A Consolidated Review of All the Harry Potter Books

This review concerns all 9 books J.K. Rowling has written concerning the Harry Potter series. Yes, 9 not seven as most people think. There are two books J.K.R. wrote for Comic Relief. These books are mentioned in the Harry Potter series, "Quidditch Trough the Ages", and "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them."

"Quidditch Through the Ages" is a complete history of the wizarding world's greatest game, Quidditch. The book also describes the most common fouls players make and a list of moves players make with a little emphasis on the Keeper's moves.

"Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" is the Care of Magical Creatures class book. It lists magical creatures, where they live, how dangerous they are, and how to defend yourself if you come across them.

If you pay close attention to some of the descriptions, you may figure out just what Hermione's cat, Crookshanks, is!

These two books really helped me to understand the creatures in the series better.

It's also really cool for children to hold one of Harry's schoolbooks in the kid's hands! I wonder if J.K.R. will ever write "Hogwarts: A History"?

The forward by Albus Dumbledore had me cracking up!

These two books are sold on Amazon for $5 each, with $4 going to charity.

~Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (a.k.a. the Sorcerer's Stone in the U.S. and in the film)~

The first book in the Harry Potter series.

This is the book in which J.K. Rowling introduced us to Harry James Potter, and his friends Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger.

We were also introduced- unfortunately- to the Dursleys, Draco Malfoy, Severus Snape, and You- Know- Who, Lord Voldemort.

This book begins in celebration- mixed with mourning, turns quickly into fear, wondering, and in the case of Vernon Dursley, paranoia. From there it turns to joy, them back to fear again. This is just the main example of the emotional roller- coaster this book can take a person on.

This is the story of how Harry Potter came to be what he is, lived his early years, and (with the help of a half- giant) discovered who he was!

~Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets~

The second book in the Harry Potter series.

In this book, we learn a great deal more about Lord Voldemort, who he is, who his ancestor is, and some of what he's done. We also learn about his relationship with the Malfoy family.

We also learn about Harry's strange power, which links him (in the other student's eyes, at least) to Salazar Slytheryn- and to Lord Voldemort.

This is a very disturbing book, which raises the issue of racism and proves how anyone can be turned against just because of their parentage and other things which they cannot control.

The best moments of this book had to do with Gilderoy Lockhart. He provides the splash of color and hilarity that kept this book from being too dark. Even in the darkest moments, he never failed to give me a laugh! More great moments came from the Malfoy's house- elf, Dobby- who helped to cause many problems for Harry while trying to save him.

~Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban~

The third book of the Harry Potter series.

This is the book in which we learn the gruesome details of the deaths of Lily and James Potter.

We also learn who James's best friend was- Sirius Black.

We learn in this book that muggles who break the law have it infinitely better than wizards and witches who break the law. Azkaban is the only reason I would never want to be a witch! (Although I shouldn't worry, I've never done anything really wrong!)

There is also a group in this book who call themselves the Marauders: Moony (Remus Lupin), Wormtail (Peter Pettigrew, that vile little rat), Padfoot (Sirius Black), and Prongs (none other than James Potter). I would have loved to have friends like these growing up! Except for Wormtail, he should have been fed to Crookshanks!

The balance of fun and darkness in this book was helped out by the addition of a new teacher, Professor Trelawney. Her ever- dire predictions had me laughing for hours!

~Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire~

The fourth book in the Harry Potter series.

This is the book in which Lord Voldemort returns.

This book begins with the amazement of the Quidditch World Cup, with some hilarious parts such as the wizard wearing a nightgown and all of the men's reactions to the Veela.

Then tragedy strikes when the Death Eaters get together and decide to remind everyone that they are still around.

In this book, we learn about Lord Voldemort's evil minions, the Death Eaters. (didn't you know, minions are all the rage!)

When Harry gets to school, he finds out about a very old tournament that was discontinued after the body count got too high (they should have let it stay discontinued!). We also learn to what lengths a Death Eater will go to be become "The Dark Lord's Most Faithful Servant."

The funniest moments in this book come from Ron- and his obsession with Fleur Delacour.

This book seemed rushed.

~Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix~

The fifth book in the Harry Potter series.

This book begins with Harry wondering why the news that Lord Voldemort is alive and has returned hasn't become front page news already. The Daily Prophet is trying to make out that Harry is insane or just trying to get more attention.

This is the book that tells us why Voldemort went after Harry in the first place.

We also learn of a deeply disturbing connection between Harry and Lord Voldemort that saves one life and helps to take another.

This is the book which introduces Dolores Umbridge, the vilest person ever to not be associated with Lord Voldemort. She does the most horrible things, like making Harry write "I must not tell lies" about a million times- in his own blood!

When Umbridge will not teach proper Defense Against the Dark Arts, Harry decides to take it upon himself to teach a class everything that he can. He also, In an attempt to get the truth out about Voldemort, gave an interview to the Quibbler, a tabloid magazine. Both of these things and more cause Umbridge to make new rules and to give Harry yet another detention writing with his own blood.

Harry also learns about the Order of the Phoenix, who is in it, and what their place in the war against Voldemort is.

The funniest moments in this book were thanks to Kreacher, the disgusting house-elf who lives in Sirius's house.

The worst moments were the almost death of Arthur Weasley, and the death of Sirius Black.

~Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince~Warning there are major spoilers here!

The sixth book in the Harry Potter series.

Many may disagree with me, but I feel that this is the darkest book in the series so far.

This is the book where we learn how to really destroy Lord Voldemort without a chance that he will be able to come back- again. We find out that Tom Riddle's (Lord Voldemort's) diary in "Chamber of Secrets" was a Horcrux, an object in which a part of the extremely evil wizard's soul is encased. The wizard cannot truly die unless the Horcrux is destroyed. Voldemort wanted a seven- part soul, so that he could go "farther down the road to immortality than any other wizard has gone before". No other wizard has ever made more than one Horcrux, Voldemort made six!

Harry learns all of this in private classes with Dumbledore. In his classes, he learns what the other Horcruxes might be: in addition to the diary, there was also the family ring (now destroyed by Dumbledore), the locket of Slytheryn (another family heirloom), the Cup of Hufflepuff, Voldemort's pet snake, Nagini, and the last Horcrux is probably something of Gryffindor or Ravenclaw. Though I am leaning toward Ravenclaw because Dumbledore said that the only known object left from Gryffindor is the sword, which is safe.

Light-hearted moments:
*Umbridge's reaction to centaurs
*Any moment that includes Fleur
*Harry and Ginny getting together
*Luna Lovegood's Quidditch commentary
*Harry becoming Quidditch Captain
*All of the girls trying to slip Harry love potions
*Most moments including Professor Slughorn
*Bill and Fleur announcing their engagement

Dark moments:
*The almost daily deaths
*Ron and Hermione's long arguments
*Malfoy's attempts at killing Dumbledore- which almost kill 2 other people
*The Death- Eaters getting into Hogwarts
*Bill being bitten by an untransformed werewolf
*Harry and Dumbledore's useless trip to get Slytheryn's locket
*Dumbledore's death.

This book ends with a light note, believe- it- or- not. Fleur still wants to marry Bill, even though he's now horribly scarred. Tonks and Remus Lupin get together, and Harry learns just how good his friends are.

This book made me cry.

~Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows~

The seventh- and final- book in this series.

This book hasn't been published yet. It will be available for release on July 21, 2007, Harry's birthday!

Things that will happen in this Deathly Hallows:
*Tells who R.A.B. is
*Tells how Harry will find and destroy each Horcrux
*2 main characters will die
*Harry will go to Godric's Hollow
*Bill and Fleur's wedding
*The final showdown with Voldemort will happen

Things that might happen in Deathly Hallows:
* Snape may play an important part in this story
* Peter Pettigrew may play a part in this story
*There is something about Harry looking like his father and having his mother's eyes
*The last word may be "scar"

Deathly Hallows is currently on pre- order from Amazon for $18.99.
I recommend pre- ordering this book so you can have it on the 21^st of July without having to fight the crowds.

The first six books can be found on Amazon in paperback and hardcover boxed sets.
Paperback boxed sets are $32.09.
Hardcover boxed sets are $100.13.

J.K. Rowling has written a series that will be placed in the same category as The Lord of the Rings.

Thanks to Mugglenet for information on Deathly Hallows.

copywrite:2007 by Stephanie A. Smith