HOW HARRY CAST HIS SPELL by John Granger

A book-by-book analysis of the Christian symbols and themes in the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling. This is an updated version of the book Finding God in Harry Potter. Around the time the fourth book was coming out, my Sunday School students were reading Harry and my husband decided to check them out to see what the kids were reading. We had heard the criticism from some pockets of Christianity about the books being evil and encouraging kids to pursue the occult. My husband found the stories delightful and not evil, but I was not convinced until a friend suggested I read Finding God. I found the author's logic about the magical elements from the series not being occult-ish reasonable and I gave the series a try for myself. And I fell in love.

I teach at a Christian school and Harry is not allowed in some classrooms and for simplicity we have chosen not to shelve it in the library. But I did buy a copy of this book for my new "Teacher Resource" section for the staff in my building. I decided to read it again for a refresher and found it just as reasonable and convincing as I did the first time I read it. I hope some of the teachers who have questions or concerns about the series will give this book a try. It is one large spoiler, so I wouldn't recommend it to someone who actually wants to enjoy the series, but it would be great for a parent or pastor or teacher who had questions or concerns about the series or for folks who have already read the books and wants a more in-depth look at the elements of alchemy, the symbols of Christ (phoenix, griffin, etc.) and the themes of love and sacrifice.

4 out of 5 stars

BIOGRAPHY - CHAPTER BOOK: Who Is J. K. Rowling? by Pam Pollack and Meg Belviso

This is one of my favorite lines of biographies for kids. In fact, in our school library, I put them together in their own section so kids could find them easily. Also, if they try one and like it, they can see what other ones we have and try another.

This particular volume was well done. It includes stories of J. K. Rowling's childhood, her family, her life as she was writing the Harry Potter series, and the impact of the series on her life. I've read other background information on her and was afraid this would feel "already done," but it felt fresh and interesting. Fun information on where some of her ideas came from, etc.

4 out of 5 stars

No AR level at this time

FRIDAY: Harry Potter: Page to Screen

I bought this for my husband for Christmas back in October and had to almost sit on my hands to keep from diving into it as soon as it arrived at the house. Now that I can access it freely, I have hogged it.


Great details and pictures and background stories about the people who brought the seven Harry Potter books to life in eight movies.


I think this would be a great treat for fans of the books and the movies - hours of entertainment with the regular text as well as special sections, and picture captions. The book is divided into sections by movie.


5 stars!

FRIDAY: Empire Magazine, July 2011

Haven't had a lot of reading time lately, so I have no adult book to review today. I have been enjoying magazines, though, and the July issue of Empire, with a focus on the new Harry Potter movie, was a winner.

The issue comes in a cardboard cover which holds the magazine and an extra insert - a "Collector's portfolio" which is extremely well done.

The magazine is British, so it is expensive for a magazine ($10), but for HP fans, it would be well worth the money. 

 

Waiting on WEDNESDAY

Pottermore - have you heard the buzz? JKRowling has a new website up, teasing fans for a "big announcement" tomorrow. Theories are abounding - online game with prizes in the real world, encyclopedia, book, social media.

We will all find out tomorrow what it will be, but I have to say my hopes are on a book - either the encyclopedia or an actual book-book. Even if I have to wait a year until publication, I am ready for a new JKR book.

Here are some links to folks talking about the announcement:

HPWriter

Online Game "leak"

Mugglenet

FRIDAY: Harry Potter Film Wizardry

Picked this book up on sale at the bookstore right before Thanksgiving thinking it would be a fun thing to flip through while we were on vacation. It was much more than a "flip through" sort of book. 

Each page contains detailed descriptions of sets, costumes, decisions, and behind-the-scenes tidbits for fans of the movies. There are also interactive elements sprinkled throughout the book - potion bottle stickers, a Maurader's Map, etc.

The book will appeal to young fans as well as older ones, but the text is more at a teenager/adult level - my son, who loves the books and movies, didn't have the patience to read through all the details.

This would make a great holiday gift for a Harry Potter fan on your list!

[I am an Amazon Associate. If you like to Amazon from one of my blogs and buy something, I receive a small portion of the purchase price.]  

RECOMMENDATIONS WEEK - Day 5

This year our family enjoyed reading NERDS aloud together - my son giggled at the different tasks we had to do to get to the next chapter in the story. We are looking forward to Book 2 coming out on September 1.

And, I just couldn't get through a week of recommendations without mentioning Harry. With the new Lego game - LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4, and Lego sets coming out this fall, along with the first portion of the last movie coming out in November, Harry is enjoying renewed interest at our house - and in houses all over, I am sure.

[I am an Amazon Affiliate. If you click to Amazon from one of my blogs and buy something, I receive a percentage of the purchase price.]

FRIDAY....

On the day before Harry Potter's birthday (Happy Birthday, Neville Longbottom!) I just had to put in a plug for the Harry Potter series once again. We have been listening to them on audio, and I have been reading the first four out loud to my son at bedtime for months now, and I love them just as much the 15th time as I did the first. The audio versions are fantastic; we love listening to them on any extended drive in the car. Once the wheels are moving, I can hardly count to five before my son says, "Are we going to listen to Harry now?" Good for adults and kids.

[I am an Amazon Affiliate. If you click to Amazon from one of my blogs and buy something, I receive a percentage of the purchase price.]

FRIDAY: The Psychology of Harry Potter

The Psychology of Harry Potter is part of a great genre of books where cultural icons are analyzed in light of psychological or philosophical standards. This particular book is edited by a PhD who started what he calls "Harry Potter Therapy" which uses Harry Potter images when helping young people with emotional issues. The only down side to the book is that the essays were all written before the final book in the series.

The essays cover things like curiosity, teaching styles/philosophies at Hogwarts, attachment theory, and social dynamics in the magical world. I didn't buy into everything in each essay, but as a Harry fan and a psychologist (at least in my "former life"), I found the essays to be interesting and thought provoking.

So, this brings my Harry Potter series to a close. Next Monday we will be back to our regularly scheduled book blogs. See you then!

THURSDAY: Repotting Harry Potter

Our Harry Potter weeks are coming to a close with two final entries of non-fiction books about the series. There are many more books out there, but my TBR (to be read) pile is growing and I am ready to move on! So, here is the next to the last book in my series - Repotting Harry Potter.

The subtitle of this book is "A Professor's Book-by-Book Guide for the Serious Re-Reader." That sounds like me! So I had to pick this one up. The idea is to draw the reader's attention to details you may have missed during your first read through the series. As a HP fan, I generally enjoy any discussion of the books and this book is enjoyable. Since I have read the books multiple times already, though, there weren't a lot of new tidbits that I hadn't already noticed myself.

To his credit, Thomas does raise some issues with inconsistencies and unanswered questions that I enjoyed reading. He also looks at each book a few chapters at a time rather than just one book at a time like some of the other commentaries I have reviewed. Thomas' break down gives the reader a lot more detail. I have also enjoyed some of his asides that send the reader off to do his/her own Google searches for more background information for the symbols and allusions in the books.

If you have never read the series and plan to, or if you have only gone through it once, you may find a lot to enjoy in Repotting.

WEDNESDAY: How Harry Cast His Spell

This is the latest incarnation of the book that started it all for me - Looking for God in Harry Potter. Now it has a new name, a new cover and references the entire series.

This is a fairly intense book. It talks about literature, alchemy, symbolism and Christianity. I found it fascinating and I was very happy to see that he lists reading recommendations if you want to find out more. The author has an active blog that I plan to check out at length once school starts and our family schedule slows back down. He also has some other Harry books that I plan to read.

If you are a Christian who has read the Harry Potter books but you wonder about your brothers and sisters in Christ who think they are satanic, this book might be helpful for you. If you haven't read them and are concerned that they are "evil" in some way, I encourage you to read this book. There are some "spoilers" as you move through the book, so, if you haven't read them, stick with the early chapters (like the Introduction and chapter 1) that address the controversy.

TUESDAY: Harry Potter Should Have Died

For the rest of this week, I will be looking at some of the commentary books written about the series. Harry Potter Should Have Died is one written by the people who run MuggleNet - a HUGE Harry Potter fan site with movie news and essays about the books.

In this book, the authors pose various questions about the books and two to four arguments are given for each question and then they give their opinion. For example, one question is "Is the Epilogue a letdown?" One person wrote about why it was a let down ( not enough information about the things fans wanted to know - about jobs for the main characters and for more information on other "lesser" characters.) and another said it was just right the way it was. Other questions include "What is the most shocking moment in the series?" and "Who helps Harry more on his quest, Ron or Hermoine?"

This book is a great discussion starter if you are sitting around with other fans of the series. I didn't agree with everything they said in their essays (and a couple of the questions were just not interesting), but it was a fun and different take on the series that I enjoyed.

[For a little more Potter stuff, check out my other blog, Just Me Jaymie to see a card I made for a Harry fan on his 11th birthday.

MONDAY: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Harry is making a stop at the Burrow for a Weasley wedding before striking out on his own to finish things with Voldemort, or die trying. Hermoine and Ron point out that they are better together than any one of them is alone, so they journey together. But the world has become a dark and dangerous place in the years since Voldemort returned. The trio isn't sure whom they can trust. Friends and enemies are found in surprising places, and every interaction is leading to the ultimate showdown of good vs. evil.

This is an immensely satisfying book! I think this is my favorite book in the series. I love the way all the pieces fit together. The story is emotionally charged. There are no guarantees about who will live through the end of the story - not every one does. A completely satisfying end to the series.

(Warner Bros. has chosen to cut this book into two parts for movies to be released in November 2010 and May 2011.)

FRIDAY: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Harry survived the events of Order of the Phoenix and now Dumbledore has promised Harry private lessons. They will be looking into Voldemort's past in order to help them defeat him in the future. But Harry has become suspicious of Draco Malfoy - well, more suspicious than usual. And more dark things are happening at Hogwarts, putting lives in danger. Can Harry figure out what Draco is up to, proving to everyone that he was right about Malfoy all along?

This book is the foundation for the newest Harry Potter movie that came out this summer. (A decent movie on its own - I gave it as 7 out of 10 - but it's nothing compared to the quality of the book.) The movie emphasized the romantic relationships from the book (I think they did that to provide balance to the darker moments in the story). And those are interesting, but not as much of the story as the movie might make it seem. This is not an action-filled book. There is a lot of Voldemort's backstory and a lot of moments between Harry and Dumbledore. Now that all of the books are out, this is one that you want to read back to back with book 7 to pull all the pieces together.

THURSDAY: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Dark times are at hand for Harry in his fifth year. Voldemort has returned, but no one outside his closest friends believes Harry. He even has to fight for the truth at Hogwarts as the Ministry of Magic begins interfering at the school in an effort to keep Harry quiet. Harry starts to win over his peers and Hermoine convinces him to train the students to defend themselves - their own Defense Against the Dark Arts club! And those lessons are going to come in handy when Harry finds himself face to face with Voldemort's Death Eaters!

Things are starting to unravel for Harry in this book. The events at the end of Goblet of Fire rocked his world and now he feels like every one is shutting him out. His rage is growing (poorly portrayed in the movie) and he is taking it out on his friends. There is a lot of angst in this book. Also, as the kids get older, relationship issues are starting to creep into the interactions between the students. This is a dark book and the series gets darker from this point forward, but the intricacies of the larger mysteries of the series are fascinating.

WEDNESDAY: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Harry joins the Weasleys for the Quidditch World Cup which ends in disaster - Death Eaters and Voldemort's Dark Mark in the sky. And that is only the beginning of the dark matters happening in Harry's fourth year at Hogwarts. The school is hosting a wizard tournament and Harry mysteriously becomes a competitor, even though he is too young and didn't even enter. This is the sort of competition that tests wizards to the limits and Harry is a lot younger and less experienced than the other competitors. The question becomes less about whether Harry will win and more if he will even survive.

This book has grown on me over time. There is a lot of tension at the beginning between Ron and Harry because Ron thinks Harry got himself in the competition without telling Ron. This book really explores Ron's growing frustration with being the one with hand-me-downs, overshadowed by his older brothers...and famous best friend. Since Ron is my favorite, I find it stressful that the boys are on the outs. Ron is also fighting with Hermoine (which isn't unusual). Ron isn't at his best in this volume! The final scenes of the book are both disturbing and enlightening, making the long read all worthwhile.

TUESDAY: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

The notorious Sirius Black has escaped from the wizard prison, Azkaban, and seems to be hunting down Harry. But all Harry wants to think about is getting through his courses, enjoying some Quidditch and staying away from the Dementors (the Azkaban guards who make Harry pass out when they get near). With help from the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Harry will learn to protect himself from the Dementors and may learn more about what happened to his parents the night that they died.

This is probably my favorite book in the series. I love the back story about Harry's parents and their time at Hogwarts, and this book doles out the first of that information. There are some great moments, like when Hermoine takes on Draco Malfoy, Harry's nemesis. And Harry and Hermoine have an adventure together, like Harry and Ron have in Chamber of Secrets. You also start to see in this book that, while Harry isn't always very good at his school work, he is very talented and capable when it comes to applying what he is learning.

MONDAY: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Harry can't wait to get back to wizarding school, but the summer is dragging by with no word from any of his friends. His aunt and uncle have locked up his pet owl and all of his spell books, and even have him locked in his room pretending "not to exist" while his uncle has an important dinner party. A strange little creature appears in Harry's room telling him not to go back to Hogwarts and ruining the dinner party when Harry refuses. The creature believes Harry will be in danger back at school.

The creature isn't wrong. Something is definitely going on at Hogwarts. Students are being attacked by a monster and some people think Harry is to blame. He and Ron and Hermione will have to use all of their wits and gifts in order to solve the mystery and save the school.

This is probably my least favorite book of the series. The book contains important set-up information for the larger story, but it is a transitional book. The wonder of the first book has passed, and the later books provide more back story, character development and clues for the larger mystery. This one is moving you from point A to point C. There are some great moments, however. I am noticing as I re-read the series this summer that my favorite character, Ron Weasley, show some delightful insight into people and situations. And he brings wizarding-world knowledge that the other two main characters don't have. The movies can make Ron out to be a dolt sometimes; the books give a better picture of what Ron brings to the trio.

FRIDAY: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Today is Harry Potter's birthday and in honor of this event, I will be suspending my usual blog schedule for the next couple weeks to look at the original seven books as well as some great non-fiction books about the series.

Let me deal with one issue up front, first. -- I am a Christian, and I am a Harry Potter fan. Yes, you can be both.

I came to the series late, just before the 6th book came out. I had heard the rumblings in Christian circles about the books being evil and endorsing witchcraft, so I avoided them. My husband started reading them because the kids in the youth group were and he wanted to be able to talk with them about what they were reading. He thought they were very well-written fantasy stories and didn't see anything objectionable for Christian teenagers. A friend told me about a book that looks at the Christian themes in the series (I will review it in a few days) that left me feeling as though I could try the series in good conscience.

I fell in love. In fact, I read the first five books of the series in about a week in order to be ready for the 6th book when it released - and those aren't small books! So, let me tell you a little about the book that started it all.

Harry, orphaned and abused by his aunt, uncle and cousin, finds out - at the age of 11 - that he is a wizard. He is introduced to the wizard world and enters his first year of wizard boarding school. At school, Harry and his best friend, Ron, stumble into a mystery. There's a beast in the school guarding something, and an evil presence is lurking in the nearby woods. With the help of the sometimes annoying Hermoine,* the three use their different gifts and strengths to try to save the day.

Each book contains a "mystery" for Harry and his friends to solve, but each also doles out information on the larger overarching story of Harry's past and his ultimate battle with the evil Voldemort.

I love the first book because it develops the world of Harry Potter. My favorite part is when Harry is first introduced to the wizarding world; I love his wonder and amazement at what he sees. It is also so nice to see Harry find a home for the first time since the death of his parents when he was only a year old. With the exception of the very end of the story and possibly the scene with the troll, there isn't much "scary" in this volume for kids. My almost seven-year-old is enjoying the first book quite a bit. [He won't be hearing the other books, though, for a few more years!]

(*I don't think Hermoine is annoying, but the boys do early in the book. In reality, I think she is trying to overcompensate for being from a non-magic family.)