The name of Harry Potter is on the lips of thousands of children and he's even made the cover of Time magazine. Harry's creator, JK Rowlings has appeared on 60 Minutes , been interviewed on NPR, and has spoken on C-Span and at the National Press Club in Washington. As many as two thousand people show up at her book signings. Her three published books occupy spots number #1, #2, and #3 on the NY Times Bestsellers List, to the dismay of many publishers who want to change the rules to unseat the children's book triumvirate. Never in the decades that I've reviewed books have I seen a book a phenomena. And neither has anyone else.
I run into Harry wherever I go. In the hands of a bookseller who says, "it's the best book I've read in years". Propped on the exercise machine of the elderly woman working out next to me. On the wish-list of an adult friend whose wife surprised him with the first books and now he's quick to order them for himself as soon as they appear from Amazon. com.uk. It couldn't be kept in stock at our school book fair and increased sales dramatically. And everyone has a Harry Potter story to tell. At first, I was surprised by the response, then shocked as the furor grew. And now I've come to believe it's a miracle book.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (new in paperback from Scholastic,$5.99; and in unabridged audio from Listening Library, $33 0807281751) kicks off the series with a fictional miracle when Harry's wizard parents are killed by Voldemort, the vilest of all villains, but infant Harry survives, the only reminder, a lightning -shaped scar on his forehead. Without knowing his history and parentage, Harry endures years with his bullying cousin, and preferential, self-proud aunt and uncle. To most they'd seem your everyday dysfunctional family, to wizards, they're muggles (humans who have no magic). Harry's life with them is miserable until the second miracle of Harry's life is revealed. He's been accepted at Hogwarts, a school for wizards, and he enters a world he never knew existed as a celebrity.
The book's writing was a bit of a miracle, though J.K. Rowlings has tried to downplay the pathos the press enjoys so much. Still the facts remain. At the first book's writing, she was a Scottish mother on the dole who strolled her infant around town until the baby fell asleep so she could write in a cafe that let her linger over a cup of tea. And now she's famous, wealthy, and receives a hundred inquires a day from companies who want to use Harry as a figurehead. Her book has been published in twenty-six languages and is in vogue in 140 countries. In a recent Sixty Minutes interview, her agent reported over eight million copies had been sold, quickly adding "at this moment", for each publicity blip creates another sales spike! The movie rights were recently bought by Warner Brothers and the movie will spur sales of action figures, merchandise, and, of course, more books.
Rowlings second book, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Scholastic, $17.95) seemed quite reminiscent of the first and I worried the series would become formulaic. The recently released Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Scholastic, $19.95) dispelled my doubts. I agree with popular consensus, it's the best yet.
Rowling doesn't disappoint in terms of consistency. The third book has her enchanted blend of the underdog hero, magic, the villain's comeuppance, good and evil, word play, plot twists, inventiveness, and suspense. Rowlings also has a talent for taking complicated concepts and inventions of previous books and summing them up in a line or two.
The Prisoner of Azkaban , deeper in both plot and psychology that the first two books, shows the series, author, and hero are growing. Harry, in his third year at Hogwarts, faces frightening hooded apparitions called dementors who are supposed to be protecting the school from an evil, escaped prisoner. This reputedly dangerous wizard was once best friends with Harry's parents, and is said to be largely responsible for their deaths.
This books is darker and more frightening. The dementors Harry faces, for example, "create decay and despair, they drain peace, hope and happiness out of any human who comes too close to them." The dementors terrify Harry and as he works at conquering his fears, he experiences his parents' death on a more emotional level than in previous books.
Rowlings' fourth book (due for British-American release in July 2000) promises even more growth. Harry will be fourteen, at the threshold of young adulthood, and hormones will kick in. It will also be even darker, but Harry will have more maturity to handle the difficulties he meets.
Most serious children's books fans have been astounded by the book's success. While most agree it's an excellent series, no one seems to think it's the most incredible children's book ever written, as the press would lead you to believe. As a children's book aficionado I see the world at large as children's book muggles (those who know little about the magic of children's books). Those of us who have been under the spell of children's books for years are hopeful that this hullabaloo will spill over and get the genre the attention it deserves.
The book's impact has created several miracles. First, it is getting reluctant readers to love a book that's long and complex. Unlike the audience the simple, quick-paced, manipulative Goosebumps series spawned, these books require thoughtful, imaginative readers. Boys and girls alike thrill to the series and are now searching for other titles. (see sidebar).
The phenomena has effected adults in two amazing ways. For the first time, adults are seeing children's books as a significant genre (see sidebar) and secondly, they are relishing family read aloud time. (see sidebar) Harry Potter has done for children's books what Oprah's Bookclub did for the general readership. Recently Rosie O'Donnell launched a children's book club in partnership with etoys.com. She plans to announce a book a week for various ages, and not surprisingly chose Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban as her first pick. Rosie, who told Rowlings on air that she covets a part in the movie, has been hassled for years about beginning a children's book club. It took the miracle of Harry Potter to get her going!
If you loved the Harry Potter books, you might want to try these series
If your family has discovered the pleasures of reading aloud via Harry Potter, here are more titles to enjoy together. Books are recommended for ages 8 to adult)
If you've suddenly decided you love children's books, try these: