Rating: 
Summary: They can't all be masterpieces
Review: I think the entire Harry Potter series is PHENOMENAL. I think we're all lucky to be alive as these books are coming out. They're a part of history now. About the fifth book in the series, "The Order of the Phoenix." First, lets talk weaknesses. I thought the book was a huge bummer. It literally got me down a little bit. There's so much negativity. Also, I thought that there were a little less of the part of the book that happens to be my favorite, and that is the magic itself, as far as cool things...it seems like in each book we learn about a new kind of food, or a new kind of magical gadget, and it just didn't happen as much in this one. I didn't think it was nearly as scary as the last one, probably because Harry wasn't alone. It did not sadden me to see the character that dies die.
Strengths: This book is kind of a transitional book, gearing us up for years 6 and 7. They're going to be the best two, I can tell already (warning: skip this sentence if you haven't read the book!!!) I REALLY like the fact that Harry and Cho are no more. I'd like to see him with a character that isn't so flat. And whiny! Besides, it isn't his time yet. Maybe next year.
The depth of Ginny Weasley surprised me, and she sounds older than she is, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I missed Dumbledore.The book isn't the best in the series, but will be the one that ties the "child Harry" books with the "of age" Harry books.
Rating: 
Summary: The Best Harry Potter book
Review: This is the best Harry Potter book to date. The characters are much more developed, and J.K. introduces plenty new ones to whet the appetite. This book is much more dark than the other four, but it is understandbly so. This is a must read.
Rating:
Summary: best one yet
Review: i just got it yesterday and i already finished it.i never stoped.this one is the best of them all.i recomend it to everyone kids and adults.if you are looking for a good book this is the one.i am going to read it over again right now!!
Rating:
Summary: 870 pages of delightful fantasy and magic!!
Review: The day "The Order of the Phoenix" came into our home, it immediately became a volleyball between myself, my wife and my 8 year old son. Woe betide the person who put this book down to grab a bite to eat or something to drink, because it would be immediately snatched up for avid reading by one of the other two. After several days (and one SERIOUSLY late night of reading), I just finished the book............ EXCELLENT! Ms. Rowling's writing is improving with each book (which is to say nothing at all bad about the writing in the first one). In "The Order of the Phoenix", I think she has wonderfully captured the rollercoaster of emotions that Harry goes through as an adolescent male. The story is getting more intricate (and darker) and the characters are developed nicely. I particularly like the attention she gave to deepening both Ron and Hermione (and WHEN are THEY going to kiss?!? Clearly there seems to be some mutual attraction developing between the two of them. :-) The magic is marvelous and the spells are spectacular. A slight aside, I continue to be amazed at how Harry continues to struggle with trusting Dumbledore......and withholding information from him. Dumbledore has saved Harry countless times, so the trust seems well-placed. Personally, I think it's time to lay this literary device to rest. And yes, one of the characters dies. A loss to the story line, but (whew!) not one of my favorites...... All in all, just a wonderful read. I can't wait for the next volume to come out and I wish "The Order of the Phoenix" was longer. I can't think of any higher praise. Thank you, Ms. Rowling for the sweat and tears that went into this book! Cheers!
Rating:
Summary: Dark and moody Harry
Review: Harry has entered adolescence and with it has become moody, temperamental and angry. A far cry from the first 4 books, PHOENIX seems to spend the majority of the book with Harry sulking. The pace picks up about 2/3 of the way through, thankfully, as I was actually finding myself wondering if anything was ever going to actually happen.
Ms. Rowling is excellent at bringing a fictional world to life... but I felt that some of the major characters were weak this time around. They just did not seem to have the same spark that made them seem so real in previous books. All in all, a decent read, if not a bit slow at first... I applaud any book that can get kids this excited and reading almost 900 pages without an adult nagging them about it.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing...Better than the last!! Waiting for more!
Review: I can't say enough good things about this book and the other four books before it. I am swept away by the magical world of Hogwarts to which Harry Potter belongs. This is a must read for any age. The reason I find this best the best out of the series is because of the realism of being a teenager that is finally brought to Harry's character. You finally get to read and experience the joys (and turmoil) of being a teenager with Harry. I guarentee that everyone who reads it will be taken away to magical places!! I love the Harry Potter series!! Now, the only thing that makes me sad is I have to wait for the next two books to come out! But, read it...and the others...they are well worth every second of your time!
Rating:
Summary: The Best One Yet!!!
Review: We find Harry Potter back at number 4 Privit Drive, anxiously awaiting any news from the wizarding world. Dudley, Harry's cottled cousin, is marauding the neighborhood with his friends as Harry is walking down the street. When alone with Dudley, Harry and his cousin encounter a terrifying creature and Harry is forced to use magic in order to save Dudley and himself. Harry violates a wizarding law by doing this and is asked to go under investigation. Upon news of his troubles, a group called the Order of the Phoenix comes to Harry's house and places him under their protection. The Order of the Phoenix are people determined to make sure that Lord Voldemort (the Dark Lord who has killed many, including Harry's parents) does not rise again. The Order includes "Mad-Eye" Moody, Remus Lupin and Sirius Black (who have all appeared in previous installments). Their leader, Albus Dumbledore (the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry), has sent them to take Harry to their stronghold, Sirius' family home. There, the Weasley family and Hermione Granger (Harry's good friends) are in hiding. Harry learns that there is a secret war raging between Dumbledore and Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic. The Ministry refuses to acknowledge that Lord Voldemort has returned to finish his sinister work while Dumbledore maintains that Voldemort is ready continue his reign of terror. Harry must be tried by the Wizengamot, the Wizard court, to see if he is to be expelled from Hogwarts. He is frightened of the prospect of being expelled and the potential rise of the Dark Lord. Harry Potter will endure harsh critcisms of his character, the loss of a dear friend and the machinations of Professor Umbridge, the torturous new Defense-Against-the-Dark-Arts teacher who is determined to make sure that no one believes that Lord Voldemort will return. I absolutely loved "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" and congratulate Ms. Rowling on her magnicent piece of work.
Rating:
Summary: Bring on the next one!!!
Review: I was totally engrossed and ended up losing sleep to get it read. I gave it 5 stars because it is one of the best overall books available. However, as the Harry Potter series goes, this was probably my least favorite. I don't know if there was an attempt to portray Harry in this book as a normal teenager, but he seemed to always be angry. I know there was this whole issue of Voldemort potentially possessing him, but it just did not play out the way I wanted Harry to be. I think I want him to be a consistently happy(?) kid, who has great adventures - not to be mean, but if I want to see moody, angry children, I can look around my house!!! It was fun trying to figure out who was going to get bumped off - if I had been a betting man, I would have lost. I would not reveal the character here, but I would question the comments that this person was a "major" character. The Umbridge character's overbearing nature drug on and on. About half-way through, I knew there would be relief but unfortunately, none showed up until almost the end. It would have been more fun had the Weasley boys worked on her more often. It was a great read - I know we were all told things were going to be different, but I wish things would have been a little lighter - but, hey, it's not my book is it? Can't wait for the next one.
Rating:
Summary: Worth the wait...
Review: If you love Harry Potter, you will love this book. If you are new to Harry Potter, don't start here. This book is more grown up and darker than the other four books in the series but fits well within the overall story line that JK Rowling is so expertly weaving. Though we have watched Harry, Ron, and Hermione grow up through the series, Order of the Phoenix marks the biggest leap and most pronounced change in the characters we've seen to date. Ms. Rowling has done an exceptional job in capturing the angst of a 15 year old boy who is under tremendous stress. Younger children may have a hard time grasping some of what is going on since Harry and his friends are teenagers now and dealing with age appropriate emotions and situations. Plus, there are are a lot more scary parts in this one. This is a very good read and despite the length it goes very fast. It was wonderful to visit the wizarding world again and I can't wait to find out what happens next.
Rating:
Summary: Rising to all expectations
Review: This fifth installment in Rowling's Harry Potter books is yet another amzingly written and almost addictively enchanting book. Although it does take a little while for the plot to pick up, when it does, and it does soon enough, the magnificent writing of fast-moving plot, the building up of exitement in readers, and the interlocking apprehension and anticipation, all for which Rowling has gotten as much praise and as many readers as she has, rise to unbelievable levels. This book will keep you up to the small hours of the night, while setting a beautiful setting for the last two installments.
| 
