed after he defeated Voldemort?

The real evils plaguing the Wizarding World cut deeper than one powerful villain. And based on Harry's thoughts right after the Battle of Hogwarts, his actions didn't get to the root of the issue.

Harry's final thought in the last chapter of 'Deathly Hallows' proves how limited his success was

In the last sentence of "Deathly Hallows" before the series' epilogue, we learn Harry's thoughts after the Battle of Hogwarts:

"He turned away from the portraits, thinking now only of the four-poster bed lying waiting for him in Gryffindor Tower, and wondering whether Kreacher might bring him a sandwich there."

Kreacher, a house-elf, is essentially Harry's personal slave. In the Wizarding World, house-elves are imprisoned and forced to do manual labor despite the fact that wizards could easily accomplish those tasks using, you know, magic.

But hierarchies aren't about pragmatism. They're about power. In this world, that means maintaining the status of "pure-blood" wizards.

Voldemort used wizard-supremacist ideals to justify his brutal ascent to power, and Harry spent his entire adolescence fighting to defeat him. But mere hours after his ultimate triumph, Harry endorses the very system that Voldemort personified ... because he wants a snack.

But maybe we should cut Harry some slack. After all, he was only 17 when he cast the charm that ended Voldemort's life. And the battle — that the house-elves also fought in — must have been tiring.

Defeating Voldemort didn't magically end all notions of oppression and wizard supremacy

At the end of the series , it seems like the entire Wizarding World has deluded itself into thinking that the war was won the minute Tom Riddle drew his last breath.

Unsurprisingly, 19 years later, wizard supremacy is alive and well

In the series' epilogue, as Harry arrives at Platform 9 3/4 to send his children off to Hogwarts, his son Albus worries about being sorted into Slytherin.

The Hogwarts house refused to stand against Voldemort during the Battle of Hogwarts, and apparently, it still has a bad reputation.

Ron also nonchalantly admits to using a Confundus charm on a muggle, so evidently, it's still fine to take away someone's agency if they're not a wizard.

The billowing steam from the Hogwarts Express blankets the scene, and it all feels a bit too familiar.

As the train pulls away, I picture Albus and James Potter settling into their carriages and pulling out food that their parents packed for the ride. Despite my best efforts, I can't help but wonder: Who made their sandwiches?

This story was originally published in November 2021 and most recently update on August 23, 2024.

Watch: Four places in London that Harry Potter fans need to visit

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Things To Do | The Book Club: “West With Giraffes” and more…

Things To Do

Things to do | the book club: “west with giraffes” and more short reviews from readers.

In many ways, “West with Giraffes” is the type of historical fiction I prefer: It’s based on a real event (newspaper clippings are slipped between the chapters); the story centers around animals; the tale is narrated by fictitious characters with interesting backstories; and a few real people are featured. Although the ubiquitous double timeline is used here, the contemporary story still includes the protagonist of the historic storyline, lending greater coherence to the novel. It’s the surprising tale of giraffes transported across the U.S. in 1938 — after they survived a hurricane — in a knocked-together truck that should never have survived the trip. Wild Girl and Boy are engaging characters, and they function as the cynosure of this coming-of-age tale. Through them, two damaged, uncertain young people meet and experience healing — no psychotherapy required. Rutledge’s writing is competent, and I loved her animal-centric comments (i.e., “Animals know the secret to life”). The book ends with a gentle twist, and a comforting sense of closure. — 2 1/2 stars (out of 4); Neva Gronert, Parker

“The Explorers: A New History of America in Ten Expeditions,” by Amanda Bellows (William Morrow, 2024)

The subtitle is a misnomer if I ever saw one, since this is really not a new history. The expeditions that Bellows chose to highlight are fairly well known, from Sacajawea’s literal trail blazing with Lewis & Clark’s Corps of Discovery to Sally Ride’s work with NASA and space exploration. What’s new here is perhaps the juxtaposition of these particular stories, underscoring the importance of exploration to the history of this country. — 2 stars (out of 4); Kathleen Lance, Denver

“The Casual Vacancy,” by J.K. Rowling (Little, Brown, 2012)

This author is best known for her Harry Potter series, but she’s a fine writer for adults, too. The title is the British term for a temporary opening in an official position, in this case the town council, which becomes a catalyst in a struggle between many divisions of society: teens versus parents, rich versus poor, teachers versus pupils. Complicating the situation, will a housing development remain associated with the local council? The plot will convince you of Rowlings’ ability to deal with complex storylines and even more fascinating characters of all types. Her first novel for adults, about a little town with a historic abbey, square and other assets, becomes the setting for pitched warfare among, dare I say, “selfish” interest groups. — 3½ stars (out of 4); Bonnie McCune, Denver (bonniemccune.com)

“A Day in the Life of Abed Salama,” by Nathan Thrall (Metropolitan Books)

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for general nonfiction in 2004, this is, essentially, an account of a Palestinian man’s search for his young son, following a tragic and fatal traffic accident near Jerusalem involving a school bus. Interspersed with harrowing scenes of the accident itself and the father’s increasingly desperate search to discover his son’s fate are sections that basically explain “how we got here” in that part of the Middle East historically, culturally, ethnically, bureaucratically, militarily and geo-politically. Thrall’s book puts a human face on the complex issues in this volatile region. If you ever wondered “How did we get here?” while watching the news from the Middle East, this book is a good place to start to find an understanding. — 4 stars (out of 4); Kathleen Lance, Denver

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New ‘Harry Potter’ Book Released, Franchise Actress Writes Introduction Amid JK Rowling Lawsuit

in Harry Potter

A person with wavy, shoulder-length light brown hair is kneeling and holding an open book, reminiscent of a new Harry Potter book. They are dressed in school uniform attire, including a grey sweater, white shirt, and a striped tie. The background includes other people partially visible and dressed similarly.

Good news, Harry Potter fans – there’s more magic to add to your reading list this week!

J.K. Rowling’s iconic series has been deeply embedded in pop culture since the 1990s, with millions of copies sold and eight movie adaptations, plus a spinoff series, following its success.

(L to R) Hermione Granger, Harry Potter, and Ronald Weasley in the snow in 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban'

Centered on Harry Potter, a young orphan wizard destined to confront the dark Lord Voldemort , the series gained acclaim for addressing complex themes in a way that resonated with younger audiences. However, the once-united fanbase has splintered recently due to the growing controversy around its creator.

The drama began in 2019 when Rowling expressed her support for Maya Forstater, a British researcher dismissed from her job after tweeting that transgender women cannot alter their biological sex . By using the hashtag #IStandWithMaya, many interpreted Rowling’s statement as a denial of transgender identities.

British author J.K. Rowling posing confidently, looking directly into the camera with red hair, a white blouse, and a black blazer against a black background. This image represents the Harry Potter author's confidence in an argument against Olympic medalist Imane Khelif, rekindling transphobic allegations against J.K. Rowling

Any doubt over whether Rowling is against the transgender community has been dispelled in the years since. In 2020, Rowling reacted to an article referring to “people who menstruate” by posting a series of sarcastic comments on X (formerly Twitter) . She quipped, “I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?” This response led critics to accuse her of reducing womanhood to biology and disregarding transgender and non-binary people.

Following this, Rowling published an extensive blog post to defend her stance, where she argued that erasing biological sex could negatively affect women’s rights. Her comments sparked widespread criticism from fans, LGBTQ+ groups, and cast members from the Harry Potter films.

Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Emma Watson (Hermione Granger), and Eddie Redmayne (Newt Scamander) were among those who publicly disagreed with Rowling , voicing their support for transgender rights, which Rowling later criticized.

JK Rowling visits the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Japan

Since then, Rowling’s focus on gender identity has intensified, with many of her posts on X now addressing the issue. Even Elon Musk suggested she change her tone and post something more positive, which is an achievement in itself.

Earlier this summer, Algerian Olympian boxer Imane Khelif named Rowling and Musk in a cyberbullying lawsuit that centered around online critics (Rowling included) who accused Khelif – who was born female, with no published medical evidence of having XY chromosomes or elevated levels of testosterone – of being male due to the fact that she was previously disqualified from the 2023 world championship after failing an unspecified gender eligibility test.

Despite the ongoing controversy, several new Harry Potter projects are in development . HBO is producing a seven-season (one per book) TV reboot , which will feature an entirely new cast in the iconic roles of Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, and other beloved characters like Severus Snape and Draco Malfoy.

Harry Potter, played by Daniel Radcliffe, on set of the Harry Potter series

Additionally, Audible is preparing its own version of the Harry Potter series, with a full-cast audiobook adaptation involving hundreds of voice actors.

This week, a book was also published under the Harry Potter banner. While this doesn’t continue the adventures of Harry and friends , it does include more detail and backstories for several elements of the Harry Potter universe. “From the Wizarding Archive” is an eBook and audiobook that combines 80 articles and anecdotes, such as “backstories on big characters and additional context on the stories.”

Harry potter, wearing gryffindor robes and glasses, sits at a table in the hogwarts dining hall, looking pensive with students and food around him.

These were previously published in 2016 as “Pottermore Presents,” a series of three eBooks. With the Pottermore brand now discontinued (the website was rebranded as WizardingWorld.com in 2019), fans the repackaged version of the stories was released on August 29 , complete with a new foreword penned by actress Evanna Lynch, who played Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter films.

Fans can check out a five-minute sample of the book here before purchasing the book, which retails for $11.99 on Amazon . Check out the summary below:

If you’ve ever wondered why Squibs are never offered a place at Hogwarts, what happened when Vernon Dursley first met James Potter, or how Dumbledore and McGonagall formed their lifelong friendship, From the Wizarding Archive should go straight to the top of your wish list. Containing 80 articles written by J.K. Rowling for the original Potterm ore website and available for the first time in audio, exclusively from Audible, Harry Potter fans everywhere are in for a treat.

Luna Lovegood wearing her Quibbler glasses in 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince'

Lynch has previously drawn controversy in her own right for vocalizing her support of Rowling. Back in 2020, Lynch deleted her Twitter after releasing a statement on Rowling’s views on gender identity. The actor said, “It’s irresponsible to discuss such a delicate topic” as transgender rights on the social media platform, adding, “I wish [Rowling] wouldn’t” and that “that said, as a friend and admirer of Jo I can’t forget what a generous and loving person she is.”

In 2023, however, Lynch defended Rowling – with whom she previously exchanged letters at the age of 11 during her recovery from anorexia, well before being cast in Harry Potter – in an interview with The Telegraph .

“I was very naive when I was dragged into that conversation,” Lynch said. “I didn’t even know there were two sides. I had a view of, like, good and bad. I do have compassion for both sides of the argument. I know what it was like to be a teenager who hated my body so much I wanted to crawl out of my skin, so I have great compassion for trans people and I don’t want to add to their pain.”

Lynch went on to say, “I do also think it’s important that JK Rowling has been amplifying the voices of de-transitioners . I had this impulse to go, ‘Let’s all just stop talking about it,’ and I think probably I’m a bit braver now about having uncomfortable conversations … [Rowling’s] character has always been to advocate for the most vulnerable members of society. The problem is that there’s a disagreement over who’s the most vulnerable. I do wish people would just give her more grace and listen to her.”

Where do you stand on the controversy around JK Rowling?

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A review of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone By J. K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone By J. K. Rowling Bloomsbury Pub Ltd Paperback: 224 pages, Feb 2000, ISBN-13: 978-0747532743. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J. K. Rowling is a book about bravery and courage. As Professor Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, says "It takes a ...
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Lasting effect on the reader. 4.5. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Book Review. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J K Rowling is a thrilling read that hooks the reader from page one. Published in the year 1997, it is one of the highest grossing novels ever written. Some elements of the novel like its elaborate yet ...
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Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is the first book in the series. I gave it 5 stars. From the first chapter you are drawn into this fantastic world and that you just want to be part of. An adventure from the beginning to the very end. The friendship between Harry, Ron and Hermione is also developed so naturally.
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BOOK REVIEW. by Soman Chainani ; illustrated by Julia Iredale. In a rousing first novel, already an award-winner in England, Harry is just a baby when his magical parents are done in by Voldemort, a wizard so dastardly other wizards are scared to mention his name.
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Harry Potter Series. Orphan Harry learns he is a wizard on his 11th birthday when Hagrid escorts him to magic-teaching Hogwarts School. As a baby, his mother's love protected him and vanquished the villain Voldemort, leaving the child famous as "The Boy who Lived." With his friends Hermione and Ron, Harry has to defeat the returned "He Who Must ...
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9/10. The Philosopher's Stone is the first in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series of seven novels that have made her the most successful literary author of all time, selling in excess of 400 million copies world-wide. The books are read and enjoyed by children and adults alike and have also been made into hugely popular films.
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4.5. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Book Review. ' Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban' is one of the best Harry Potter books ever written because it incorporates a multitude of themes and ideas into a children's novel and makes it a way bolder book than the others. Its ability to still be a children's book but impart ...
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An introduction to Harry Potter. For the one person reading this who's never heard of Harry Potter - it's a seven-book series written by British author J.K. Rowling. The Philosopher's Stone, the first in the series was first published in 1997 to commercial and critical success. The first book was then turned into a film in 2001 to, once ...
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With the story unfurling in diary format, bright-pink-highlighted grayscale illustrations help move the plot along. There are slight gaps in the storytelling and the pacing is occasionally uneven, but Lina is full of spunk and promotes self-acceptance. A jam-packed opener sure to satisfy lovers of the princess genre.
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Share your opinion of this book. This sequel to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (1998) brings back the doughty young wizard-in-training to face suspicious adults, hostile classmates, fretful ghosts, rambunctious spells, giant spiders, and even an avatar of Lord Voldemort, the evil sorcerer who killed his parents, while saving the Hogwarts ...
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In HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE, Harry Potter is left on his aunt and uncle's doorstep as a baby after his parents are killed. For 10 years he's forced to sleep in a cupboard under the stairs while his bullying cousin, Dudley, is spoiled rotten. The summer before the start of secondary school, a letter arrives with his name on it, no ...
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Yes, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood is a very good book in that it has a very interesting plot and is also a crucial book in the series. It anchors the plot and events of the first five books to the finale of the series, which ties all loose ends and cliffhangers that leave the readers hanging. Furthermore, ' Harry Potter and the Half-Blood ...
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HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS

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