Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Bibliographic Information: Rowling, J.K. (1999). Harry potter and the sorcerer’s stone. New York: Scholastic. ISBN: 0-7475-3269-9

Plot Summary: Harry Potter, boy with the messy black hair, glasses and a curious lightning shaped scar on his forehead, lives in a cupboard under his Aunt and Uncle's stairs. Fed up with being treated like dirt by the Dursleys, Harry wishes himself another lonely birthday wish (the Dursley's forgot, once again), and is rescued by a giant named Hagrid who tells Harry that he is magic-born: a wizard. Harry wouldn't believe the very large bearded man if it weren't for all of the strange things that Harry made happen when he was angry or upset, (like set a giant snake on his cousin Dudley). Being a wizard just might explain everything. And when Harry starts attending the renowned Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, he not only finds a new home, but also learns that he is famous.

Critical Evaluation: Harry is born into an unfortunate situation, his parents are murdered when he’s just a baby, and his cruel aunt and uncle raise him. But these are just mere obstacles in the entire scope of things for Harry, as he goes on to become the most important wizard in the world. This classic story of beating obstacles, triumphing evil, and sacrificing one’s self for others, is brought to life by the magical world J.K. Rowling has created. Her own life struggles seep into the pages, which adds authenticity and honesty to the situations and relationships throughout the book. A strong message of acceptance comes through all of Harry’s tragedy, when he finds his best friends Ron and Hermione. Teens will relate to all of the social interactions between good (and despicable) characters.

Reader’s Annotation: Harry Potter lives under some stairs until he learns that he is a famous wizard.

Author Information: Gale’s Contemporary Authors Online states, “J. K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series, is one of the most popular writers of all time. As of mid-2007, worldwide sales of her books surpassed 325 million copies. The Harry Potter titles are available in more than 200 countries and have been translated into sixty-four languages. Such success initially caught Rowling off guard: In January Magazine, Linda Richards observed, "When J. K. Rowling began writing the novel that would become Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in the early 1990s, she didn't see the fame in her own crystal ball. 'I thought I'd written something that a handful of people might quite like.'" With each new installment, however, the popularity of the Harry Potter series grows. Releases of the volumes have become media events, and millions of people have become familiar with terms such as muggles (non-magical folk) and quidditch (the most popular wizard sport). In short, Harry Potter is a publishing phenomena, and as Time's Lev Grossman stated, "The Hogwarts Express is here, and you can either lie down on the tracks or get on board."

Genre: Fantasy

Subjects: orphans, magic, friendship, wizards, witches,

Curriculum Ties: N/A

Booktalking Ideas: Have you ever wanted to have a completely different life than your own? What have you dreamed of becoming?

Reading Level/Interest Age: 9+

Challenge Issues/Defense: Due to portrayals of magic, wizards, and witches, this book may be challenged. If so, refer to:

1.     The San Francisco Public Library Collection Development Policy, Selection Criteria, and Teen Collection documents.

2.     The California Department of Education District Selection Policies, Reading Lists, and Resources for Recommended Literature: Pre-K-12.

3.     A hard copy of the ALA’s Library Bill of Rights.

4.     Mixed book reviews from School Library Journal, Kirkus, and Publisher’s Weekly.

5.     Book selection rationale.

6.     If necessary, The San Francisco Public Library’s Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials Form.

Reason for Selection: It would probably be hard to pinpoint anyone who hasn't read the Harry Potter series yet, but there is always that young reader who is just starting to get into novels and hasn't experienced the magic yet—sometimes it’s even a teenager. This was the book that got me into reading seriously and there is no reason not to pass the tradition on. Whether you've seen the movies or not, this is one of the most important series of the past century and obviously one of the most popular and influential.