This item is currently not available. If you have this item,
Join and post it to share with others.
As his fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry approaches, 15-year-old Harry Potter is in full-blown adolescence, complete with regular outbursts of rage, a nearly debilitating crush, and the blooming of a powerful sense of rebellion. It's been yet another infuriating and boring summer with the despicable Dursleys, this time with minimal contact from our hero's non-Muggle friends from school. Harry is feeling especially edgy at the lack of news from the magic world, wondering when the freshly revived evil Lord Voldemort will strike. Returning to Hogwarts will be a relief... or will it?
The fifth book in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series follows the darkest year yet for our young wizard, who finds himself knocked down a peg or three after the events of last year. Somehow, over the summer, gossip (usually traced back to the magic world's newspaper, theDaily Prophet) has turned Harry's tragic and heroic encounter with Voldemort at the Triwizard Tournament into an excuse to ridicule and discount the teen. Even Professor Dumbledore, headmaster of the school, has come under scrutiny by the Ministry of Magic, which refuses to officially acknowledge the terrifying truth that Voldemort is back. Enter a particularly loathsome new character: the toadlike and simpering ("hem, hem") Dolores Umbridge, senior undersecretary to the Minister of Magic, who takes over the vacant position of Defense Against Dark Arts teacher--and in no time manages to become the High Inquisitor of Hogwarts, as well. Life isn't getting any easier for Harry Potter. With an overwhelming course load as the fifth years prepare for their Ordinary Wizarding Levels examinations (O.W.Ls), devastating changes in the Gryffindor Quidditch team lineup, vivid dreams about long hallways and closed doors, and increasing pain in his lightning-shaped scar, Harry's resilience is sorely tested.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, more than any of the four previous novels in the series, is a coming-of-age story. Harry faces the thorny transition into adulthood, when adult heroes are revealed to be fallible, and matters that seemed black-and-white suddenly come out in shades of gray. Gone is the wide-eyed innocent, the whiz kid ofSorcerer's Stone. Here we have an adolescent who's sometimes sullen, often confused (especially about girls), and always self-questioning. Confronting death again, as well as a startling prophecy, Harry ends his year at Hogwarts exhausted and pensive. Readers, on the other hand, will be energized as they enter yet again the long waiting period for the next title in the marvelous, magical series. (Ages 9 and older)--Emilie Coulter
Not One Page Wasted I was afraid that a book this long would be repetative and lacking substance. I was wrong. The book moves along with each page and trying to trim any of the content would have been hard. The book starts out as usual at the Dursleys house, and then moves on to Harry's 5th year at Hogwarts. Unlike past books, Harry is now a full blown teenager with gripes and attitude (just like my own 15 year old). He's not the big hero on campus this year-he's the laughing stock. The wizard's local paper has dubbed him a "nutter" and even his bunkmates are unsure of whether to believe his story about Voldemort. This installment has another evil character for Harry and his friends to contend with each day-Prof. Umbridge. This character is the essence of all that is evil in government intervention in people lives-especially education. As an special needs educator, I saw parallels to how our own government tries to impose its idea of a perfect education. This new twist in bringing in social controversy into her fantasy world gives the book a whole new dimension. One that is full-bodied and rich. J.K. Rowling has grown from the other books along with Harry and is allowing her readers the chance to be transported into the world of fantasy, but with the tip of the broomstick touching into the real world so that we can all find ourselves in the story. Now that summer is here and the kids are out of school. Enjoy all 870 pages. You'll probably end up wishing there were more.
Excellent Book I picked up my copy early Saturday morning and managed to finish it by the end of the day! It is as good as the previous Harry Potter books and you are ready for the next one as soon as it ends. I don't want to reveal many secrets but this book has many twists and turns.
Lord Voldemort is back but doesnt play as big a part as the last book, even though they have a confrontation. Harry's crush on Cho Chang develops through the book. Ron gets big suprises in the book and you will love hearing about them with him! All the best Characters are back in this to help fight Lord V. Lupin, Sirius and Mad Eye Moody and some new ones.
Fred and George have a lot of fun and have lots of new creations for their joke shops like pills that cause a nose bleed and they manage to create a swamp at one point! Professor Umbridge is one lady you will NOT like at all! She sticks her nose everywhere! J.K. Rowling said she was going kill someone and she has but has handled it pretty well.
Overall and excellent read you won't be able to put it down!
Can't wait for the movie... I'm a huge fan of the horror genre and am a huge King fanatic, but I couldn't resist reading this book after seeing the Third film. I'm 17 and I found unbelievable that these books are aimed at 9-12 yr olds. The vocabulary is fantasic and Ms Rowling is quite an inticing writer. I should have read the fourth book first, that's a little advice for the rest of ye, because now I know the general outcome of that book - so I think I'll wait for the fourth film rather than read it. Anyway, being such a huge King fan, I can't help comparing different writers to him. He is - to me - the best writer in the world, just just at horror but at everything, and I found J.K Rowling right up his alley. She's brilliant, the book's brilliant, cant wait for the film!!! :-)
