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By
Kate Tiskus
This summer a
fad swept the nation quietly. Nothing about it was said on
television, there were no outside advertisements, or at least
none that reached a large audience, no fast food restaurants
bought rights and urged kids to "collect them all".
Yet news magazine Time recently featured the boy on its cover,
and book stores were unable to keep copies of the highly
anticipated Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban on the
shelves. Who or what is this silent rage? His name is Harry
Potter.
Harry Potter is
the main character of a series of magical books-literally and
figuratively. And he's won many devoted fans on both sides of
the Atlantic, and at both ends of the age spectrum. In fact,
he's replaced such perennial bestsellers as Tom Clancy and
Danielle Steele at the top of the charts, despite being
classified as a children's book. USA Today reviewer Cathy Hainer
wrote, "You don't have to be a wizard or a kid to appreciate
the spell cast by Harry Potter." If that isn't ample enough
evidence for it's readability, note the fact that a special (and
successful) "adult" version has been published for the
mature reader embarrassed by the colorful covers. In my family,
the books have been thoroughly enjoyed by my ten-year-old sister,
my mother and myself.
All right.
We've established that Harry Potter isn't just for little kids.
But why not? At first glance, it seems like the plot is geared
toward the younger set: Harry Potter, who was orphaned in a
rather extraordinary way, is raised by his determinedly ordinary
relatives, the Dursleys. He lives in a cupboard under the
stairs, eats leftovers and lives in the shadow of his large,
spoiled cousin Dudley, who's favorite game is "Harry
Hunting". But then one day things begin to change. Letters
mysteriously begin arriving by post or otherwise, no matter where
Uncle Vernon tries to hide... a large man shows up in the middle
of the night to deliver their mysterious message in person... and
suddenly eleven-year-old Harry finally learns of his past and his
heritage; he is a wizard. And it's about time that he had the
education for it. His years at Hogwarts Academy (for the
learning of witchcraft and wizardry) are chronicled in Harry
Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry Potter and The Chamber of
Secrets and, most recently, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of
Azkaban. Four more sequels are anticipated, one book for each of
the seven years it takes to graduate from Hogwarts.
I remember finishing my first real
book when I was six years old, and the terrible feeling that I'd
lost my best friends with its end. Over the years few books have
given me such a feeling, and it's a tribute to author J.K.
Rowling that this children's series has done so for not only me,
but many others as well. I was so incensed with Harry and his
friends that I ran out and bought hardcover book for the first
time in my life. I had to have the sequel. I couldn't stand the
long wait until it's publication in paperback, not even the time
it would take to work up the formidable waiting list at the
library. I am confident that anyone who picks up a copy will be
stricken with the same fever. Go out and buy, borrow or check
out Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone as soon as you can, and
then read it. Classics like this are few and far between, and I
promise you a read so good that you'll actually look forward to
book reports for an excuse to read the next one. In fact, you
might not be able to wait that long.
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