Rating: 
Summary: Great Book
Review: Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm, I dunno. This book is very untypical for the Harry Potter books. Still a great book, mind you, but very unlike the first ones. I tend to lean toward liking the change, it seems that these books are growing up, along with the fans and Harry Potter himself. J.K. Rowling said herself that the series was going to get a lot darker, and it sure has. In my opinion, best book of the series, but I can see why JKR will lose some fans over this book, many people expected the books to stay the same cute, fun, books that the first four (well,....maybe three) were. I suppose that they thought the the fourth was a little strange too, but two in a row might have caused some people to question JKR. I, acctually, find it very refreshing that the books have grown up a bit because during my reading of the fourth one, I found myself thinking, "This is a bit juvinile" But wow, what a great book!
Rating: 
Summary: Not bad, but no rave reviews like the previous four
Review: The fifth book in the Harry Potter series came out yesterday, and I've just finished reading it. Since I'd had it on order at Amazon.com since *March 2001,* I've obviously been waiting for it for quite a while.Perhaps it's because I've been waiting for it's release for so long, but this book doesn't seem to measure up to the previous four. As I read it, I kept waiting for something "interesting" or "big" to happen...but it never did. Even the conclusion, which is always the most fast-paced, didn't rile me up and suck me into the storyline as it normally did. I think the biggest reason it failed to deliver the excitement of the previous Harry Potter books is the lack or scarcity of new information about the wizarding world. All of the previous books tell you something neat about Harry's world: New spells learned, new creatures discovered, a mystery to unravel (for example, the mysterious hissing in the walls that ended up being the basilisk in book two). Unfortunately, all those were either lacking in this book, or appeared to a lesser extent. There were creatures that looked like parts of trees (akin to stick-bugs in the 'real world,'), and an admittedly interesting winged horse-like creature (nothing like a pegasus, however) which is visible only to those who have seen death, but no new spells that come to mind. They focused on the oh-so-scary "O.W.L.S" exams and massive homework, but somehow still failed to instill a sense of urgency about exams in a reader. Finally, Harry's adversary in the Order of the Phoenix appeared to be the annoyingly sweet, yet obviously evil, Ministry of Magic employee, Professor Umbridge, who J.K. Rowling successfully made us love to hate, but seemed to occupy more of Harry's thoughts than his fear of Lord Voldemort, other than Harry's annoyance that no one seems to believe either Harry or Dumbledore when they insist the Dark Lord has returned. I'm sure there will be many readers who disagree with me, and I can't say it's not worth the read, but I'm just not able to give this last one the unending praise I lavished on the first book, despite having been (and remain) a die-hard Harry Potter fan. I still look forward to the last two books, but I hope they have more substance and excitement than this installment, for all its length.
Rating:
Summary: A mother's review of "Blue" Harry Potter
Review: Harry Potter (HP) and the Order of the Phoenix is a book I have waited for with anticipation and excitement! Since my son was eager to get started, and since I insisted I had to review it first, I read it through in under 12 hours. My concern was that the HP books would be getting "darker" as the series progressed, and I did not know if that meant my 9 year old would need to wait until he was older to read the Order of the Phoenix. Fortunately, I gave him the "all clear"! "Darker" is not how I would describe this one! As I read The Order of the Phoenix, the sense I had was that the book is more "Blue" than "Dark". But the end of the tale left me feeling brighter and lighter than I had felt since reading the HP & the Sorceror's Stone! In the 5th book Harry is growing up -- and going through the angst of the beginning teen years while facing the looming threat of Voldemort, the Death Eaters, and the foolishness of the Ministry of Magic. Of course, J.K. Rowling weaves many more things that weigh heavy on Harry from the onset and throughout this enthralling read! Her ability to tell a story kept me up through the night and all the morning! The first few books had more dialogue and less of Harry's 'thought life'. In the Order of the Phoenix, the reader seems to be left in Harry's head more than listening to his conversations. If there is a theme that runs through this book with Harry's behavior it is that Harry tends to react with anger rather than to respond with thought -- not a bad or unexpected part of growing up (and nothing I feel I need to protect my son from at this point in time.) Though initially Harry's frequent anger and upsetness made me question whether or not my 9 year old would be waiting a few years until he would be allowed to read this tome! But at the end I saw there may have been additional factors that added to Harry's anger and outbursts. I decided this book could be an excellent platform to use to talk with my young reader about anger and how to express it appropriately. Harry's love life is dealt with very well -- I was concerned that things could get 'steamy' as his interest in Cho Chang grew. There are no descriptions of physical intimacy that are not what I would consider "G" rated! I really liked the way J.K. Rowling let things progress between Harry and Cho, and then how the relationship evolved! I give her my praise and gratefulness! The love interests/life of Harry Potter (whom my son adores and respects)is NOT an issue I want to stir up with a 9 year old boy who still thinks girls are "yucky." As it is written: "Do not or arouse or awaken love until it so desires", and 9 years old is too young to arouse or awaken love! Finally, I have often read books through in one sitting, and after finishing them have not wanted to pick them up again for a long time. But I want to read The Order of the Phoenix again and immediately! It is not my favorite book of the series, but I want to go over it again and savor it! Hope you enjoy it too!
Rating: 
Summary: Great!
Review: This book, the fifth in the Harry Potter series was good. The begining gets you asking questions, and, of course, we're all wondering who's going to die.
I only gave it four stars because I couldn't get into in as much as I did the fourth book. The fourth book was so action-packed, it'd be hard to top.
There was absolutly nothing wrong with the fifth, to tell you the truth, it answered almost as many questions as it brought up.
If you are new to the series, don't start with this one. If not, you're in for at least a day of non-stop reading!
Rating:
Summary: Harry stands tall again, with new and old friends.
Review: Here he goes again... Don't you wonder if Harry has endured all he can? From a staggering start at No. 4 Privet and hasty introduction to Dumbledore's Order, he proves he is made of sterner stuff still in a great successor to the series. New friends, heavier losses, and a conversation with Dumbledore that is long overdue weave into the O.W.L. madness of the now famous, though possibly off his magical rocker, 'fifth year' and his companions. Not to mention, the hormones kick up a notch, and some genuinley funny moments keep the heroes' heads relatively straight. At times it seems Harry has had all he can stand, finally questioning the acts and thoughts of those around him as his time at Hogwarts heads into the final stretch, and he wonders what this world actually has in store for him. He's right to question, but even better, he also listens to their replies. Those he cares for deepest don't fail him, and he stands up for them yet again as well. Harry's circle of friends grows, and with them and the most powerful wizard the world knows supporting you, even the darkest situation has some glimmer of hope. With the return of You-Know-Who in the last book, you have to expect that once again, he and Harry have a meeting. Of course, there are still two books to go... so the less said about this meeting the better. Keeping things light are nose to the grindstone homework, Quidditch, love, and Fred and George taking their pranks (now for sale!) to a new level... and does Harry find the meaning of his dreams in Divination? Could Trelawney actually be worth couple of cents here? If you've heard the hype, but not begun to read the novels, well, what's keeping you? For anyone else who's got through the first four, but has yet to pick this up, umm... what's keeping you? Don't let the size of the book daunt you, it's a highly worthwhile effort, and there are more than enough conversation starters to keep Harry and friends (and enemies) the subject of talk of all ages, all summer...
Rating:
Summary: Order of the phoenix
Review: I just finished reading it and it was great, although everyone who has read the previous books will have noticed a change in the characters. Alot of stuff was revealed that really helps to explain harry's past...and the end of the books adds even more saddness to harry's future.
Rating:
Summary: A Worthy Continuation of the Story
Review: OoTP starts off with a bang and maintains momentum straight through to the end. There are many a surprise and unexpected revalation throughout the book, particularly as we get to meet new characters and learn more about the ones we have already met. Nearly everyone from the previous books makes an appearance, even though some of them are brief. As always, the characterizations are dead on, even when at first startling. After a moment or two, it all makes perfect sense. For example, the Ginny we thought we knew reveals new depth and subtlety and reminds us that, after all, she did grow up with seven older brothers. And many of the adults in Harry's life are revealed to be just as fallable as the rest of us. It isn't so much the development of characters and story as it is the expansion of Harry's worldview as he grows up. Through Harry, Rowling confronts some of society's attitudes towards the relationship between children and adults, crime and society, education and government, and the things we grow to take for granted. There are morals to the story, but never sermons, as Harry deals with the people and events in his life. I remember 15 years old and Rowling captures it well. The world is a harder and less forgiving place, and consequences come home to roost. And even the best of us make mistakes. Growing up, particularly if you are the prophesied David to Voldemort's Goliath, hurts but is as inevitable as breathing. I'm glad I bought the hardback and didn't wait for this to hit the library or borrow it from a friend. It was worth every penny and being up through the night to read it.
Rating:
Summary: Distinctly Different, but just as Good!
Review: Finished it yesterday! Another great story for teen or adult. Harry Potter and The Order of the Pheonix takes a decidedly different tone than in previous books. The story is much darker, with a number of interesting parallels between the plot-lines and current events (I won't tell you which). Harry is growing up, he's not the same Harry from the first novel. There's much more teenage rebellion present, and major sub-plot involves Harry having a crush on a girl. Still, the characters are true to form, and the story is well built upon the foundation of the earlier books. At over 800 pages, it's clear why JK Rowling needed three years to write the story. There are a number of new revelations for Harry, new activities going at Hogwarts, all which makes for interesting reading, and a good story.
Rating:
Summary: An Exploration Of Darkness
Review: I won't rehash the plot. Following on in tone from the increasingly dark previous volumes, Phoenix is a raging torrent of Harry's mounting anger and hostility. Furious at the Minstry of Magic, the gossiping press which create even more suspicion against him from his classmates, the new Dark Arts teacher Umbridge (distinctly warranted in this case!) and even Dumbledore, this book may as well have been titled Harry Potter And The Anger Of Within. Slightly less structered than Goblet Of Fire - which I think has been the peak of the series so far - this is a sometimes rambling but always entertaining episode of Harry's school year. The actual plot points are less gripping than previous volumes, and the finale, while extremely exciting (some magnificent battles in the Ministry, including the one everyone wanted to see) is less rewarding - maybe because of the infamous "Sit down Harry, I am about to tell you everything..." paragraph being leaked leading to unreachable expectations. The much heralded death of a main character is ominous and weighs heavily on the script, with one early incident providing a hearty scare. Overall this is another excellent part of the series, and while not up to the standard set by Goblet, definitely worth your time. I was glued to it for the whole day (And I mean 20 hours!) I read it.
Rating:
Summary: Rowling's Fifth Book Continues Past Momentum
Review: Like 8.5 million other people, I received my copy of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix yesterday and began reading voraciously right away. I compared it to a movie release that I had been looking forward to for a long time; you don't go to the theater and watch half the movie, get up, leave and finish a few days later. You watch the entire movie in one sitting. After eagerly anticipating this book for the past three years, I decided to commit my entire day yesterday to thoroughly reading Book 5.
My patience and endurance paid off. Rowling has done it again, brilliantly tying up loose ends from the past four books and starting new plot lines perfectly. I have always thought that these books are readable independently from one another; although it makes sense to start with Book 1 and read through Book 5 chronologically, I realized as I read Book 5 that someone could pick up this book and enjoy it on its own. And from cover to cover, this is an amazing stand-alone book.
As other reviewers have stated, this book is more psychological than those in the past. I thought this was great, for as Potter and company grow older, it makes sense that their thoughts will continue to develop and delve deeper into their consciousnesses. For example, there is a brief paragraph about Harry's first fifth-year encounter with a female interest from the past, in which he wishes he were laughing and telling jokes to a group of popular kids instead of the dorky children he is actually with. This is such an honest truth about the way adolescent (and sometimes grown-up) minds work when encountering someone we want to empress.
Aside from the psychologically human aspects Rowling adds to this tome, she continues to make Harry's world the entire world, not just that of Hogwart's. But she is not showing us a magical earth for the sake of expansion, rather she is showing the natural progression of Harry's understanding of his life and how it is connected to the far reaches of the Earth. I think sometimes authors expand their stories in this way because they run out of material in the small world they have created around their primary characters, but Rowling brushes aside that tendency and just tells a great story. Rarely am I invited to a new world like this and felt so welcomed, so excited by what I am to learn next.
There are so many other little aspects I could point out, such as the wonderful way new characters show up in the book while the old characters continue their personal development. The same goes for the dozens of plot lines and little things that make Harry special. Through the other four books, the only problem I had was that Harry did not seem special enough--he just seemed to get lucky at the right times and had people to help him out. It was as if anyone could be in Harry's position. In this book, Rowling directly addresses that folly and establishes that sure, Harry has gotten lucky and has help from others, but there is a reason for those things and there are things that set him apart from the rest.
Last, I am amazed by the way that Rowling continues to build social commentary into a kid's book. She talks about educational reform, racism, and the power of government intervention on everyday lives. I even saw hints of the debates that followed 9/11--should one government interfere with a potential threat, or wait until the threat becomes real? I do not know if Rowling intended to bring that into play (it parallels the storyline of how the Ministry denies the resurgence of Voldemort), but it fits nicely with this day in time.
All in all, I had no hesitation giving this book 5 stars. It is brilliantly written, perfectly paced, and invites us to a world that is so close to our own and yet so far away. Let the momentum from the first four push you into the pages of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
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