Rating: 
Summary: Just when you thought it couldn't get any better!...
Review: Well, the wait was definitely worth it! Usually a wait like this produces high hopes and expectations that aren't met. However, Rowling has done it again and has outdone herself. The HP world broadens allowing us to experience with Harry even more of the wonder and danger that his heritage brings. Fantastic! I can't say enough good things. Rowling has truly produced modern classics and Book 5 is no exception! Now...how do I keep myself from going crazy until Book 6 comes out? AHHHHHHH!
Rating:
Summary: Well Worth the Wait
Review: Fans will not be disappointed - Order of the Phoenix is fantastic! A darker story in what is an increasingly dark series, Order of the Phoenix explores the beginning of a war against Lord Voldemort and his followers. Harry is appropriately angst-ridden for his 15 years, especially considering the smear campaign he faces from the Ministry.Interesting new characters, old favorites and a page-turning plot makes HP and the Order of the Phoenix this summer's must-read! Be warned, though, that parents should read this book with their young children due to the darker and more mature themes.
Rating: 
Summary: I enjoyed it but it was less fun that the previous books...
Review: I'll start by saying that I enjoyed it and I couldn't put it down. No surprise there. I love the series and had just finished the 4th book in time for 'Phoenix' to be released so I was already geared up before I started. It's an easy read just like the earlier books in the series. I will say though that this book doesn't stand alone as well as the previous ones do. I wouldn't read this without reading the previous ones (at least #4). I had a hard time with the first 150 pages or so. Everyone was so tense and worried... I think it was hard for me because I enjoy 'Harry Potter' because it's so much fun and I thought this book was the least fun of the series. I found myself crestfallen at his anger and meanness towards his friends at times. I guess it's just hard for me to see this juvenile hero turn into a teenager. I also felt the book was fairly unorganized. I couldn't put the book down but 3/4 of the way through, I stopped and thought about it, and I didn't know where the story was going. It felt like this book was needed to advance the series storyline but it didn't fit as neatly into an independent story as the previous books did. All in all though, I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed Dumbeldore's heroics and Hermione's wisdom and Ginny having a personality aside from her role as Ron's little sister. There's a lot of great stuff here for the avid HP fan. I'm looking forward to the next one.
Rating:
Summary: Very cool
Review: Harry is an angry 15-year-old in this book, so that might turn off a couple of people. Some background is required as Mrs. Rowling builds on material from the four previous books. It's hard to mention the parts of the book that made the biggest impact without giving away too much. Let's just say that the last 300 pages go VERY fast. Harry's angry, but the author shows an amazing ability to mature the character into a real parentless 15 year old who is starting to date (unsuccessfully), to teach, to vigorously question himself and others, and to take care of himself. The book's only weak point might be that Gena Rowlands might have written herself into a corner with the Dursley family and was forced to change the Petunia character ever so subtly. But on the other hand, the other characters are shown in sharp relief. And the "bad guys" are not entirely what you expect before you start reading. It should be noticed that the death of a main character is handled far less melodramatically than in the 4th book. In fact the whole fifth book is far more linear than the fourth which I thought was great too, but kind of bounced around a bit. I read it in three days. That should tell you something.
Rating:
Summary: Harry Grows Up
Review: Opening with a pent-up, fed-up Harry ready to blast Duddly through a brick wall in an ally-way, until two Dementors attack them, this 5th book is a wonderful companion piece to Metallica's St. Anger CD just release two weeks prior. Once again Rowling has so much story to tell that the pace never stops. Nearly every chapter ends as a cliff-hanger spilling you right into the next making the book nearly impossible to put down. I received this book at 7:00pm Saturday the 21st, and had completed reading by 5:00pm Monday. The basic story is this, Fudge refuses to accept Harry's and Dumbledores claim that Voldemort has returned, and nearly insane with fear that it may be true he launches a smear campaign against them. Hermione still has Rita Skeeter under control, but the daily prophet rages on drawing Dumbledore as a power mad old man and Harry as a cry-baby attention / headline seeker who will break any rule to be important. It gets worse when Fudge forces a controlling, lunatic assistant as Hogwarts Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. She quickly makes up new rules for Hogwarts as decrees from the ministry every time anything works against her (like threatening expulsion to any student reading a news paper that printed an interview with Harry detailing Voldemorts return.) Finally, though, the kids stand up and are heard. Gone are the days when Harry, Ron and Hermione (and there friends, now more involved than before) would hide and sneak around the teachers. This time they are upfront and demanding of their earned respect and place in the impending battle against the Dark Lord and his Death Eaters. This time around Voldemort is after a Prophecy, contained in a sphere in the Ministry of magic, it foretells his and Harry's fate from before Harry was born. The catch is, on those the prophecy relates to can touch it and not wanted to storm the ministry Voldemort must try to lure Harry there, but take it before Harry can find out what it says. Most of the moments we've been waiting for are here. We find out why Harry must always return to the Durselys and why he was really left there to begin with. Dumbledore finally sits down with Harry and tells him all that he knows and why he's done the things that he has, including being distant and secretive from Harry at times. We also gain a deeper insight on Snape and his quarrel with Harry's father. The relationship or not with Cho is explored and finalized, although the possible sexual tension between Ron and Hermione is not discussed although I expected them to keep bickering and screaming until they were all over each other. There is also a loss of life that results in Harry needing to decide his path and come to final grips with his sense of being alone. And, finally, Mooney, Lupin and Co. give the Durselys a little talking too concerning their treatment of Harry. Finally, this book concludes in a way that almost, but not quite ties everything other than who will win and how up. The ending is definitely more satisfactory than books 2,3 & 4. What else to say, can't wait for books 6 & 7, it keeps getting better.
Rating:
Summary: J.K. has struck goblin gold again
Review: ...I don't think that I need to delve too deeply into a synopsis, since most of you will already know the basic storyline. The fifth book picks up for the most part where Goblet of Fire left off. The first thing thatwill occurr to you upon picking this book up is its size. J.K. Rowling's epic books have gotten progressively longer and thicker since Sorcerer's Stone, for he better. Many of us complained about the prolonged (and often changed) date of release for the fifth book, but like so many other books and movies, the wait was well worth it. Rowling did her self great justice in the expanse of time that it took her to complete this novel and I dare say most of us agree that she did not let us down one bit. On the contrary, she exceeded my expectations (I felt that all of her newly acquired fame and wealth would hinder her writing in a way) and has produced a masterful, whimsical adventure (which remains true to the series as a whole), which also explores darker literary archetypes, a welcomed change. If one word (which doesn't due the book justice of course) could sum up Harry Potter and The Order of the Pheonix, it would be 'change.' Change for the better in my opinion. I felt, while reading, that Rowling realized that the basic plot of the other four books--Harry, Ron, and Hermione discovering sinister plots and conspiracies (through a bit of eavesdropping); gettting themselves into loads of trouble while piecing together the puzzle; finding out He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's connection with the puzzle; and finally, Harry vanquishing the danger and thwarting Voldemort's plans with assorted means of help--were drying out out, and not leaving much room for expansion. Nothing of course is wrong with this (why mess with success?), and I certainly love the books, but I think that a little change has suited the series nicely. The precursory of this massive amount of change was of course Cedric Diggory's death and Dumbledore's announcement to the Wizarding community that You-Know-Who is back. In the fifth book change practically seeps from the pages. All of the main characters are back (save Diggory and of course the graduates of last year) but will undergo major changes. Harry fights off Dementors in a Muggle-populated area (while saving Dudley no less!); Dumbledore is discredited and mocked in the wizarding community; Harry is introduced to a secret Order, founded by Dumbledore, and to which his parents belonged and died for, that is combating Voldemort's followers; Ron is made prefect over Harry and then becomes Griffindor's new Keeper; Harry is having strange visions and premonitions that forsee the future and even the present; Owl's year is upon then; the Ministry takes over Hogwarts; Dumbledore is disbanded from Wizarding orders and as Headmaster at Hogwarts; Hagrid is fired, McGonnagal injured; and Voldemort more powerful then before. The list goes on and on but as you can see change has both hightened the enjoyability of the book and added a more mature side to the seriers. As an adolescent now, one could only expect Harry to have to deal with the problems that us teens face daily. Girls (Cho Chang, namely), schoolwork, family, obligations, and anger with the world. Yes, Harry is a much angrier person in this book, one who isn't afraid to vent at anyone, and who wears his emotions flamboyantly on his sleeves. Rowling also deals with more mature concepts such as the fact that there are other forces in the world besides good and evil. And in the end Harry is faced a startling revelation and ultimatum: kill or be killed. A Neanderthal-esque philosophy that is possibly the oldest theme of all: survival of the fittest. Well I'm not sure how much I've actually said about my feelings towards the book. It's compelling (I stayed up 3 days straight, only taking cat-naps, to finish it); laughable (Ron's antics, Hermiones' nagging and fussing, Fred and Georges' pranks and ruses, and Mr. Weasley's on-going obsession with Muggle items are histerical); dramatic and suspensful as always (in one scene, Sirius, Lupin, Mad-eye Moody, Tonks, Kingsley Shackbolt, and Dunbledore later, duel with a garrison of Deatheaters, who include Lucius Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange, to protect Harry and Company); and just a great all around read. Rowlings has always masterfully depicted Hogwart's but she really shines in this book, in adding and describing other locales where the story takes place. New characters also grip the scenes, while subordinate characters get their time in the sun. I can honestly say that I have not read a book that stirred such emotions within me (we can all relate with either Sirius or Harry in their feelings of inadequacy and anger at being forgotten and left out of the loop, from some time in our life) and held my interests from the first word to the very last (some near 800 words later). No more than merely held my interests, Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix WAS my sole interest for 72 hours straight (minus the cat-napping). I could not have thought of a better way to start my summer than journeying to Hogwart's, and beyond, on Harry and Company's latest journeys through life...and ultimately death for one character. The plot has thickened (always a treat for me) and matured (very much welcomed). Great book. Must read for ALL ages. You'll love it.
Rating: 
Summary: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Review: I was disapointed by this book. I found it ponderous. It moved very slowly. Yes we understand that harry is angry, but really 200 pages of anger could have been gotten rid of. Any of the other books could have been read on their own as a stand alone book..The order of the phoenix just feels like a bridge. It doesn't have the same magic.
Rating:
Summary: Good book
Review: I enjoyed the Order of the Phoenix. Of course its Harry Potter, and I am, as others enchanted by this world and was waiting with bated breath for the new installment. The ending was gripping and as usual revealed another crucial piece in the mystery of Harry vs. Voldemort. The first 3/4ths of the book seemed a bit choppy and could have been more streamlined. It had the feel of the first book. The narrative didn't feel linear. I am not wowed but don't get me wrong, I am very pleased
Rating:
Summary: The long awaited book - The Order of the Phoenix
Review: This was a great book! J.K. Rowling has a great imagination, and she shows it in the way she sets this plot. Lord Voldemort has reappeared, this is the year for the O.W.L tests, and Harry is very frustrated with the way some people are acting towards him. On top of all of this Harry has to deal with a new character and the many things that she keeps him from doing. This is the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher! She is very mean and is very unfair in many ways.
I thought that this book was one of the best and shows that J.K. Rowling has not wasted her time these past three years. She puts a lot of details into this book, and makes it very interesting. I did not see much of my family from the time this book was delivered to time I finished. However, the end of the book seemed to show that she ran out of imagination. It ended in a way that was quite uninteresting, and not very unique. Harry finds out a great secret that has been kept from him for the last 5 years. I thought that, by the way that J.K. Rowling ended it, this could be the end of the series of Harry Potter books. So I am very interested to see how she starts it up again in the 6th book. I recommend this book to everybody who has read the Harry Potter books 1 through 4, and even if not up to this reading level I would recommend the Audio Cassette for this book.
Rating:
Summary: The BEST
Review: J.K. Rowling just keeps getting better with each book. She grabs you from the first page and keeps building to the end. Her characters are rich with wonderfully complex relationships. Great action sequences. I love the way she continually ties the story together. Can't wait for the next one.
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