Rowling brings to life a world of magical people and ...
340535
Rowling brings to life a world of magical people and creatures in a way that has captivated millions of readers.
2441037
For voracious fans of the Harry Potter series, ANYTHING that offers morsels on everyone's favorite boy wizard is a plus. You will not be disappointed here. Not only does "Friends and Foes of Harry Potter" feature the unconditional perspective of some of J.K. Rowling's biggest fans, but it does so from the midst of her demographic, as well. Authors Nikita & Chitra Agarwal were in the fifth and tenth grades, respectively, when they penned this exciting expose into the enchanted world of Hogwarts. Their investigative spirit is infectious.

Not to be outdone, illustrator Benjamin Vincent offers some truly breathtaking original artwork, featuring key characters and locations from the Harry Potter series.  The artwork alone is worth the price, as the cover demonstrates. Potter pals, pounce promptly!

Brent Sampson, author of Self-Publishing Simplified.
3701707
The book Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets, is a story with many different characters. These characters are unusually easy to remember. The capability to recall the role, personality, and part in each of the harry potter books is due to the way Ms. Rowling can write a story that keeps a persons undivided attention do to its thrilling story line and plot. The story takes you on a magical adventure into some of the darker areas in the magical realm. This book being somewhat of a contrast to the first book that Ms. Rowling wrote, Harry Potter and The Sorcerers Stone. The contrast makes the book even more enticing. I would give this book a rating of, 9/10 for its visible action and the ability it has to keep a readers interest threw many hours of pure reading. I also gave it that rating do to the books capability to paint very precise pictures of what is going on in the story due to the great job that Ms. Rowling dose in describing the events that take place in the story.
2556695
In spite of being a student, Emily's interactions are with the adult part of her world, dealing with wealth, innovations, politics, and real, deadly dangers she has adult doubts and fears, and makes mistakes. By thedangers second book, we see serious consequences. The logic of magic is well handled, and much more than we ever saw with Potter.
  Really looking forward to more of this series by Nuttall
2352163
With this fourth installment of our young wizard friend, JK Rowling has done it right again.  Ms Rowling whisks us back to Hogwart's for Harry's fourth year.  But first, it is to the Quidditch World Cup with the Weasleys.  There is no lack of excitement and adventure taking place at every turn.
Soon, Harry learns that he is to compete in the Tri-Wizard tournament to be held at Hogwarts.  His opponents come from wizarding schools around the world.  But, of course, Harry faces challenges and tribulations unexpected from the start.
We watch as Harry and his friends, Ron and Hermione face challenges with bravery and class.  This is yet another story with a wonderful basis in morality.
JK Rowling has a talent for creating captivating tales and full, multi-dimensional characters.  Even as the characters progress in age, she manages to make them more real, experiencing situations applicable both to the real world and that of the wizards.
This is definitely worth the read, you won't even notice its length!
14 Nov 2002
1675506
Of all the books that J.K. Rowling has put out, I would have to say that this one is easily the best. Her vibrant use of language coupled with her gift for creating suspense creates a wonderful tale which whisks the reader away to the magical world of her characters. The many twists and turns in the storylind leave the readeron the edge of their seat, and the vivid descriptons of the people and places captivate the mind. This book is truly superb.
4035927
The reader is in for a nice surprise to learn that Giggleswick is not a typical town, but one with a touch of magic, making the people, items, and events seem quirky.  The characters will quickly become your favorites, especially Eliza's kind parents and Trixie.  It can be fun for a reader to immerse him or herself in the world of Giggleswick, with their foo trees and candy, and different social customs.  But don't get too enamored of this new world, for there is a mystery that needs to be solved!  If you like Harry Potter, you will like Giggleswick.
250797
This book is a glimpse into reality and the overwhelming frustration and sadness that can accompany it. I felt I had been swept right into the town of Pagford and became attached to characters, relating to their very authentic and many times contemptible actions. If you loved the Harry Potter series like I did (re-reading to the point where my covers have fallen off), then this book will not disappoint. Although definitely not for children (there were times when the situations in the book made me feel sick) it holds the same magic of creating a world you can fall into with characters that will make you smile, laugh, and cry right along with them.
483176
An exciting series filled with magic and intrigue
4735051
As a die-hard fantasy fan who has long outgrown his childhood, I first eyed the Harry Potter books with askance.  They seemed to me to be more  suitable for little kids and hardly the material that an adult would read,  especially one who has long since been jaded by the typical fare produced  by Tolkien-esque authors drawing upon Celtic-Nordic traditions.
 However,  I was soon persuaded by the many positive reviews of this series, both by  my friends and by book critics everywhere.  The first book I could not put  down until I finished it; the sequel ensnared me just the same.
 While  the fantasy genre is composed of hackneyed plots and themes, regurgitated  by the many different authors out there, each cranking out thousand page  novels, Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone proved that succinctness is  indeed a virtue.  All of the stereotypes are here, but instead of just  rehashing the same old fare that Tolkien dished out, Rowling re-defines it.  And while many readers, especially those, like me, who are well-read in  this genre, will recognize in Rowling's novels elements that have appeared  in countless other stories and myths, Rowling does not use these as  crutches to drive her story where none existed; rather, these are bridges  she uses to communicate to her readers, common archetypes that exist in the  minds of all.  Hers is far more than one author's interpretation; it is a  book that has captured the imagination and echoes the awe of the fantastic  that resides within all of us
 Seldom has an author written with such  clarity that her words flow so smoothly from the page into our thoughts.  The fantasy genre owes its revival in large part to Rowling's gift of gab.  Instead of alienating most readers as many other authors do, Rowling  appeals to the mundane, beckoning them, in their own language, to visit the  world of the incredible, the fantastic, the impossible that nevertheless  seems so real.
 Harry Potter is a character of the new millennium, and  his exploits usher in a new philosophy of fantasy.  An orphaned child  living in adverse conditions, Harry discovers that he is truly  extraordinary; he is a wizard.  Thus begin his adventures and his escape  from his cruel life.  He makes us all seek within ourselves that spark of  magic that will allow each of us to transcend the mundanity and normalizing  pressure of society, to become true individuals, unique to one another, and  special, each in our own way.
 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets  continues the tradition--yes, tradition, even after a single book!--of  Rowling's novels.  Engaging and funny, clever and entertaining, the sequel  further develops the world in which Rowling has set for her Harry Potter  novels, one much like ours but influenced by wizards who move behind the  scenes, unsuspecting to the common person.  Harry displays the unflagging  spirit of determination in the face of adversity, as even his friends  slowly turn against him.  Rowling's novel teaches children the value of  courage, intelligence, and morality while reminding adult readers of the  same.  Continuing her excellence, Rowling crafts a fantasy series perhaps  one day as defining as Tolkien's contribution to fantasy literature.  Certainly, it is a worthy addition to everyone's bookshelves, young and old  alike.
911182
J.K. Rowling writes beautifully. She has a way of entrancing her readers and submerging them into the wizarding world. I love Harry Potter and recently started reading this book with the 5 yr old I nanny!
2217846
The triumph of this last book in the Harry Potter series can possibly only match the triumph of J.K. Rowling herself, having spent close to 17 years of her life on this brilliant magical story and then having brought it to such grand resounding end. The complexity of the plot and the characters is unrivaled, as are the stakes, the final battle between good and evil, love and hate, life and death. I don't recognize myself uttering these big important words here, still imbued with the mood of the book, riding high the wave of its story. For that, please, pardon me, but I can't seem to be able to contain myself. If I could just sail through this book, without stopping to eat or sleep or pee or attend to any other necessary bodily functions, I would do it. If I could only pick up all those little nuances of description, all little minute details that played a major role upon closing the story, I would. Alas, my brain cannot phantom how it is possible to do so, not mentioning how it is possible to write something like this. The word "genius" sounds too small (yeah, I know, I'm gushing, can't help it!).

As to the story itself, it takes a big hike from the children's story of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. It's a fully fledged coming of age tale, albeit transported into the world of witches and wizards and spells, yet it's closest to real life from all other books, with deaths and births and families torn apart and coming back together, the usual human mess that is painstakingly visible here, even magnified, paralleling our own history all too well, frighteningly well, I would say. It's all about Harry, Ron, and Hermione finding the horcruxes, about destroying parts of Voldemort's soul to finish him for good, and yet it isn't. It's about understanding life for what it is and being ready to give it up for those you love (blimey, I sound grand again!). It's littered with sacrifices, with revealed strengths of characters, and, on top of it all, with secrets. What shape is Snape's patronus and why? What does Kreacher know about his master that Harry doesn't? What can be hidden in a snitch? Who is looking at Harry from Sirius's broken mirror? Who was Dumbledore's sister? What are the deathly hallows? And what has really happened at the very beginning of the story, when Voldemort wasn't able to kill Harry Potter?

All I can say is that I want to start reading it all over again, opening the first book and picking up clues that I might have missed before. It will forever stay my absolutely favorite book series.
1410071
Once again, J.K. Rowling manages to enchant readers with her story.  I was thrilled the entire time.  The new animals (Blast-Ended Skrewts and veeta),  whacky characters and amusing love stories make this one the best by far.  The whole time, you're wondering about Harry's life.  And it leaves many  opportunities for the reader to wonder about Book 5.  This book, in a way,  marks the end of Harry's childhood and the beginning of darker years.  This  book is great, so read it now!
3048796
I, being interested in helping people that help people, bought this book upon hearing that the author was helping people in some way. I was rather surprised when i got it that it was an interesting book. Well, more than that, it was captivating book. It weaves a spell around you without your suspicions being aroused. It is more than a mature "harry potter" or a "love story," it has a world of it's own which is very authentic and carefully constructed. The setting comes alive and creates the prefect place in which the characters to live. I enjoyed reading it very much and I am looking forward to the next in the series.
4484956
I have been a fan of JK Rowling since I first picked up the Sorceror's Stone. I also loved her Cormoran Strike series, so I was excited to read this book. There are alot of characters to follow, which made it a bit difficult for me at first, but once I figured out who everyone was and how they all relate to each other, I couldn't put it down. Such a great story about so many people's lives, and how they are all woven together in a small town filled with so many large opinions. What I liked most about this story was you get to see the light and dark of every character. You think you may hate one person and side with another, but a few chapters later your loyalties are switched. I would highly recommend this book!
4909142
This book is magical and not just because it contains magic, but because it illustrates the reality of growing up without ever diminishing the experience. It speaks to the souls of the kid that still lives within all of us and our wishes for magic to be real. Prasad creates a vivid magical world filled with unique and original aspects all fulfilled through the beautiful landscape of the Fiji islands. And yet, through its originality it still rings with the familiarity of other coming-of-age-novels that feature strong girls like Because of Winn-Dixie and Island of Blue Dolphins. Its novels like this that portray young girls in positions of power and wonder that make the most happy to read and see how they inspire the younger generations to come. I cant recommend this magical, wonder-filled, and inspiring book for kids and adults alike.
2753043
I read this book for the first time while waiting for the release of the fourth Harry Potter book, looking for something to fill the empty space. To my surprise, I found a book that I would argue is at least as good as Harry Potter--and perhaps better.

The second book in Diane Duane's YOUNG WIZARDS series starts with middle school friends, Nita and Kit, on vacation together with Nita's family at the beach. They think it's going to be just another summer, but they couldn't be more mistaken. Nita and Kit are both wizards, and the forces of evil don't take vacations. The job of wizards is to fight the Lone Power, the one who created death and continually attempts to trick people into accepting it. Wizards work with spells learned from their wizards' manuals, and the use of the Speech, a language that all things, animate or inanimate, understand.

When Nita and Kit are summoned to help a whale wizard who's been wounded by whalers, they find out that things have not been going well in the Sea, and that if the wizards don't do something about it soon, the problems may spread to land in the form of earthquakes and tidal waves. The solution is to perform the Song of the Twelve in order to bind the Lone Power and keep It from wreaking havoc on the east coast. And in the case of these two young wizards, they have to do all this while keeping their powers secret from their parents, who are beginning to wonder what they spend their days doing.

The main characters are compelling, but the supporting cast is just as strong, consisting of equal numbers of whales and humans. Duane's portrayal of life under the sea, and the ways that humans can unknowingly affect it, is insightful and true. The tension rises throughout the story, so that every scene is more intense than the next.

I must have read this book ten times, and every time I get to the ending, I'm so caught up in it that I can't put it down until I'm done. The language of the story itself is beautifully descriptive, not just of the underwater world, but also of the characters' emotions. A story about friendship, duty, and sacrifice whose truth and beauty still amaze me, more than six years down the road.

Reviewed by:  Candace Cunard