Junior Booklovers Contest Winner Katrina, age 14, Winnipeg,
MB
The fifth instalment of the Harry Potter series is so good! This
book goes deeper into detail of the past when Voldemort was
previously in power, and gives a more passionate and mature
"Harry-view."
The first chapter starts off one month after the fourth book
left us, just after the return of the Dark Lord Voldemort. Harry is
found worried and very frustrated - the innocent hero is finally
feeling the weight of his fame and fortune (or should I say
curse?), and who can blame him? Harry just witnessed the rebirth of
the evil idiot who killed his parents and tried to kill him but
didn't succeed - giving Harry his name to fame as the only person
to have survived the Avada Kedavra Curse (immediate death). I would
be a nervous and moody wreck too!
After hearing nothing from anyone, including his best friends
Ron and Hermione, for a month at Privet Drive, Harry sets out in an
exceptionally bad mood to the park, one late summer evening. He
meets up with his cousin Dudley (who was causing a bit of trouble
in the neighborhood) and as they head home, they get a visit from a
very determined and deadly pair of Dementors (guards of the wizard
prison, Azkaban). So much for a nice stroll in the park. This
attack on Harry is one of many in this book, and I'm afraid, that
in the next two books to come, there will be many more.
Once the school year at Hogwarts starts (a rocky start at
that!), and Harry gets back into the groove of schoolwork, he has
other things to take his mind off of his peril, such as: Quidditch
(yes, all you quidditch fans! Its back!), studying for OWLs
(Ordinary Wizarding Levels), a little secret association arranged
by Hermione (oh the rebellion!), an evil and untactful new teacher,
and yes, a little bit of romance (yay!).
I really liked this one! It shows a bit more emotion on Harry's
side - he finally lets out some anger! - and it shows a more mature
side of our characters (yes it's true, they're growing up). I think
J.K also put more depth into this book because it is drawing us in
to the last two books, where we get down to the main part of the
whole series' plot. This book also shows so much emotion, whether
it's anger or joy - a couple parts actually made me cry (one part
in particular!). There was also a nice welcoming return of some
favourite characters from previous books, and some new ones that
start filling in the holes of the past, and questions about the
future.
Once again, J.K Rowling has amazed me with her spectacular
writing and amazing plot that can't help but pull me in each time I
pick up this book! I know that most people who have already been
sucked in by the Harry Potter Series have probably by now read this
book, but if you haven't, or haven't even read the series' previous
books, I seriously suggest you do, otherwise you are very much
missing out!