Harry Potter The magic of the acclaim and the criticism
The phenomenal public reaction to the Harry Potter series by J. ... Parents in several states have tried and sometimes succeeded in banning the Harry Potter books from their children’s school libraries. The magic in the Harry Potter series that has enchanted millions of readers of all types, is also the reason many are opposed the books. Beginning with Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone, J. ... Rowlings tale about an adolescent boys life in a parallel world of magic spells and fantastic creatures has captivated young and old alike (Beach and Willner). ... Harry and his friends participate in such everyday activities as buying school supplies, sending and receiving letters, going to classes, and playing sports. ... Familiar and unfamiliar beings appear that either thwart Harry and his friends or help keep him safe from harm (Beach and Willner). ... While each book in the series can be read and enjoyed independently, as Harry learns more about his past and his parents, his life becomes increasingly complicated and the plots grow more elaborate (Beach and Willner). What begins as a seemingly simple story of a boys entry into an unknown world of magic turns into a search for identity, a battle between good and evil, a maze of moral decision-making, and a quest for the meaning of human relationships. While it may be predictable that Harry will always triumph in the end, it is not predictable how he will do so or how very close he may come to failing. ... As witches and wizards, Harry and the rest of the children slowly acquire power over their world as they learn about different spells and potions. In contrast to the lack of power most children have in their own lives, Harry and his friends master the natural world and make it behave in ways that are most unnatural. ... Perhaps Harry Potters fans constitute a generation across age lines that feels somewhat orphaned and unprotected and along with Harry, know the despair of spiritual emptiness and emotional starvation.