 |
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban | 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 | ||
Harry's now a third-year at Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. But any enjoyment he might get at being away from his magic-hating muggle relatives and back with his friends is rather dampened when he learns that the man that recently escaped prison is a wizard, and he's after Harry. Hogwart's is full of the Dementors, Azkaban's terrifying guards, in an attempt to intercept the dangerous convict, and they pose almost as much danger to the innocent as the guilty. But all this will pale to insignificance when the truth is revealed at last.
This is an excellent, excellent book. Harry, Ron, and Hermione are still great characters, each portraying a different aspect of school life and type of student, and so it's nearly impossible not to identify with at least one of them. They're also fun, intelligent people. Meanwhile, the story is similarly good. It details life at Hogwart's again, of course, but more importantly it forwards the greater story arc. Heck, the arc gets a verifiable rocket boost. What happens between these covers matters in a way it just plain doesn't in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
There is almost nothing disappointing or irritating about this volume. Harry is the victim of bullying, of course, especially by Draco, but is perfectly acceptible. Unlike the last book, events and adults do not conspire to falsely accuse him of misdeeds. The challenges he faces are real, and they are, indeed, challenging.
I was very impressed with this novel. Kids' book or no, it is worth reading by any fan of fantasy. Of course, by this point everyone already knows that. Still, you can add my voice to the masses singing its praises.
| By Title | By Author | By Rank |