Rowling, J.K. (1998). Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN: 059035342X
· Plot Summary
Due to the deaths of his own parents, Harry has spent the first eleven years of his life in the house of his despised aunt, uncle, and cousin. His room is a closet area under the staircase, and his clothing consists of those items inherited from his cousin (Dudley), who is substantially larger than Harry. When the family visits a zoo for Dudley's birthday, Harry manages to magically free a python that lives behind a glass wall, although he has no idea at the time how he's achieved it. When it is revealed that Harry's parents were wizards, and he is transported to the magical world of Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, he finally begins to unravel the truth of his past. Lord Voldemort is the most evil wizard the world has ever known, yet he was unable to kill Harry, giving him only a scar in the shape of a lightning bolt. Harry is famous in the wizard world as the only person to ever survive Voldemort's murderous intentions, and when one of the professors is taken over by the Dark Lord, Harry's new friends (Ron and Hermione) must help him to thwart the wizard's plans. Voldemort wishes to gain control of a magickal stone that gives its owner the ability to live forever, a stone that is guarded by a three-headed dog, and the cunning of perhaps the only wizard more powerful than Voldemort, Hogwart's own Head Master, Dumbledore.
· Critical Evaluation
While Harry is a nice character, he lacks the skills to hold his own, and must be helped by his professors and friends. He seems more interested in playing Quidditch so that he can be like his father, than in his studies, and it is difficult to see him in a positive light. It is only through the ingenuity and skill of Hermoine and Ron that he manages to escape the clutches of Professor Quirrel/Lord Voldemort, and unravel the secret of the stone.
· Reader’s Annotation
Suitable for younger tweens, though the length of the novel might be off putting to some. Possible better boy role models in other novels, if that is the desired result.
· Information about the author
J.K.Rowling was born in Chepstew, Gwent in England. She earned her French and Classics degree from Exeter University, and was working for Amnesty International when she began outlining the ideas for the Harry Potter series. She has one child, and was living on welfare when she began writing the series that has launched her into millionaire status.
· Genre
Fantasy
· Booktalking Ideas
Wizards and witches in modern fiction.
Heroes of legend, and modern representations.
· Reading Level/Interest Age
Grades 6-9/Ages 10-14
· Challenge Issues
In the past, this series has come under fire because it involves witches and wizards. The information contained in the novels, is entirely fictional, and nothing is done to encourage readers to attempt spells or manipulate the will of other individuals. Most of the students in the novel are reasonably intelligent, and can be viewed as positive role models.
· Why did you include this book in the titles you selected?
I tried reading this novel to my daughter when it became available in a paperback version here in the United States, but she was never interested in having it read to her, nor reading it herself. It sat on the shelves for several years, but I hate to see a potentially good book go to waste.
