The Harry Potter Series

Harry Potter (series)
J. K. Rowling
Published by Arthur A. Levine Books, 2007; ISBN 0545044251 [note: publishing information refers to the 7-book set]

Summary:
When the series begins, 10-year-old Harry has no idea he’s special, different, or remotely out-of-the-ordinary. His life changes completely when, on his 11th birthday, he discovers that his parents were wizards and he, too, possesses magical abilities. He begins attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where he meets his two best friends, as well as his greatest enemies.

When Harry was still a baby, he somehow caused the downfall of Lord Voldemort—the greatest, most powerful, and highly influential dark wizard. Although most of the wizarding world believes Voldemort died, he has not been completely defeated, and some of his followers remain loyal to the dark arts. Over the course of the series, Harry grows in skill and wisdom, but must also face increasingly difficult tasks and stronger enemies.

Review:
Although I initially disliked this series, it has since come to be one of my favorites. In the first book, Rowling shows herself to be somewhat of a novice writer. Her storytelling succeeds, but the writing could definitely improve. As the series continues, though, her storytelling—good to begin with—becomes remarkable, and her writing progresses. I found myself drawn into an imaginative, detailed world, filled with well-rounded characters and suspenseful plotlines. I finished the fifth book in less than 24-hours, and made my way through 6 and 7 as fast as possible. This is one series where the books truly live up to the hype. I definitely recommend this to fans of children’s literature, fantasy fans, readers who liked the movies, and anyone 9 years old and up.