Literature Guide: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Grades 4-8)

Rating:
Summary: Great Book!
Review: I thought this book was great! Originally I disliked the 2nd book. Now that i have the literature guide i can relate more to the book. I enjoy it more. While it still isn't as exciting i can't say that i think it's that boring, anymore tho. I reccomend this book for people who find these books uninteresting. Or for someone who doesn't understand it that well. It'd be great for little kids.

Rating:
Summary: J. K. Rowling's contribution to literature
Review: This is definitely an interesting topic. I actually know of a class teaching Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in college. Does that make Potter books literature? I can't rightly say, but I will say that the Harry Potter books have dramatically re-introduced literacy into the lives of children AND adults. Furthermore, the series surreptitiously pushes the boundaries of what Americans have considered a long time as being "children's literature." Rowling, not constrained by the coddling nature of our own country's hypocritical and overprotective stance towards children, creates a rich world of evolving characters with deep emotions and clever bits of humor. If Rowling's books can get children, en masse, to read and read well, I say her books practically deserve their own branch of study. How many things have caught the interests of children in recent years without stooping to vapid juvenilia? At least Potter isn't Pokemon and he is certainly a step above Goosebumps!

Rating:
Summary: Just what is great literature anyway?
Review: This is largely in response to a reader from NJ below who takes issue with teaching Harry Potter as great literature. I am an aspiring librarian, with a BA in English Lit, and former student myself who wants to scream NO! as loudly as possible to this person's antiquated ideas. There are hundreds of books out there that are termed "classics" that will (and should be) taught to youth. Unfortunatly many of these are boring and make children think of reading as a chore for years to come. Why should fun books and educational books be mutually exclusive? I would not teach ONLY Harry Potter in a classroom, but if it will get kids to read I would definitly make it part of the curriculum. At the age this book is aimed at (5-8th grade I assume) shoving classics down the throats of children should be secondary to opening the world of literature to them. There are more books than can ever be taught in any school, give students the interest in reading to find out which ones they want to read themselves. The Harry Potter books are wonderful. The plotting is at an almost adult level. They are complicated and full of symbolism and concepts that most childrens books gloss over (or dumb down). However, instead of intimidating a young audience away, Harry Potter is showing children as young as 8 that reading is one of the most wonderful pastimes available to them. It's working! Please, as educators, parents, and librarians, encourage that. I read those "classics" in Middle School, Johnny Tremain and The Moon is Down almost lost me as a reader forever. They were dry and horrible and full of educational value. It was the seldom taught, but much loved, book Rebecca that showed me what reading has to offer. Remember, no book is a classic until looked at in hindsight, and has stood the test of time, but I would put money on Harry Potter still being around in 20 years.