Rating: 
Summary: Evil? Most readers would think not....(parents read)
Review: Some ask "If these books really aren't evil, why are so many parents not allowing their children to get involved in Harry Potter?" True, these books take place in a magical world with wizards and spells, but they do not revolve around satan or demons etc etc. There is a certain part of one of the books of the series- an astrology teacher. I, being a strong christian child, disagree with astrology. But, for the most part of the book, her "tea-cup predictions" and "futures told" are regarded and hogwash. Except for a one serious prediction, which the student didn't ask for. But she is still considered full of balogni by the author/book/reader. Just in real life-there IS evil out there, and you may find it even when not looking. The spells used in the books are to benefit the students in Hogwarts (the wizarding school Harry attends), and defenses against the "Dark Lord" Voldemort's powerful spells. Which is like christianity, we have to learn to defend and protect ourselves from Satan. These books are very good, and if you read them, you should understand. Some reviews and newspaper/magazine articles only tell parents about the negative things-and not how truly great these books are. I am 12 years old, not quite your normal child. As I hope you may have noticed, I am quite literate. And although I am young, I think I know much more about these books than some adults do, and can read pretty deeply into them. Please read these books before banning them from your child. Oh, and unless you have read the books, the movie trailors won't help. They put on a quite "serious" effect, and don't show the comedy relief/fun parts of the book. I hope I don't sound too grouchy! Just trying to get my point across with my positive pount on these books! They are the best I've read!!!! Good-day :)
Rating:
Summary: Evil? Most readers would think not....(parents read)
Review: Some ask "If these books really aren't evil, why are so many parents not allowing their children to get involved in Harry Potter?" True, these books take place in a magical world with wizards and spells, but they do not revolve around satan or demons etc etc. There is a certain part of one of the books of the series- an astrology teacher. I, being a strong christian child, disagree with astrology. But, for the most part of the book, her "tea-cup predictions" and "futures told" are regarded and hogwash. Except for a one serious prediction, which the student didn't ask for. But she is still considered full of balogni by the author/book/reader. Just in real life-there IS evil out there, and you may find it even when not looking. The spells used in the books are to benefit the students in Hogwarts (the wizarding school Harry attends), and defenses against the "Dark Lord" Voldemort's powerful spells. Which is like christianity, we have to learn to defend and protect ourselves from Satan. These books are very good, and if you read them, you should understand. Some reviews and newspaper/magazine articles only tell parents about the negative things-and not how truly great these books are. I am 12 years old, not quite your normal child. As I hope you may have noticed, I am quite literate. And although I am young, I think I know much more about these books than some adults do, and can read pretty deeply into them. Please read these books before banning them from your child. Oh, and unless you have read the books, the movie trailors won't help. They put on a quite "serious" effect, and don't show the comedy relief/fun parts of the book. I hope I don't sound too grouchy! Just trying to get my point across with my positive pount on these books! They are the best I've read!!!! Good-day :)
Rating:
Summary: My 9 year old daughter could not put it down!
Review: Some books cause you to lose sleep, get car sick and miss wonderful vacation opportunities - because the book is just too good to put down. My 9 year old daughter begged to be allowed to read continuously for two days for she had to know what would happen to Harry next! We can't wait for number three!
Rating: 
Summary: Just delightful
Review: Some fifty weeks on the NY Times Bestseller list, a movie in the works, and raves from the press and the gallery. What could I possibly add? Just the testimony of a snooty 40-year-old who knows next to nothing about the fantasy genre and rarely reads bestselling fiction. I have fond memories of the Oz books, and loved _The Hobbit_ once upon a time, but I have never read Lewis's Narnia series or heard of Alexander's Prydains and Susan Cooper's books. The only fantasy I keep with me is Ray Bradbury's _Something Wicked This Way Comes_, which I adore (and I suppose Timothy Findley's incredible _Not Wanted On the Voyage_ and Bulgakov's _The Master and Margarita_ qualify, although they are clearly for grownups). Of late I have been reading nonfiction books about consciousness and memory, _Gotham_, Elizabeth Wurtzel, and _The Intuitionist_. The first time I heard of Harry Potter was at a party in August 1999 when a fellow Harvard alum told me he and his wife were reading the books to each other. It sounded mildly interesting. A month or two later, the name was everywhere, and I turned up my nose at it. If EVERYBODY was reading it, there couldn't be that much to it. (I made the same minor error in years past with _Helter Skelter_ and _The World According To Garp_, which turned out to be better than I expected when I finally got to them, but not THAT great.) When I heard Christian fundamentalists were attacking the books for "encouraging witchcraft and sorcery," however, I decided it was my civic duty to read them. (Why isn't anyone protesting "the torture of animals" -- blowing up a salamander with fireworks, petrifying a cat -- in book two, by the way? Just kidding.) I found this book delightful. I read it aloud to my wife, and she read some to me when my voice got tired. The characters are imaginative, the plot suitably gripping, and there is plenty of humor -- broad and subtle -- to reach you wherever your sensibility resides. Give it three stars for grownups and four or five for kids. If the Potter books get lots of children to read, more power to 'em. I don't remember taking Tolkien or Oz or Grimm fairy tales seriously as a child (or even Santa, for very long); why are some adults unable to believe most kids can separate fantasy from reality? We're on the downhill side of book two, and I think my wife likes the stories even better than I do (not just because I do the voices with great expression). I see that book four, not due out until July, is the number one bestseller on Amazon. Nice work!
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful fantasy that can intrigue those of all ages.
Review: Some people may criticize this book for it's portrayal of wizardry. I, though, was completely fascinated by the vivid imagery that was woven throughout the entire book. The adventures that Harry and his friends experience are thrilling and can show children the importance of friendship and bravery.
Rating:
Summary: Ages 9-12? Nonsense!
Review: Some stuffy Muggles must have decided the age range for these books. Maybe a bit too much of the world (people die) for the very young, but there is no upper age limit. My all-time favorite book remains Norton Juster's The Phantom Tollbooth; and I've also been a fan of Tolkein, Roald Dahl, the Lloyd Alexander books, etc. But Rowling's books have captured my imagination such as none have done in years! She has created characters, a place, a tale of magic and mystery and everything that anyone of any age could want in a terrific read. Escape into Harry's world and just have fun! THIS is what reading is all about! Bravo, J.K.! Keep 'em coming!
Rating:
Summary: A Joy For the Whole Family
Review: Something about witches and wizards interests me, and when I read this book I was amazed by Rowling's terms used to call us common people (muggles) and her descriptive characters. Everyone from age 1-100 should have someone read it to them or read it themselves.
Rating:
Summary: You're right
Review: Something I have learned observing the past trends of human beings is that nothing can be immensly popular without some group of people hating it. The problem with this is that the books are so well written and interesting that nobody can complain about the style of the writer, so they have to complain that it encourages witchcraft. There are no witches, people. There must be a million other books abnout sorcerors and you don't see anybody complaining about that, do you? Let's get with it, all right?
Rating:
Summary: Harry Potter- Magic for all ages!
Review: Somewhere around the time I hit 6th grade, I started reading "grown-up" books. Mostly, for the challenge. My reading level was often far, far abocve those of my peers, (Thanks Mom!) and the books they read wern't enough for me. Unfortuantly, books more to my reading level often delt with "grown-up" themes that, while intresting enough, don't captivate you like childrens books often do. I was pawing around the house to find something to read when I discovered "Harry Potter and the Sorcers Stone". I can't remember ever falling in love with a book so instantly. I tore through that book in no time flat- laughing, gasping and yelping loudly all over the livingroom couch. I did something I hadn't done for years- I talked to the book and the characters, telling them what to do. They never listened to me, much to my delight, and led me on exciting adventures. Since I put it down I have done nothing but reccomend the book to everyone who will listen. All ages, it dosn't matter. If you can read, or be read too, don't hesitate! I am a freshman in highschool and would willingly tell the entire world, "I am in love with Harry Potter and no one is too old to love him either!"
Rating:
Summary: Finally, a phenomenon to destroy christianity!!
Review: Soon, everyone in the world will abandon god! All I can say is: "it's about time!" The truth, as our prophet Rowling will show you, lies on the path of witchcraft. Schools just like Hogwart's are popping up in castles on mountaintops everywhere. Churches are empty! All the proof you need is all the kids turning up in hospitals to have their pig's tails (put on them by a wizard like us) surgically removed. We only now need to purge the Potterverse of these silly, pesky references to "Christmas." That holiday of the foolishly religious. Celebrate the solstice! oh wait - that's right - we have a "born again" for a President, and 95% of the country still believes in god. I guess the christian-right wacko's are just freaking out over nothing again. If only the magic were real... Now that would be cool. I'd be the first to get a magic wand and give people like the Dursley's curses. Seriously - these books are full of funny, healthy fantasy, especially for those who yearn for a sense of belonging away from the normal (muggle) toil of daily life, those who have ever felt bullied, left out, etc. In other words - all of us. There's a reason these stories have touched such a collective nerve. Over and over, I've loaned my copy of "The Sorcerer's Stone" to adult friends who for one reason or another, never read the books, and without fail they've contacted me again within a couple of days asking for the second book! If you can read the first four chapters of this book and not want to read all four books, you're a true muggle to the core.
| 
