The beginning of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows sets the tone for an eventful final installment to the book series. Since the book opens with Harry's preparation to move out of the Dursley's home, I feel like it puts emphasis on the reality of Harry's growing up as well as the end of an era. Harry has spent his entire life under the security of magic and other people. Even though he still has the protection of others, it is now time for him to overcome evil once and for all. Having Voldemort appear at the beginning of the book also indicates the seriousness of the events that will occur as the story progresses. Up until this point, Voldemort hasn't shown up until later in the novels where the 'big' fight occurs. Now that Voldemort is showing up at the beginning of the book and already taking shots at Harry, it's obvious it is just going to get progressively worse as the book continues. 

    In the midst of Harry's move, we finally see a bit of redemtion in the Dursley's - specifically Dudley. I appreciated Dudley's outspokeness in this scene because it left us with a better perception of his character before the Dursley family parted ways. My initial thought was that it was a sweet way to have Harry leave the Dursley household because he was able to experience the slightest bit of appreciation from them before he moved on. When I continued to think about this, though, I became more frustrated. If Dudley truly did appreciate Harry like he claimed in this moment, he should have spoken up ages ago. Harry has spent his entire life enduring their abuse and belittling, and Dudley supposedly liked him halfway through it all. Harry could have avoided YEARS of mistreatment if Dudley would have spoken up to his parents and defended Harry - because let's be honest, the second Dudley said he liked Harry his parents would have liked him, as well. I don't want to completely bash this scene because I did appreciate it, and I thought it was a sweet departure. I just wish Dudley would have taken the initiative to speak up sooner. 

                                         Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Book Review

This book continues the presentation of progressive intensity as the characters are obviously older and Voldemort’s re-establishment to power draws closer and closer. I found this book captivating throughout the entire journey because it introduced the audience to greater levels of mystery, leaving me on the edge of my seat to find out the truth and outcomes for the characters within the story. I enjoyed seeing the partnership between Dumbledore and Harry throughout this book. The fact that Dumbledore asked Harry to help him with such an important task and took him under his wing to work hands-on with him created a sense of trust and respect that he holds in Harry. As children grow older, they are given opportunities to prove their abilities and why they should be trusted - Dumbledore took the initiative to foster this in Harry in a way that allowed Harry to feel like he and his powers were valuable in the eyes of others. Even though this is something that has been evident during the entire book series, I believe this particular instance between him and Dumbledore is more meaningful because Harry genuinely admires and honors Dumbledore. 

As soon as it was revealed that Harry and Dumbledore were looking for a new Potions teacher instead of a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, I knew a lot was going to unfold as the book continued. Given the fact that Snape has been in constant reference to wanting to be the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, I assumed he would have his time in the spotlight eventually, so it didn’t come as much surprise to me. It plays a role in foreshadowing his actions at the end of the book, and I think it makes sense that Snape’s largest role in the plot comes at the same time that Malfoy’s character is focused so heavily on. Since Malfoy has been deemed Harry’s enemy, it was only a matter of time before the story shifted deeper focus on his personal development, as well. 

It might be an unpopular opinion, but I enjoy the fact that this book dissected the feelings that the characters have developed for each other. I have loved Ron and Hermione’s relationship from the beginning! The fact that they have always maintained a fluency of banter made it obvious to me that they would eventually like each other as more than friends - that’s just how “young love” works. I even appreciate the fact that Harry’s feelings are geared towards Ginny simply because she looked at him in such awe during the second book - I think it’s kind of sweet that she’s getting the attention from him that she wanted years ago. Of course, boys are late to the game, so this had to happen when she wasn’t necessarily on the market. I know this storyline is centered around magic and the obstacles that arise within Hogwarts, but we are talking about children growing into their teenage years. They are around the same group of people year after year so it only makes sense that relationships occur in these stories. It’s basically the only realistic aspect of any of the books that I’ve read so far. 

Ultimately, this book is exciting and takes readers on a little roller coaster ride with its twists and turns. After the journey of this plot, the end of the book hit me unexpectedly. It left me in shock if I’m being completely honest. I’m anxious to start reading the next book because I don’t know what to expect at this point. I think this book opened the door for an even more chaotic continuation of the series that could obtain a variety of approaches.

    After reading all of Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix it is easily noted that lying is one of the most prominent motifs that generates a major theme within the story. Harry is arguably an innocent character who unfortunately finds himself in sticky situations. It is in these situations that we seem to find Harry lying because he's learned that adults do not trust him or he'll inevitably end up in trouble. As a result of this, his lies and secrets are usually geared towards the authoritative figures around him. However, we do see instances of him keeping the full truth from his friends are persuading his friends to join his lies. The adult figures presented in Harry's life are not always the most reliable or encouraging, themselves. Harry lives in a constant battle, trying to figure out who he can and can't trust. He is often left to make hard decisions on his own which pushes him to think he has to keep information about his actions on the "DL". While Harry is the character that illustrates the highest rate of lies and decption, Hogwarts, itself, is full of secrets and false truths. 

   The Daily Prophet, for one, constantly publishes lies about Harry and Dumbledore. Alongside that, the Quibbler seems to have no actual support to backup the lies that are printed in it. In the case of this book, Harry refuses to tell Surius the entirety of the dreams he has been having about him. Sweet Ginny falls into Harry's chaos when he drafts her to stand guard of the hallway and tell a cover up story to others while he sneaks into Umbridge's office. Within the margins of this book, students are basically forced to be secretive because Umbridge has enforced such heavy restrictions on their actions and communications with each other. Because of that, everything about the D.A. is secretive. There is a even the chain reaction effect based on lies between Umbridge, Harry, and the Ministry of Magic. 

    I understand all of these lies essentially create the plot of this storyline, but it frustrated me the entire time I was reading this book. I am a logical thinker so I always think "well if they would just tell the truth this wouldn't have happened" or "if they would just seek out help then things could be simplified". It's hard for me to fully enjoy a story when I know there are a lot of logical solutions that could take place to benefit characters. However, I know it's all part of the suspense that this story thrives on. Do you think any of these lies are justified? What do you think would be the most beneficial way to help prevent lies and/or secrets within Hogwarts?

     After finishing Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, it is apparent that Harry has already experienced various forms of influence from elder characters, both positive and negative. Harry has always known the abuse and negativity of the Dursleys. He has been introduced to the love of the Weasleys. He has also fallen under mentorship of various authoritative figures within Hogwarts. He has even found strong friendships in Ron and Hermione. During the second half of this book, we see Harry grow fond of Cedric Diggory (and vice versa). The friendship that is formed between these two during the trials of Triwizard Tournament is sweet to witness because we are able to watch Harry overcome petty feelings with maturity. Apart from Cedrics relationship with Cho and the mistreatment that Harry receives from Cedric's father, Cedric proves himself to be a great older friend for Harry. 

    They take turns helping each other through the various challenges of the tournament, and the winning scene of the tournament serves as a representation of what the whole tournament's purpose is - bringing wizards together. It's sad to say, but of course there had to be some form of disappointment immediately after. Cedric's tragic death is the first intense form of heartbreak for readers in this series. His character was beginning to serve as another positive influence from an older student at Hogwarts (apart from any of the Weasleys). Just when we began to connect with Cedric and saw the young relationship between him and Harry, he was ripped away from us with no good reason. His death was simply a ploy to stir up Harry. Now Harry has an added burden of feeling like he is the reason that another person has died. 

    The beginning of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban opened at the time of Harry's 13th birthday (of course, back in the Dursley household), and it melted my heart that Harry FINALLY experienced a birthday where people showered him with love! However, it was no surprise that Harry's happiness was shortlived when he found out Aunt Marge was coming to visit. It says a lot about Aunt Marge's character when we see Harry's dread for her arrival - he's more miserable with her presence than he is living with Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia, and Dudley. Aunt Marge quickly proves herself to be the most cruel of the bunch. The Dursleys mistreat and abuse Harry in various ways, but they at least exclude Harry by sending him out of the room where he can keep to himself and avoid them. Aunt Marge forces Harry to stay in eyesight of her so she can continuously degrade him for every single move he makes. He can't catch a break with her. She honestly stirred up the most frustration in me because Harry doesn't deserve anything that happens to him in the Dursley household as it is, but Aunt Marge has no sort of knowledge about Harry's life or his parents. Everything that she says to and/or about Harry is entirely unvalid. I don't blame Harry one bit for reaching his breaking point towards her. I actually commend him for controlling his emotions for so long - I do not think I would have been able to have had as much self control as him. Harry's emotional state at this point in the novel just makes sense. There is only a certain level of emotional strength that one person can handle before they've had enough. I would honestly argue that Harry even lost his cool because it was his natural powers that caused chaos, not necessarily his personal will. So, with that in mind, Harry actually controlled himself more that I think anyone else would ever be able to do. As this scene unfolded, I must say I was happy. Aunt Marge deserved what happened to her, and it made it even better that the rest of the family was so distracted with what was happening to her that Harry was able to make a break for it. Harry leaving this house is what I have been waiting for. I'd be satisfied if the Dursleys were never mentioned again. 

           Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Book Review

I must admit, this is the first book of the series that has genuinely caught me off guard. This novel presents a sense of juxtaposition in its structure since the beginning of the story seemed to have been stretched out and the end of the story presents a hectic sequence of events. With that being said, I do think it was harder for this storyline to intrigue me because the beginning of the story spent more time focusing on Harry’s time with the Dursleys. (Let’s be honest, the last thing I want is to give my attention to that horrible family). However, as the plot began to progress, I quickly noticed the difference in the nature of this plot. With the introduction of Sirius Black and Dementors, I found this story to illustrate a darker message than the previous two. Not only did I recognize a darker message in this book, I thoroughly noticed personality development amongst all characters. I think it makes sense that the intensity of these storylines would advance as our characters mature and experience more in the world of Hogwarts. 

From the beginning of the book, Hermione seems to be acting strangely toward Harry and Ron - it comes across as she has something to hide. Hermione has always been a bookworm and valued school success above (pretty much) everything else, and it is taken to a new extreme during this book when she overwhelms her class schedule by taking as many new classes as possible. Given the stress of all of this new schoolwork and the natural maturity of adolescents, Hermione breaks out of her shell during this story by standing up against others in outbursts that we normally would not expect from her (i.e. slapping Malfoy and dropping out of Divination class). This bold personality streak stirs up even more banter between her and Ron as their pets do not get along, and they are in constant disagreement about which is superior to the other - not to mention their opposing views of seeking trouble and laying low. 

Harry is open about his fear of Dementors, which came as a shock to me because he typically portrays himself in such a brave light that it was odd to see him living in constant fear for a change. At this point, I think Harry is starting to get irritated with the idea of someone being after him. I mean every time he catches a break something is thrown right back in his track. There appears to be no chance of him being a normal kid. 

Apart from our three main characters, Professor Snape was a character that actually caught me off guard this time. I have not liked him at all for the sole purpose that he is just bitter and mean to everyone that is not Draco Malfoy. When this book focused light on the tension between Professor Lupin and Professor Snape, I immediately figured Professor Snape had bad intentions toward Professor Lupin based on jealousy of the Defense Against Dark Arts teaching position. I was flabbergasted to find out that Snape was right about Lupin all along. It may not have presented him in an entirely new light, but this story definitely opened my eyes to the idea that maybe Snape isn’t as bad as I labeled him as. 

The evil that was revealed in this story opened the eyes of Ron, Hermione, and Harry - exemplifying the notion that you cannot trust everyone, especially when magic is involved. The students are getting older, learning more about themselves and each other daily. I think this book illustrated a great beginning to the development of our characters, and I am excited to see how they continue to mature as the series goes on. 

    One thing that really struck me while reading the first half of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets was the juxtaposition between Harry's claim to fame and Professor Lockhart's. Harry is known as the hero of this literary series - as a result to his defeat of Lord Voldemort. Alongside this heroic act, Harry presents traits of loyality and bravery that enhance the quality of character that he is. Professor Lockhart is introduced to this novel as a character who has conquered many challenging obstacles, and he takes advatange of every opportunity to gloat about these successes. By comparing each of these characters, readers can quickly determine the humility that Harry obtains as opposed to Professor Lockhart's conceited mindset. 

    Harry is obviously a remarkable figure in this series, after all he is the main character. With that comes the notion of being liked by many. Harry presents himself in such a way that reveals his timidness and courage. He is easily detected as a great friend and student who honors respectable figures. However, the implementation of Lockhart's character and personality, I think, adds a greater level of respect to the modesty that Harry demonstrates. Including a character that so desperately craves attention allows readers (and other characters) to appreciate the thoughtful and selfless being that Harry is. With all of this being said, I believe Harry truly embodies a proper hero because it is nothing he has put extra effort into - he just possesses all of the traits of a respectable hero, and he doesn't even realize it. 

    Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone begins J. K. Rowling's popularized series of fantasized wizardy that struck the world of literature and film in a variety of ways. While this book does captivate readers through an essence of magic and creativity that presents an opportunity of escapism for audience members, it implements issues in socioeconomics that raise concern for readers' consumption. This first novel illustrates a continuous pattern of prejudice relating to stereotypes of specific characters and houses within Hogwarts. It can be observed that one of the most prominent forms of prejudice makes itself known through the "hierarchy" of houses within Hogwarts. Although there is no official tier structure placing one house above the other, there are apperent views of which houses have better reputations than others. Throuhgout this story, numerous characters express their perceptions of specific houses and members of their world that stemmed from those houses. This is most evident through the negative views of Slytherin. There is a constant point acknowledged throughout the progression of the novel that all evil doers in the wizard world have grown through Slytherin, casting it as a house that nobody wants to be in (except for Slytherin's, themselves). Given the fact that this is the house that many of the "bad" characters are/were in, I think there is a misinterpretation of this house. The misconception being the idea that the Slytherin house is what trains characters to be "bad" rather than considering the idea that these characters have been raised to think certain ways prior to entering the school. I challenge you to think about what other reasons Slytherin is labeled as such a negative house.