It is extremely difficult to find someone who has not read or did not like the Harry Potter books. And why should that be surprising? These action and magic-filled books are completely original and spark the imagination. The zany school Hogwarts, so much like regular school (teachers, homework) and yet so different (magic, Quidditch) is an amazing setting. The characters are realistic enough to be the kids you sit across from on the school bus. I do have one question, though: Does anyone else out there think that by now, with fourteen year-old characters, someone should have a crush on someone?

It'll be a long wait for the 4th book, and I STRONGLY recommend checking out other fantasy books written by either Philip Pullman (The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife) or T. A. Barron (The Lost Years of Merlin epic). Pullman's books are more thrilling, darker, and with more danger and less of Rowlings colorful, flowery magic, so for all you older readers... T.A. Barron's Lost Years of Merlin books are about Merlin as a spirited teen just discovering his magic and the history of his past. I actually liked T.A. barron's books better, because they seemed more serious about magic, and the action was really exciting (not that HP-3 wasn't exciting). ....

There's a reason the Harry Potter books are so popular with an adult audience--they're wonderful! And Jim Dale brings Harry's world to life in the audio versions--I pity readers who have ignored these outstanding tapes. Thankfully, they're unabridged. You won't want to miss a word.

The third installment in the series is far and away the best (so far), full of surprises and twists. The first two books follow a pretty simple formula and felt like children's books--I was beginning to fear the entire series would follow the same predictable format. But Rowling's readers are growing older along with her protagonist, and the plot of this one is subsequently more sophisticated.

Like the rest of the world, I am eager for the fourth book, but willing to wait the extra time for the audio version. Mystery readers should try this series--although the books are known as "fantasy" novels they are also cracker-jack mysteries, complete with clues, surprise revelations, and adventure.

Those of you who are too embarassed to be caught reading a "children's" novel have probably also missed out the best fiction of C.S.Lewis and Madeline L'Engle. Don't deny yourself these literary pleasures!

Here's the perspective from a parent educator who is also a mother of four: I've read all three Harry Potter books to my older children (ages 8, 10, 12) and I think that Harry's a worthy Hero. He's an everyday kid - a bit unsure of himself, he makes mistakes, but he also makes good decisions. He has friends, but there are also kids who don't like him. He's average looking, a bit clumsy and wears glasses. He has courage, but he also gets scared. This ordinary kid gets to have extraordinary adventures. And even after goof-ups and enemies along the way - he always ends up successful in reaching his main goals - which are always for the greater good. These books are also packed with creative imagination that kids love: life-sized chess pieces that move themselves, invisibility cloaks, magic pets, secret passageways with mysterious passwords. Harry Potter books have enough mystery, intrigue and adventure to keep my 8-year-old ball-of-energy enthralled enough to sit still no matter how long I read - and always begging for more. Yet the books are fascinating to my 12-year-old bookworm who re-reads them numerous times.

Friends and Lovers was an excellent novel. It kept me totally enthralled from start to finish. Eric's other two books Sister Sister and Milk In My Coffee were excellent as well. I have to give credit where credit is due and Eric Jerome Dickey deserves it all. I finished the book within a matter of hours and I was upset when I got finished because it meant that I was no longer involved in the lives of Tyrel, Shelby, Debra and Leonard. I strongly suggest that Eric and his agents discuss a possibly movie deal for Friends and Lovers because I would love to see it on the big screen, Nia Long and Shemar Moore would be perfect for Shelby and Tyrel!! Keep up the good work Eric and as long as you do I will remain a loyal fan.

P.S. If we can't get a movie deal, will you at least consider a sequel. Maybe it could be about Debra finding a new love and Shelby and Tyrel having marital problems

"Friends and Lovers" is my absolute favorite book of all times! I absolutely loved it. Before I bought the book, I hadn't read many books by African American authors, much less authors that were men. Terry McMillian was the only one. When I went away to college a fellow student asked me why I only read books by white authors? I didn't have a good excuse, so I set out to read and support African American literature. I was at the bookstore buying a book when I saw "Sister Sister" I thought of my friends words and bought the book. I tore that book up in about 4 hours! *lol* I went back to the bookstore the next day to get "Friends and Lovers" but it wasn't out yet. I had to keep re-reading "Sister Sister" I finally did get "Friends and Lovers", and it was worth my wait. I finished "Friends and Lovers" the same night. It was such a good book. Debra, Shelby, Leonard, and Tyrell were like people I knew. I passed the book on to my 15 year old brother, who in turn passed it on to our mother. We all love it! I just got finished reading "Milk in my Coffee" and I loved that too! Eric Jerome Dickey can do no wrong when it comes to telling a story!

I really enjoyed this book. Each character was given their due time and time to shine as well. Tyrel was a handsome find. His character was portrayed with such depth as was every one of the people involved. He & SHelby's relationship seemed rocky yet so solid at times. Leaonard he was a man of standard and he had been like Tyrel's brother in being such a good friend... Tyrel was dealing with a married woman who did him no justice.. Leonard let him know that and so the story goes.... they both wind up with some really special ladies and i dont want to hurt the plot any for those of you who havent read it but Eric has put such spin on this book that it will have you reeling from the beginning to the very end.. Eric Jerome Dickey has a real flair for writing and i hope that you all enjoy this book and many of the others. I have read them all.

LUCINDA a fariy gives ella the gift of obedience , if someone told her to cut of her head or hop on one foot for a day she would have to.Ella loves the cook and spents her days with her . When ella is fifteen her mother dies and leaves ella sad and alone ,ella is a small elephant and trips on things so her father sends her to finishing school where two monstrers hattie and olive make her do things for them for friendship like picking flowers and giving them her mothers necklace .There ella hates sewing and danceing and hattie just makes her a maid, So ella runs alway and meets elfs and almost gets eaten by ogres . When ella gets home her father is poor and marrys mum olga with nasty hattie and olive soon they make her a scullery maid makeing her clean and wash and ella wears ugly dresss and olive calls her cinders. One night mum olga and hattie and olive go a ball and leave the dirty scullery maid but ella finds Lucinda and makes a wish. This a great book and very enchanteding .

When I first borrowed this book, it was purely to kill time. Little did I know that this book was to be one of the most interestiing, humorous and enchanting book I have ever read. Ella or Eleanor is the daughter of a shrewd but rich merchant. When she was a baby, a fairy, Lucinda, cast a silly obedience spell on her. Ever since, Ella had to obey every single command given, regardless whether or not it was appropriate, and most of the time, against Ella's wishes. Luckily, Ella grew up in a household which loved her dearly, espeacially her Mother and her cook cum fairy godmother, Mandy. However, after her Mother dies, her father, a man which had never cared much for Ella, decides to send her to finishing school. Much as Ella hated it, she had to obey. Worst of all, she could tell no one of the spell cast on her, a promise to her dying mother to prevent Ella from being exploited. From there on, she meets wicked and greedy step-sisters, a downright horrid step mother, some orgres and of course, her good friend turned loved one, Prince Charmont, as Ella ventures to find Lucinda to remove the silly obedient spell from her. This stories spans a few years as Ella struggles to maintain her dignity and wits while searching for a solution and sacrificing her own love and feelings for her Prince and her country, with hilaious results and touching scenes. This book is a definite must-read.

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine is a fairy tale about Ella of Frell who has been given a "gift" of obedience by a fairy. Ella constantly was made to do things against her will. She tried breaking the curse many times, but her efforts were fruitless. Ella ran into many obstacles in her life, such as her mother passing away and her father remarrying, being in the finishing school with her stepsisters, and meeting magical characters like gnomes, ogres and giants. It was not until her adventures brought her to numerous encounters with Prince Charmont, Ella's curse was broken by the magical powers of love.
Ella Enchanted is a modern fantasy novel and is very easy to read. The language that Gail Carson Levine uses is very descriptive and paints a precise picture. The reader is constantly wondering where the next adventure will bring Ella.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading fairy tales. When I started to read this novel, I could not put it down until I was finished. The story completely submerges you into the world of magic and supernatural characters. Ella Enchanted is for all ages to read and enjoy.

Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul is a wonderful set of stories about the good times and the hard times of being a teenager. It has stories on relationships, family, tough stuff like the thought of suicide or the loss of a loved one, and many other things that any teenage person may have to deal with in his or her life. It is a definite book to read for any teenager. It really related to me because I to am still a teeneger and have many responsibilties and times of hard ships. That point where you don't think it could get any worse. And after reading this book I have learned that I'm not the only one having these experiences in life. The stories and poems in this book touch me very much and I have learned a lot of things about just how to handle certain situations and even if bad things do happen, there will be a brighter day and it's not the end of the world. Many emotions came over me while reading this book also; laughter and joy from reading some of the happy stories about family and friends, and also sadness and sorrow for those stories about the tough times and bad things. The point of this book is to just give not only teenagers but anyone who reads it that you can and are a strong person and it's how you deal with the situations that are given to you that makes you stronger. Just reading these stories have made me a stronger person.
This is a wonderful book and I give it two thumbs up. I would recommend it to any teenager who deals with problems and stress in their life which pretty includes every teenager in the world. After reading this book, I believe that you will have a better understanding of life in general and once again that your not the only person out there with problems. You'll laugh, you'll cry, but most of all, you'll feel better about yourself and if your like me, feel much stronger in accomplishing your goals in life and not giving up. So pick it up today and go on a journey that other teenagers have went on before. Maybe one cn actually feel good that some of those tough times have not happened to them personally and may find a way of keeping those tough times out of your life.

This book made me laugh and cry. I enjoyed it to the fullest extent possible. It means a lot to me, and says so much about the difficult stage of teenage life. I think on my next trip to the bookstore I'll pick up another book in the series! It was just that good. Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul is a book I will always refer to and cherish. A precious keepsake to treasure forever. This is a definite recommendation to all my friends. This book has helped me through a difficult time in my life, the death of my Mom. Reading the chapter "Tough Stuff" helped me to deal with this and realize I wasn't alone. This is definitely a book you can relate too! I love to read books, especially fantasy - but these real life stories topped them all! I can't wait until " A Second Helping" comes out, I hope to be the first to buy it! The experience of Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul will stay with me all my life

I am 11 years old,a young adolesence boy,My mother (a.k.a Santa Claus) bought me Chicken Soup For The Teenage Soul for CHristmas. I immediately put my other presents away and started reading.It was sad,heart warming,and happy at certain times.I realized how special I really am. It was amazing how other people around and over my age felt.Also very nice to see how girls feel and want in a man. Also,how no matter how hard times get,suicide is never the answer. There was two stories in particular I loved Sparky (in the section "On Learning)you will never believe the ending. Another on of my favorites is about suicide and how everybody deserves a friend it is Always Return Your Phone Calls (in the section "Tough Stuff") It is sad,beatiful,and very inspirational. I suggest this book to every kid my age this book is so good I am going to read it over and over again. Thank-you.

Okay, the good points first. Harry Potter is an above average fantasy for young readers. The wonderful details are probably the best point about the story. (Take the game of Quidditch for example, the owls, the centaurs, the wands and broomsticks, the giant motorcycle that appears only once, and try reading the inscription around the Mirror of Erised backwards.) It is also funny at times in Roald Dahl's style (though inferior to his books). It is even a bit exciting, especially towards the end. I can understand the way all the eight-year-olds, even 13-year-olds are all crazy for it, but adults? What did they see in it? I was a bit disgusted to see all the reviews by adults saying this was their favorite book ever. (They must not have read The Golden Compass.) It really is no more than a slightly above average, rather amusing fantasy. It started out well, but as stereotype after stereotype and cliche after cliche of character and plot were introduced, I began to be turned off. Take Malfoy for example, the 100% evil and cruel bully who has henchmen to stick up from him and teases the other kids about being poor (and of course you can tell he's bad just by looking at him). How ridiculous and boring. Hermione. Another genius/nerd that studies all the time and can solve all the technical problems for the heroes and be groaned at for being so stuffy. She is also nearly the only female character. Hagrid, the big strong giant who turns out to be nice, though a bit stupid, and has a soft spot. I really agree with the reader called Magda from Neptune who said, "I didn't like the idea of Slytherin. It seems like the author just wasn't thinking when she decided there would be a whole house for the "bad guys". I think that's a shallow idea and also kind of cruel. Could you picture standing there and finding out from the Sorting Hat (which NEVER lies) that you're evil? I think Slytherin was probably the biggest mistake in Harry Potter." Go ahead and read Harry Potter, because if all these other people liked it there must be something there, and you might get it too. But read critically. Don't just blindly adore it (or any book, for that matter.) And I'm warning you, if you haven't read The Golden Compass and The Subtle Knife yet, you're wasting your time with anything else.

Harry Potter thought he had a fairly normal life (aside from living with his aunt and uncle who hated him), but he was very wrong. On his 11th birthday he learned that he was a wizard and had been invited to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Suddenly, Harry is plunged into an entirely new world of magic. At Hogwarts Harry has friends for the first time in his life. Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger are his best friends at the school and they are the ones who help Harry through all of his troubles. From the very beginning though, Harry is slightly aware of something strange going on at Hogwarts. Harry pieces together the mystery slowly throughout the school year in while he isn't busy working on schoolwork or Quidditch (a magical game played on broomsticks).
My favorite part about this book was the world that J.K. Rowling created. While it would have been easy for her to just set the story in a school where the kids learn magic, she didn't. Things like Diagon Alley, which is where all of the students go to get school supplies, allow her to add so much more to the magic world just through descriptions of things Harry sees. Quidditch also makes the world seem much more real.
I originally read this book because I needed a young adult book for class, but I ended up enjoying it far more than I thought I would. I can't remember the last time I actually read much outside of school, but after reading this book I read the other three and am now anxiously awaiting the fifth book. I would recommend this book to pretty much anyone. It's obvious that it was aimed at younger readers, but I found I enjoyed it as much at 17 as my sister did at 11.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is a fascinating read for children and adults alike. You will be pulled deep into the story of young, orphaned Harry and his many escapades at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

This story, and the ones that follow it, are superbly written. The vocabulary is perfectly suited for its intended target audience, children ages nine through twelve, but still not so simply worded that it becomes boring in the least for its adult readers. This is a perfect book for reading aloud to your children. The hardest part for most parents will be resisting the urge to cheat and read ahead after the kids fall asleep.

In the Harry Potter series, J. K. Rowling has created a masterpiece that will stand for all time beside such notables as C. S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia and Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. Rowling blends reality and fantasy with a deft touch, making the reader wonder whimsically if Hogwarts truly exists, if wizards and Muggles are real, and maybe, just maybe, if you look hard enough, you might see wizard children playing Quidditch in rural fields.

Even those readers who do not typically enjoy fantasy will love this book. There are elements of nearly every genre in existence flawlessly woven throughout the story. Suspense, humor, mystery, Rowling does justice to them all.

I cannot recommend this book, indeed this whole series, highly enough. This is one of those stories that, at the last page, leave you both satisfied with the conclusion to the story and frantic to read more about the characters involved.

I would, however, like to leave you with a warning about the Harry Potter series. They are highly addictive. Once you read one, you will want to read them all. This reader, for one, is counting the days until the next volume is released.

I would rate this book ten stars if they gave me the option. This is my favorite book in the world. I was introduced to it almost four years ago and still love rereading it. I think Bryce Courtenay is the most gifted author of the day -- he writes in the most beautiful style that I can only hope to emulate. The character of Peekay is the sort of Everyman you wish you were... I love how he seems to change the world by just his being around. And although a good portion of it deals with boxing (which I have to admit did not impress me too much the first time I read it) non-sports fans will still enjoy Peekay's descriptions and the remarkable dialogue and characters. I can't even put into words how much I love this book. Read it -- you won't be disappointed!! It's a little difficult to find (I had to order my original copy from Australia), but if you can get your hands on it, read Tandia, the sequel to The Power of One. It answers all the questions that TPO leaves hanging.

A gift from a friend, the Power of One became my favorite book. The story concerns Peekay, who is white, growing up in South Africa in a time of racial hatred. Picked on and ostracized because of his nationality, skinny frame, and precocity, Peekay's childhood is spent mostly alone. However, along the way, he meets people who will have later on have an influential impact on his life. Although the subjects of the book concern racism and the sport of boxing, to me the prevailing theme embodied in the Power of One is above all an affirmation of the individual - the recognition of the inner strength and courage that comes with acting upon one's own beliefs and initiative in a largely conformist society. I identified with Peekays's individuality, his ability to think for himself, and his heightened sense of intellectual curiousity. This is a book that will tug at the heartstrings, but one that will also bring a smile to your face at its comic moments. It will also make you think, as some profound insights into the philosphy of life are offered. The novel inspires awe at the sheer beauty and power of Coutenay's prose. The Power of One is a compelling read, it will leave few readers unmoved.

I first read this book at the behest of my English teacher at the time. I was 13 years old. Undaunted by the 800 or 900 odd pages, I plowed in. Little was I to know that Courtenay was to unfold a world before my eyes that would - and I say this completely free of hyperbole - change my life.

The Power of One, at its core, is the story of Peekay - a young English South African at the onset of Apartheid. Peekay suffers injustice at the hands of bigger Afrikaaner school bullies, which sets him on a course for the rest of his life. He becomes a boxer, taught by Geel Piet - a black inmate at the local jail. Geel Piet becomes more than a boxing tutor to Peekay, and teaches him what I believe is the central tenet of this book - Little can beat Big.

Peekay goes on to become a very adept boxer, and also a great academic. This represents the two main adult influences in his life - Geel Piet and boxing, Doc and academia.

The Power of One could be said to be a love story, but not in the general sense of the term. It is a love story with South Africa - a love story with the land, the wilderness and the people. With the country's errors and violence and also its spirit to rise above that all.

Little can beat big.

I'm 15, and I still love to read Roald Dahl, namely, Matilda. Matilda ranks in my top five favorite books ever, and I have to wonder, how did Dahl do it? In all his books, he creates worlds and characters so far-fetched that to make them make sense in our messed up world today, is something not many authors can claim.

Matilda is the story of a neglected girl, with easily the two most rotten parents in the history of literature (Rivaled only by the Dursleys of Harry Potter). She has amazing intellectual skill. She's only, what, five or six, and can tell you what 14 times 396 is two seconds after you ask it. She's reading books by Charles Dickens as well. But, because her parents are nitiwts (Or, in tribute to Dahl, Twits) she goes unnoticed. So she plots revenge in hilarious ways. She dyes her fathers hair platinum blond, glues his hat to his head, and fakes a ghost in the house.

Then comes payback on Matilda in the most terrible school. She is enrolled in Cruncham Hall, a bleak, dark academy run by *Duh Duh Duh* Miss. Truncball, who was in the Olympics for Shot Put and javelin. Hmm...Thats scary enough right there. Her policy is "A school with no children is the best kind of school" She uses kids for throwing pratice. She hangs them upside down, the throws them over spiked fences, she locks them in the chokey, which is a small chamber, about a foot wide, and nails, glass, and other sharp objects so you can't lean, sit or move.

Anyway, she develops psychic powers to fight back against the tyranny of Mrs. Trunchball, and along with her friends help and her wonderful Teacher, Miss Honey, she wins.

Without a doubt, one of Dahl's best books, if not the best

BOOK REVIEW FOR MATILDA

4/16/02 Arvin

I really liked the book Matilda because the author that wrote this book wrote lots and lots of details in the book that you could imagine the picture of what it would be like. Also I like this book because the girl in the story is very determined to study.

In this story, a little girl lives with two mean parents who are upsets with watching T.V including their son. But not Matilda! She wants to read and study. So when in the morning Matilda's mom goes out to play bingo and her dad goes to his business with her brother going to school, Matilda goes to the library to read.

One day Matilda goes to school and meets a wonderful teacher. Miss Honey! But not only does Matilda meet a nice teacher, but also Matilda finds out something about her that no one else can do. Magic! Matilda uses her ability on her real enemy The Trunchbull.

Through reading this book, I have learned a valuable lesson. The father of Matilda loved to earn money so he cheated on the people, and his cars were cheap and would break down very fast. That was lying. I learned not to lie because Matilda's father got in trouble and ran away. Another lesson I learned was to not give up! When Matilda meets the mean principle, Matilda didn't stop standing up for herself and did not give up.

Read this trilling story to walk through the adventures with Matilda! It will never get off your hands until you are finished reading this book. I loved this book and I think you will too!

Truth be told, I am well over the required age to read this book, but I just can't help myself. This is a such a great book that I go back every once in a while and just read it over. It's that great of a book.

It's a fantastic fantasy ride with Matilda, a young genius who is suppressed by overbearing uncaring parents. She is very motivated and has taught herself everything.

As she grows older, 5 years old to be exact, she wants to go to school. Imagine! A child wanting to go to school?! But, Matilda's parents aren't to thrilled with their daughter's aspirations, but enroll her in school anyway.

But at school, Matilda has been singled out by Mrs. Trunchbull, the principal, as well as Miss Honey, a wonderful caring teacher. As Matilda develops her intelligence, she starts gaining amazing powers and that's when all the fun begins! Her antics lead to amusing consequences and are very enjoyable to read.

You wont want to miss this, child or adult. It's a book all about love and determination but with fun along the way. Trust me, you wont mind reading Matilda, it's a GREAT book!!!

I read this book as a child, and very happily reorded it when a memory of it surfaced. The plot is as excellent as I remembered it. A young boy named Milo finds the entire world to be completely uninteresting, and he's already bored, cyncial and jaded, despite the fact that he can't be more than 12 years old. Somebody gives him a way to explore, and he's off to a fantastic land of imagination in his little electric car. Once there, he finds that knowledge and thought have become personified. He encounters cities of words and numbers, a woman who guards and saves sounds, he literally jumps to Conclusions, takes a swim in the sea of knowledge. The main plot involves Milo and some assorted friends (my favorite is the watch-dog Tock, who has a real watch on him, but then I've always loved dogs) rescuing two princesses who are trapped in the Mountains of Ignorance. Milo must battle all of the demons that plauge goodness and knowledge to accomplish his goal. Along the way, he discovers that he and the world are much more interesting and exciting than he thought. Besides that, another little gem is hidden in here. Life is not just about learning and pursuing knowledge. There are many varities and experiences out there. Math, science, art, history and so on. The key is not just learning about them, but learning how to balance them so that they all work together to make us better people. Milo got the message in the end, and I hope that more follow in his footsteps. This book is written on a children's level, but the author never talks down to kids or patronizes them. It's a pleasant read for all ages. Enjoy!

After my first reading of 'The Phantom Tollbooth', it became,and still remains, my favorite young reader book. I wrote two book reports on it for my middle school reading classes. I even received a copy of it as a tenth birthday present. Ever since, I've read it from cover to cover at least once a year.

As a child, I enjoyed reading the strange adventures of a bored Milo embarking on his legendary quest. As an adult, I enjoy the tome's play on words, such as the Whether man ("It's more important to know whether there will be weather, rather than what the weather will be") and the Isle of Conclusions, a place you have to jump to to get there. I also love the book's personifying such abstract concepts as statistics, like the (literally) half a child that Milo meets who's the end result of the average family having 2.58 children. It also has neat takes on people's points of view, like the boy who grows down, rather than up. Needless to say, it's pretty apparent that even though I loved this book as a kid, I appreciate it much more as an adult.

If you remember reading this as a child, I strongly recommend you give it a look again. You'll likely pick up on quite a few things in the story that you might not have gotten the gist of in your youth!

'Late

This book is especially meaningful to those who find life a waste of time. Mr. Norton Juster deserves an applause straight from my heart. I read this book halfway in fifth grade, and it is the first book to entice me to walk into a library, and begin other journeys in the talented hands of hundreds of authors. This little boy is very similar to me, as well as many people, young and old, who find themselves bored with the world. A little boy who mysteriously finds a tollbooth in his room is swept into a journey full of fun and odd surprises: two conflicting royal brothers who fight about words and numbers, The Silent Valley where people protest their rights for the return of sound, a place where people grown down rather than up, and places understandably known as Illusions and Reality. In conclusion Milo finds understanding in King Azaz's words,"...So many things are possible just as long as you don't know they're impossible." This book will take you right on along with Milo, Tock, and the Humbug and show you what makes this book, and life altogether adventurous and beautiful. Although many stories such as Alice in Wonderland are very similar to The Phantom Tollbooth, nothing else has quenched my thirst. For that reason at 20 years old until I die it is and will be my favorite book...Thank you Mr. Norton Juster.

What positive values can be derived from JK Rowling's second Harry Potter book besides "fun"?

Well, as compared to the first book, the treatment of Muggles by the magical folks were less stereotypical. Arthur Weasley, father of Ron Weasley, best friend to Harry Potter, offered an alternative perspective. The Muggles, unable to do any spells, came up with non-magical solutions to handle problems in life. An example was the development of lock-picking skills - something which apparently never occurred and a source of facsination to wizards who had become accustomed to using spells to overcome obstacles.

The author also showed the prejudice is a prevalent human nature that exists not only by Muggles like Harry Potter's guardian family against the magical folks, and vice versa, but also among magical folks between those whose antecedents were magical and those whose antecedents included Muggles.

For those who had read the first Harry Potter book, they might appreciate that JK Rowling added further development to her characters in the second book. The principal characters showed either they learnt from the experiences from the earlier book, or revealed characteristic weaknesses in failure to wise up.

Plot-wise, unlike other authors who tried to re-use the formula of an earlier success, JK Rowling took the story through a different plot. In reminiscent of good old traditional mysteries, more clues compared to the first book were scattered through the book on the identity of a mysterious adversary who plagues Hogswart, the school of magic.

What is similar to the first book was that the school staff at Hogswart maintaining an official denial to the source of the threat. In the first book, the Philosopher's Stone (renamed the Sorceror's Stone in the movie) was a closely guarded top secret. This time, it was the Chamber of Secrets which was relegated to the classification of myths and legends. Harry Potter and friends must track the mysterious monster released from the horror by a mysterious Heir of Slytherin which threatened to exterminate students whose antecedents included Muggles.

New characters along for the ride was the flamboyant new teacher Lockhart who taught Defence Against the Dark Arts, younger sister of Ron Weasley, Ginny, who adored Harry, and Lucius Malfoy, father of Draco Malfoy who antagonised Harry and friends in the first book.

Harry and friends had a hard time tracking the elusive culprits, and things never looked more bleak when the greatest defender of Hogswart, Dumblemore, was suspended and sent away from the school. Rowling managed to weave dramatic suspense into the finale.

No doubt, impressionable minds (which included more than just children) could be heavily influenced or seduced by lure of the supernatural, as charged by Anti-Harry-Potter activists.

Whether Harry Potter is a brilliantly packaged trap to lure the innocent to ungodly witchcraft is probably a question which JK Rowling knows the answer best.

However, the ultimate responsibility is on the reader to develop his or her own discernment and this is not likely to happen by banning of books and failure to expose or to prepare the mind to face new challenges.

Harry Potter is orphaned as a baby and raised with a mean aunt and uncle and their incredibly spoiled son. However, his parents were a witch and a wizard, and he is destined to be a wizard. Despite the attempts by the aunt and uncle to suppress Harry's magical side, he ends up going to Hogwarts School of Magic. In "The Chamber of Secrets", Harry survives another awful summer and finally gets to return to Hogwart's for his second year. However, evil forces are out to either destroy or vilify Harry, and adventures abound.

"Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" has the makings of a genuine classic, although it is a little more sinister than the first book in the series. What I found surprising is the fact that I, at age 41, enjoyed it as much as I did. The writing is nearly flawless and, while reading it, the only thing that reminds you that this is a children's book is how quickly the pages fly by. Some of the humor is also definitely aimed at ages 9 to 12, content-wise, but not to a point of being a distraction.

While I would not automatically endorse a book that is widely read by children and has generated as much interest in reading as has the Harry Potter series, I would definitely be predisposed to liking such a book. "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" fulfills the hope that started in me when I saw hordes of children lining up to buy books. This is good fiction, and can lay the groundwork for later introduction of more mature mythical reading, like "The Lord of the Rings".

Some adults are concerned about the Harry Potter books because of the magical, supernatural content. This surprises me, as children are routinely bombarded with fictional characters and unreal stories, without adults organizing protests. Parents need to sit down regularly (not once) and discuss what the difference between fiction and reality is, including the much more realistic-appearing but fictional violence children see frequently on television and in movies. If a child reads a Harry Potter book and believes the magical content, then his or her parents have inadequately addressed the fiction-versus-reality issue with them. And, such a child, who believes the fiction he or she sees is real, is going to be harmed much more by other fictional content available to him and her than he or she is by Harry Potter and his very fictional-appearing magic. My recommendation: Relax, explain the concept of fiction to your children, label Harry Potter as clearly fictional, and let your children enjoy good, imaginative writing.

I thoroughly enjoyed Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets! There is still a magical charm that lures you in, and keeps you begging for more. Reading this second book has definitely set my determination in reading the remainder of the series. After Goblet of Fire, I will anxiously await the release of the new books.

This book starts with the same scene as in the first book...Harry Potter is staying with his relatives, The Dursleys, over summer break. They treat him the same, while fearing his magic at the same time. During the summer, Harry doesn't receive any letters from Hermione, Ron, and Hagrid, and believes his friends to have deserted him. Then, a little house elf named Dobby comes to Harry and begs him not to return to Hogwarts because he is in danger. Dobby also reveals that he has been intercepting Harry's mail. After Harry stays firm on returning to Hogwarts, Dobby causes havoc with the Dursleys, causing them to lock up Harry. The Weasley boys rescue Harry and they start off the year together.

Right off there are some mishaps, and changes that everybody has to deal with. Some include the flying car that crashes, the arrogant new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, and Ron's broken wand.

Then, something terrible starts happening. Students (and a cat) have been turning up...petrified; practically turned to stone! People begin suspecting Harry as the Heir of Slytherin, who can open up the Chamber of Secrets and release whatever is attacking the students. Harry finds a diary from 50 years before, and it turns out to explain much more than first appearance.

Truly marvelous tale! Rowling has such a unique and intrigueing imagination, and she shows it through this wonderful, fictatious boy named Harry Potter.