I love Harry Potter. Not Daniel Radcliffe, but the character that J.K. Rowling created. Or well, maybe I love J.K. Rowling. Yes, I guess that would be a better summation: I love J.K. Rowling. I love her for writing such a great set of books that I enjoy reading again and again (I actually read the whole series each time a new film comes out). BUT, I love her even more for what she helped do for books, literature, and kids.
The Harry Potter series really revitalized the children’s and young adult literature scene. These rich and vivid characters spoke to children, teenagers, and adults. I can honestly say that I don’t recall any other series of books being able to do that – being able to transcend a specific niche. As a teacher, every school library I go to has multiple copies of each book available, although most are always checked out; and the same can be said for public libraries. I even remember when I was living in London, sitting on the tube, and seeing several adults reading the smaller book-sized version of The Goblet of Fire, it was fantastic.
I love the characters and the story, but I am also impressed that J.K. Rowling wasn’t worried about making the books challenging for younger readers. There are some ‘adult’ concepts in the books – death,spirits, murder, love; as well as a broad range in vocabulary use. I found it inspiring when my students would come up and ask me what a certain word meant, or what a certain concept meant. It told me that not only were they interested in reading, but really understanding all of what the stories had to offer. When I first started to read the series myself, I didn’t think that so many young children would be interested in it – but I know ones as young as five who are starting to read these books with their families. The other large segment of the populous who has been quite smitten with the series is adults. Not only are parents and teachers reading it to their children, but they are reading it for themselves. They find a connection with the characters, the detailed stories, and the surprising twists that are within each novel. Again, for myself, when the last book – The Deathly Hallows – came out, I promptly bought it at 7am on that Saturday, locked myself in my bedroom, and didn’t come out until Sunday evening when I had finished all 800 pages. I’ve never read a book that quickly, and I love to read. But I was hooked, I could not put that book done. And I’m not the only one.
Not only has this particular series gotten a new generation to read these books; but it’s gotten children more interested in reading. I have students wanting to read fantasy books more, or wanting to find a new series. Which is great because there are at least six series that I can think of that all really began after the Harry Potter books first came out. Again, so great. Furthermore, the Harry Potter series has sort of spawned it’s own ‘groupies’, with all of the supplementary books and materials that have come out into the market in the past 12 years. So, for the big fans of the series, then there are these extra materials to read…. Seriously, so great.
There really is so much I could say about these stories, but really the simplest thing to say is ‘What is there not to love about books that make people want to read?’. Thank you J.K. Rowling. Thank you for your beautiful stories. Thank you for providing my students, children, family, and friends, with a strong series of seven books that we will read and reminiscence about over and over again.
http://harrypotter.scholastic.com/
http://harrypotter.warnerbros.com/harrypotterandthedeathlyhallows/mainsite/index.html
http://www.mugglenet.com/
