Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Harry grows up.

.I’ll start this by saying that I’m a huge Harry Potter fan. I think the books have been paced perfectly not only prosaically but also in terms of sophistication. As Harry gets older, his life gets more and more complicated. That includes his homelife with the Dursleys, his relationships with Ron and Hermione, even with potential love interests. Add in the increasing difficulty of his course work, and the rising threat level of “He Who Must Not Be Named,” and it’s enough to make a lad scream (which Harry does several times in OOTP.) However, nowhere is this increased depth portrayed in a more perfect manner than in the exchanges between Professor Dumbledore and Harry towards the end of this, the fifth chapter of the septology. The language and ideas used by JK Rowling in OOTP reflect not only Harry’s growth, but also that of her audience. These books aren’t just for children anymore.

Despite any negative feelings one may have at the thought of reading “a children’s book,” or trying to avoid them simply because they are so popular, I strongly urge everyone and anyone to look beyond those feelings. I will be the first to admit that the first two books (HP and The Sorcerer’s Stone & HP and The Chamber Of Secrets,) are fairly simple. As I alluded to earlier, I believe that this was always JK Rowling’s plan, and one must keep in mind that Harry is only 11 and 12 years of age respectively in the first two novels. Once the groundwork of the first two books is laid, the story arc really kicks into gear, and the books which follow, (HP and The Prisoner Of Azkaban, HP and The Goblet of Fire, HP and The Order Of The Phoenix)are some of the most satisfying fantasy/adventure tales I’ve ever read.

I give Harry Potter and The Order of The Phoenix my highest endorsement, and am waiting most impatiently for the sixth installment.