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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone | Rating | |
| A | |||
| J. K. Rowling | |||
| Series | Related Books | ||
| Harry Potter | Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows | ||
I can certainly understand why kids like this book. It's a beautiful modernization of the Cinderella tale. Harry starts out living in a tiny cupboard in the house of an aunt and uncle who hate him, while his bratty cousin can do nothing wrong. Harry has to do all the chores, is beaten and picked on, never gets any presents for Christmas or his birthday, and is barely allowed out of the house to go to school. But all that changes when he gets a letter informing him he's been accepted to Hogwart's school of wizardry. Suddenly he finds his parents were famous and powerful wizards who left him a load of money after their deaths. He is famous, he's popular, and a powerful wizard in his own right, plus a star of the school sports team. The only problems seem to be a schoolmate who hates him and teachers who tend to disapprove of his extracurricular activities. Even if it is while trying to figure out who is lurking around the school and what they're trying to steal, wandering around the school halls after hours and entering restricted areas can get him in serious trouble if he're caught at it.
It's every kid's dream. Who didn't feel that they were unfairly put upon as a kid by their parents? Who doesn't feel that a sibling gets away with murder, or that there's someone at school out to get them? Wouldn't it be great if someone came and told them that this isn't the life they're destined to lead, that they're destined to be rich and powerful and popular and famous?
Why adults such as myself enjoy it so much is a bit trickier. Part of it is that the characters are just so strong. Harry, Ron, and Hermione are fascinating, each an individual with their own strengths and dreams and style to attain them. And their own weaknesses, as well, all entirely plausible. They figure out the problem and the solution on their own, despite all the obstacles in their way - mostly in the form of adults trying to get them to behave and keep to their proper place.
The mystery itself, of course, is also very good. It's a secondary concern for much of the book as Rowling takes the time to settle Harry into Hogwarts and introduce him and readers to the world of wizardry. But the mystery of what's in the third floor corridor and why the villains are so keen to get their hands on it grows more and more prominent, and the classes and regular school activities less and less, as the book continues, until by the end the scales have entirely tipped. The pacing of it is absolutely perfect.
The book is extremely easy to read. It is primarily aimed at kids, after all, and it's not at all difficult to get through it in only a few hours. Best of all, though, it's just plain fun. I can see why this is such a hit.
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