Rating: 
Summary: Fifth year
Review: In this book, Harry is a far cry than the person he had been in the first one. Finally, he gets the girl of his dreams, then screws it up. There is a new headmistress, a 'High Inquisitor of Hogwarts' who rules everything, and makes silly new rules that give the people at Hogwarts no freedom. Harry again meets Voldemort face to face, and loses one of the people he cares about the most.
Rating: 
Summary: Once again, Rowling rocks the house.
Review: I really loved this book, as I love all the Harry Potters. It was definitely scary, so scary I would recommend these books for teenagers and up. How can Rowling call it a children's book? Ah well, despite British slang and all, it was excellent. It keeps you guessing. And the person who dies in the end, you wouldn't have guessed. Also, Harry discovers why Voldemort wants to kill him, though it's a little complicated. It was kind of a random read and Harry has serious anger problems. (Stephen King thinks the capitals need to be nixed during these tantrums.... lol) Also, any suspicions about Mrs. Figg you have are correct. There is a lot of explaining of... well... the unexplained. But there isn't a whole lot of action until the last few chapters. Voldemort (or dearly referred to as Tom Riddle) makes a CAMEO for crying out loud. He's barely in it. But hey, all I can say is: WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Rating:
Summary: Defense Against the Dark Rowling
Review: I have to say, I've read a few of the less than stellar reviews of this book and it rather saddens me. While it's truly fantastic that Rowling's readers not simply love a book on the basis of its four predecessors, that they are constantly raising standards, I think it is an absolute atrocity that those self same readers do not give Ms. Rowling the benefit of the doubt that every word on the page is intentional. To think otherwise does a severe injustice to the author. It also upsets me that most of the negative reviews I've read stem from the reader measuring the book by his or her own set of standards and not by the standards which it sets up for itself. Does Rowling succeed in doing what she herself intended with the book? My take on this is yes, absolutely. We've all heard by now that the fifth installment of the Harry Potter series is a shade darker and a hundred pages longer. This, (although it is to some) should come as no surprise. That progression was set up with the very first sequel. What is surprising, however is that what many have said is the book's weakest point is actually what I found to be most rewarding: Harry has in the course of one summer become highly irrational, incredibly emotional and moodier than Mad Eye. In short, he has become so unreasonable it is incredibly frustrating to read. But to paraphrase a certain bearded wizard, too often the older and experienced make the fatal mistake of forgetting what youth is. If forgetfulness is a measure of age then, Rowling couldn't be younger. In addition to the very real pressures of standardized testing at schools, Harry finds himself a bundle of emotional contradictions and always at odds with what he's feeling and what he's thinking; pulled in two different directions at all times. Rowling has very intelligently used this juncture of her character's emotional growth as a tool to both illustrate and reveal another plot point in the saga. His teen-aged angst threatening to tear him apart from within parallels a very measurable external danger (Lord Voldemort) who also threatens the very same thing. This, while in and of itself is just smart writing, speaks to another point of contention among the fans: Harry's growth. For reasons unbeknownst to me, some readers have taken issue with the fact that the books get progressively less "children's story-esque." Apparently, their own children simply do not grow. Rowling's choice to allow her characters (and subsequently her fictions) to grow with the readers that originally put her on the map is as daring as it is well informed and should no more be criticized then discounted. Make no mistake, this was a choice. And a good one at that. The universe she invites us to look in on expands without contradicting itself. The rules don't change, they just get more specific. No easy task. Decades from now, when the series is finished, it will not simply be something older parents suggest to newer ones, whose children are just starting to get excited about literature. It will not be a "The Shoes" series, it will not be a "Sweet Valley High/Hardy Boys" or even a "Stories of Prydain." It will be among the must-reads of sci-fi and fantasy lovers everywhere, canonized with the likes of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. Coincidence? I think not. These same readers take issue with the thematic implications of government and education. Now, comparing it to the standards usually set when measuring the value of a children's story, I can understand why that might be cause for apprehension in some parents. Choosing what messages you want your children to be initially introduced to is of the highest importance. Admittedly, children aren't simply born with the ability to gather information and on the basis of rational thought, choose a conclusion. It seems to me though, that that is exactly why these issues are not raised until book five. As singular as the story and its events are, it is still seven separate books each with their own individual identity, each addressing its own individual themes. Is it then, all that surprising that life parallel fiction? That like the character's Defense Against the Dark Arts lessons, we the readers are now finally learning to identify and defend ourselves against a grown-up life replete with corruption and misguided, bureaucratic good intentions? There are, after all, such things in the world. While themes of corruption in government are definitely present, what is equally present are the themes of truth and honesty and their implicit virtues, as represented by the Order of the Phoenix. Rowling sets up a clear drama of two opposing forces and like all good writers, uses their inherent conflict to tell a very satisfying fiction while teaching an equally probing lesson that makes the reader question much more than just why such-and-such a character had to be killed off. Why, all of a sudden, it is distasteful for some to have an inkling of drama in their stories, however, might just forever be a mystery.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing and derivative
Review: I gave it a 2 only because I expected much more after the wonderful Books 3 and 4, and the long wait for 5. I finished it last night, and I felt unsatisfied. The ending is disappointing considering the pages and pages of frustration I endured in the middle with regard to Professor Umbridge. There was no payoff in the end. I can think of 5 or 6 incidents in the book that were positively gripping and heart-pounding, but the stuff in between was boring narrative. It was as though JK was trying to create exciting scenes that would be visually pleasing in a movie. I think she succeeded, but the story as a whole suffered. The ending reminding me of the disappointing ending in the movie adaptation of the Sorcerer's Stone--a weak, vague explanation of Harry's powers with regard to Voldemort (love can conquer all--a little sappy) that did not further the Harry Potter epic at all. I know Harry is now 15, but he is annoying and grumpy throughout the book. The book is much darker, and I like that, the books mature as Harry does. And the Order of the Phoenix is exciting, but derivative. The book tries to be more grown up, but instead is less readable for adults than the first one.
Rating: 
Summary: Not as good as it hopefully gets
Review: I guess it was an essential part of the whole series, but I was disappointed with its editing... It seemed like Rowling could have made it a 100 pages shorter and still gotten her point across (the last chapter was unnecessary). Another thing about it was that this book was all about Harry Harry and more Harry which made everybody else incl his best friends take a back seat. One of the things I and my friends always enjoyed was how Rowling brought out Ron and Hermione's characters and expressions and in this book you were just left hanging about what they thought and felt. I hope Book 6 turns out to be much better. I am a big HP fan but I guess the OOTP was really not worth a whole 3 year wait.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing, but sad
Review: This book is just as wonderful as the others.The only thing is the death is very sad. I do not think he should have died.Maybe he will come back some how?
Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Adventure
Review: Probably the best in the series so far, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix takes you to places that you could never imagine. I read the book in 4 days. I stayed up all night one night reading because I was so hooked to it. ONce you start, you can't stop. I can say maybe I was a little disappointed because I have been waiting for the book so long. I had expected so much because it had taken so long to write. Even though I was a little disappointed, I still loved the book, and plan to read it again. 5 stars by far.
Rating:
Summary: great
Review: this book is nearly as great as the 4th book. One minor thing i did not like is the books climax did not live up to the length of the book to get there, nor was it as compelling. The 4th book did give a nice climax, with lots of action up to it. although i would not let these facts detere you from buying this book, its a great book with interesting suprises, as you learn more about harry's mind and feelings, same goes for his friends.
Rating:
Summary: Rob's Review
Review: J.K. Rowling has again written a novel which has captivated me. The plot is easy to follow, and very well written. I liked the book a lot because it starts out full of action, and ends the same way. Mrs. Rowling has done a very good job with each book so far, I can't wait until the sixth book comes out!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Not like other Harry Potter books, but still good!
Review: It's been interesting to skim through some of the other reviews on this site, it helps me to clarify my own feelings about this book. There were a lot of things I liked about it, some things I didn't, but overall it was a good read and one I recommend. There's no doubt that the Harry in this book is not a very pleasant guy. He's sullen, angry and at times mean to his friends. I do think it may have been a little over the top and hammered home too much in fact. Yet I felt he grew some in maturity through the book, particularly in his teaching the other kids in the club and standing up to tell his story about Voldemort returning. He does more "real" in some ways, that he has failings and is not always the nicest person around. I think a lot of us can relate to being in a somewhat foul mood at times. The book is definitely long and probably could have done with some more editing. However, I didn't find it quite as tedious as Book 4, which I felt suffered from this more. This one seemed to keep the action and events moving a bit more, and there was a lot of interesting stuff going on, plenty of new characters and new situations. I would still rank Book 3 as the best of the series though. I have mixed feelings about the killing of a main character. It did seem somewhat unnecessary to me, and didn't really serve much purpose. And I almost didn't realize at first that the person had even died, it could have been better written. But I think it increases the suspense to know that everyone is in danger...particularly in a children's series you never really worry about the main characters, you know they will be fine. Rowling keeps us guessing, that's for sure! Overall, it's a great book and does not let faithful readers of the series down. Many authors would tend to get lazy and not rise to as high standards when they know people will buy their books no matter what. I'm pleased that Rowling is still obviously hard at work to be sure that we enjoy ourselves and come out satisfied.
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