by J.K. Rowling, illus. by Mary Grandpré

Arthur A. Levine Books, 1998

Image from publisher

Harry Potter has grown up resigned to daily torture from his cousin Dudley, his aunt and uncle’s thinly veiled dislike, and his cupboard under the stairs at number four Privet Drive.  Although fantastical events have occurred around Harry all of his life, he has chalked them up to coincidence.  Little does he suspect that his parents’ death was not caused by a car accident as he’s been told; that he is famous; that he is a wizard.  Harry’s life is changed forever when mysterious letters begin to flood the house.  Although his uncle forbids Harry to read any of the letters and runs from the evidence of magic, a giant named Hagrid catches up with them on Harry’s 11th birthday and becomes Harry’s first friend as he puts a copy of the letter into his hands; it declares that he has been accepted into the  Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.  Harry discovers a whole new world of extraordinary people and places as he prepares for school and begins his year.  Hogwarts is wonderfully crafted, and feels almost like a character with the rich descriptions of its delightful surprises, improbabilities, and idiosyncrasies.  Harry and his new friends are precocious and inquisitive, finding adventure and even danger within Hogwarts and around it.  Harry finds a strong voice as a character as he makes friends and finds a world where he belongs.  One of the great strengths of this novel is J.K. Rowling’s tremendous talent at world-building.  The wizarding world is full of fascinating details like moving photographs, Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans and the flying broomstick game of Quidditch.  Mary Grandpré’s charming black and white illustrations introduce each chapter and provide sparks for the imagination, but leave enough room for the reader to do most of the work visualizing Rowling’s world.

(This review was originally submitted to my Materials for Children class)