Everything I have Heard... and SO Much More!

Okay, so I've finally began the Harry Potter series. I saw the movie and decided it was time. For those of you who have been living under a rock (I am the cliche goddess), J. K. Rowling has created a well-known and loved series of books about a young boy named Harry Potter.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone begins at the beginning. We meet Harry's aunt and uncle, and realize along with his uncle Vernon that something fishy is going on. We later find out that (dare I speak his name) Voldemort, an evil-doer in the land of magic has been killed by a baby named Harry Potter, though he first killed Potter's parents. Years later, we find Harry living with his aunt, uncle, and dreadful cousin Dudley, and being treated as a nobody in the family. It wasn't his aunt and uncle's choice to take him in... they were all he had left. After all, his parents were so weird...

...And then the letters come. At first it is only one letter addressed to Harry, but when Uncle Vernon refuses to let Harry see his letter, more come… and more, and more and more… even when the mail is not supposed to come. Eventually, Harry gets his letter, thanks to a large, strange man named Hagrid, who informs Harry that he is a wizard, and a famous one at that—apparently Harry somehow killed (dare I speak his name) Voldemort, although he didn’t kill him before his parents were murdered. Hagrid also makes it clear to the Dursleys, who he knows kept the letter and information from Harry, that Harry will attend Hogwarts, as both of his parents did.

Hagrid takes Harry to Diagon Alley, where he buys his required school supplies, including his wand and an owl. When the time comes, Harry leaves on the train to Hogwarts, where he finds he really is famous… everyone asks if he is the Harry Potter… “the one who killed You-Know-Who.” It is this train that Harry meets his soon-to-be friends Ron Weasley and Hermoine Granger. He also meets Draco Malfoy, his soon-to-be enemy.

When Harry and everyone else finally arrive at Hogwarts, they are understandably amazed; Hogwarts is filled with mysterious, amazing things. Ghosts float about randomly, and the pictures actually seem alive! Soon after their arrival, they are put into their houses, or groups in which they will remain until they graduate from Hogwarts. Harry, Ron, and Hermoine are all placed into Gryffindor, and Malfoy is placed into the Slytherin house.

Harry, Ron, and the ever studious Hermoine discover that Hogwarts is hiding a secret, and with a little research and a lot of tricking Hagrid (and the help of a cloak of invisibility and their own bravery), they little by little learn more about what this secret is… a sorcerer’s stone. However, in learning of this secret, they also realize what trouble this sorcerer’s stone is causing… they believe that one of the professors (Snape, the head of Slytherin, who isn’t too fond of Harry Potter) is after the stone! The trio wants to help save the stone from Snape, and get into quite a bit of mischief along the way.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is a fantastic beginning to a wonderful series. This book was everything I hoped it would be and more! I had originally thought that the Harry Potter series was just going to be lots of magic and tricks with no storyline, but I was luckily proven wrong! The storyline is very well developed; Harry wants to help protect the Sorcerer’s Stone, but this task doesn’t come easy. Why is Snape after the stone? What is the beast in the woods? And this little mystery isn’t all that this book includes…

Harry learns that there are people out there who care, though his “family,” the Dursleys did not. Hermoine learns that while studying is helpful and being good is well, good, sometimes getting into trouble is necessary. Ron learns a bit about himself as well; while he may be a hand-me-down child among older brothers who have proven themselves before him, he can still be the best he can and that’s not too bad!

The characterization in this book was phenomenal! I could picture each character easily. Many of the characters contrasted each other nicely, and they all had such unique personalities, it made reading and relating to them a breeze!

It was hard to put this book down. From Harry’s hateful family to Hagrid, Ron, Malfoy and others, to the bits of magic the students learned; from the moving pictures to the dragons to the Quiddich (which Harry found he was actually a natural at) to the Sorcerer’s Stone, there wasn’t a dull moment in this book. J. K. Rowling has done a fantastic job of creating an entire world that drags you in; a world of literal magic that is enjoyable to children as well as adults. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone will be a timeless book; people are always interested in magic and wizardry and the stories have believable qualities about learning about oneself and others as well. This book is a great mix of fantasy and growing up.

I know some parents may be wary of the whole witchcraft/wizardry thing, but I really didn't see anything wrong with this book. Of course, to each his own; if you think the content may be a little wild, you might not want your child to read this. However, I didn't see much of anything that could be interpreted wrongly or could be seen as harmful material for children.

We’ve all heard how wonderful Harry Potter is. I heard and it took me years to finally read it… but now I’m hooked and will be reading this series like an addict along with half the world population. Don’t be left out of the Harry Potter craze!