Rating: 
Summary: Excellent
Review: I'm already finished with this, in less than two full days. It was better than the first four books combined.When does #6 come out?
Rating: 
Summary: Good
Review: This book was really good. Not my favorite, no. But very good all the same. In some chapters, it takes a little while to get to the point, but still very good. There is one part in this book that really got to me though. As you already know, JK Rowling kills off someone, and I was REALLY mad at who it was. Still am, actually. That's the only reason I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5. This book is also darker than the rest, for obvious reasons. But if you're a fan, I reccommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: Dark, Deep, Daring---and Triumphant
Review: So there I was, caught in a dilemma, leaving London very early on Saturday, June 21st, and I was torn---I knew that I needed to go to bed at a reasonable time, but I had also seen the signs trumpeting the news that Borders would be open from midnight to 1 AM to sell the new Harry Potter book...Exhaustion? Ha! What would Harry Potter do? Stay awake! So I did get a copy of the UK edition...and finished it on the plane, in one, long, glorious six-hour gulp of reading. The flight attendants all wanted me to tell them the plot...But I wouldn't. This is definitely a book to experience for yourself. It's a good book, maybe the best of the series so far, with a steady, sturdy drive towards the climax and denouement---but it's the darkest tale yet, full of angst, uncertainty, conflicts, disillusionments, and identity crises. It doesn't have nearly so simple a plot-line-arc as the first three books, and Harry is not nearly as simple a character as when he was at eleven, twelve, and thirteen years old. He can be magentic, repulsive, generous, selfish, selfless, all at once---in short, Harry is growing up, and in addition to the ordinary teenage traumas, he's got scholastic and magical ones to face. And face them he does, with strength, courage, intelligence, and the help of good friends. There is some very interesting (and very timely) commentary on the power of the press to manipulate public feelings, and some memorable new characters (the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor is a truly hateful woman, and a type I think many people will recognize, more interested in schooling than in education), and more in-depth information about different faculty members' backgrounds and characters (the more I read about Minerva McGonigle, the more I admire her, and wish I'd had her for a teacher in high school). Ron and Hermione are also growing up, in ways both obvious and subtle. The focus on the school-ness of the series is strong again---more about classes and exams, though we don't get to hear about the results of Harry's OWLS until the next book, alas... I recognized and sympathized with Harry's coming-of-age frustrations, pains, and stumblings, even more so as he discovered new facts about his idolized father's feet of clay and his beloved godfather's recklessness. I felt myself holding my breath, my eyes glued to the page, as Harry struggled, physically, emotionally, and magically, against his many enemies, and I was absolutely mesmerized by the inevitable climactic battle scene with Lord Voldemort---vividly-written and horrifying-real. Yes, it's a dark book, but to insist that the story be all sweetness and light, a romantic, undangerous kiddie-adventure, would be doing a deep injustice to the character of Harry Potter (and to his legions of readers) and to the muse of fiction writing... I liked it very, very, very much---please, Ms. Rowling, don't make us wait so long next time!
Rating:
Summary: wonderful
Review: I really liked this book, but it was different from what everyone expected. I was very sad about the person that died, it was one of my favorite characters. It was very detailed and very surprising. I read it in two days!
Rating:
Summary: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Review: This was a great book. It was very stressful at times. Harry is now 15, and very moody. Not only is he dealing ...death, and Voldemort's return, but he's also dealing with The Ministry of Magic trying to discredit him.
His relationship with Dumbledore is different in this book, but his friendship with Ron and Hermione is as strong as ever. A lot happens in this book, including Harry goes on a date... and we finally learn why Voldemort is after Harry. A lot of loose ends get tied up, and it makes you really excited for Book 6!
Rating:
Summary: Best Potter book yet.
Review: Read it in 24 hours!
A friend recently observed that Rowling seems to be learning to write as she churns out Potter books. In my opinion, this is definitly the case. This book is the best yet. The characters have more depth, are more complex and, in short, are more realistic. Rowling keeps the plot twists coming on thick and reliably manages to create characters in each book who are evn more despicable thatn those in previous books -- no, I'm not going to give away who dies!
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Amazing
Review: The fifth book in the Harry Potter series is a bit different from the first four; Harry is in the throes of brooding adolescence and the threat of the Death Eaters looms overhead. Harry is haunted by nightmares and the Ministry of Magic is being as stupid and power hungry as it possibly can. But the Order of the Phoenix, an underground group devoted to thwarting the Dark Lord is on his side, as are some of his fellow students. The book includes a return of many old favorites; even Gilderoy Lockhart makes an appearance, and light is shed on a few who were previously mentioned. The plot is full of surprises, the characters grow and change, and in addition to the darkness of the general storyline, there are certainly times when the reader will be laughing out loud (those Weasley twins continue their shenanigens with a passion, especially when the new D.A.D.A. teacher turns out to be a nasty Ministry minion). J.K. Rowling continues her literary magic and fans should not be let down, though they'll probably cry their eyes out near the end.
Rating:
Summary: The best one yet!
Review: I thought I did good reading book 4 in 3 days but I outdid myself by reading book 5 in 2 days. I just had to keep going.
Rowling kept me on my toes with a lot of twists I did not expect. Order of the Phoenix (OOTP) explains a lot about the past while setting up for future events. Many familiar characters return, many new ones are introduced, and some regulars are more prominently featured. I think one particular person will make you feel proud of how he has changed. And just when you thought no other teacher could irritate both students and staff alike, someone else comes along to outdo Lockhart. OOTP shows Harry having to grow up and mature in many ways. Besides having to face peril like in the previous books and show grit and bravery, he must also mature in his emotions and learn how he must make wise decisions that will affect everyone around him and not just himself. Giving too much details will do a disservice to readers. But I can say that when Rowling said she cried when she killed a character, I now understand why. I, too, have grown fond of these characters. OOTP is one of the few books that has affected my thinking and my emotions and I believe it will affect all other readers as well.
Rating:
Summary: Best Book in the series
Review: After reading this book all I could do was go over it in my mind a million times. This is the best book so far in the series. You never know what is going to happen and it keeps you wondering. It explains things that people always wanted to know. You feel like you are inside the book and that you feel the emotions that the characters feel. When the character dies in this book (I'm not going to say who it is) you feel sad and feel like you lost someone too. You learn so much about the characters that you didn't know and it helps you to understand them better. There is more to this book then just trying to fight Voldemort. You get to see the characters grow up and go through different emotions. If you want to read a book that you will never forget and want to read over and over again this is the book for you.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful, Wonderful--worth the wait
Review: The weekend Harry Potter came out it rained and rained. Perfect excuse not to go out. Yes, what you have heard is true. This is longer and darker. Things happen that could be disturbing to the youngest of Harry's fans. But Harry is growing up. His enemies are growing more powerful and he's experiencing problems that all of us experience. All of this makes the tapestry richer and reading the story more rewarding. Harry and Ron and Hermione are growing up. They're becoming more independent and growing as individuals. It is this very thing that makes the book more enjoyable to read. As to the story, it is enough to say he who must not be named is trying to get something done and Harry will stop him. (If he didn't it wouldn't be much of a story.) There's more magic and Harry and others seem to know what they're doing as they use it rather than using magic in a haphazard way. Along the way, you're in for an enjoyable ride. Because the book is longer, we have more time to see many of the supporting characters. If you like Ron, you'll like what happens to him. He becomes a person in his own right. As does Neville. Hermione is as she always is, but she is no longer just a bratty know-it-all. If you want more plot details (but not too many), read the information from the publisher. If you're a fan, enjoy. If you're not, you need to figure out why.
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