Rowling Hits Her Stride, Making No. 3 Succeed for Both Young Readers and Adults

books:

	• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Book 3) J.K. Rowling, Mary GrandPré Scholastic, 1999 - 435 pages average customer review:based on 2628 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Siriusly, Harry?

My least favorite of the Harry Potter opus so far. The conclusion takes too long to unwind, without the eyes-glued-to-the-page excitement of the conclusion of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Book 2). Some fun new concepts are introduced--the helpful Marauder's Map, the creepy Dementors, the powerful Patronus--and two well-drawn new teachers are highlighted--Divinations Professor Trelawney providing comic relief and Dark Arts Professor Lupin providing the most useful instruction Harry's Hogwarts class has had in this subject, while at the same time driving the plot with a dark secret of his own.

But the tale, of Azkabanian prison escapee Sirius Black tracking Harry through the whole school year, takes too long to build up tension during the school year and too long to wrap up at the end. And Professor Snape again bares his angry hatred for Harry in an overwrought performance worthy of a bad B-movie actor or Harlequin romance character--which is precisely out-of-character enough to suggest to me, since Rowling is a better writer than this, that she is setting up Snape for a sudden change of heart in a later book, such as .the fourth book Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Book 4). Am I the only one who thinks that Snape is a strong character who should become a sympathetic character?

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Trouble Returns

After only two chapters Harry is in trouble yet again. While on his dreaded summer vacation, he blows up his aunt into a life-size balloon. Does this mean Azkaban for this wizard? No instead he is sent to Diagon Alley away from his family. Harry is not complaining. Now he is on his own and waiting for his third year at Hogwarts.

Towards the final days in Diagon he meets up with Ron and Hermione and manages to spend most of his money. Before heading to Hogwarts, Ron's family takes care of Harry. This year at Hogwarts is going to be a dangerous year for Harry. Before going Harry hears some dreaded news. Sirius Black, Azkaban escapee, is after him. In his third year, what trouble will Harry find?

This is the best mystery of the first three. Rowling keep you questioning with twists throughout the book. What does the new professor, Lupin, know or will it be another bad Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher? The third book is filled with more action all the way through than any of the first two. Harry's curiosity will seep into you and you will have to find out what becomes of these adventuresome characters.

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Simply outstanding! Plot, characters, imagination beyond compare!!

My 9 year daughter asked me to read this, as she loved it. I can't imagine a more brilliant and talented author. Everyone with a bit of child in him or her must read this book!! Gripping, suspenseful and heart rendering at the end! Enjoy!!!!

OK BUY

WONDERFUL BOOK BUT WISH IT WAS IN BETTER CONDITION. HAD STAIN ON SIDE OF PAGES THAT LOOKS LIKE BLOOD!IDK

Rowling Hits Her Stride, Making No. 3 Succeed for Both Young Readers and Adults

In broad outline HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN follows the pattern of the previous two books: a magical adventure yarn about the young eponymous wizard told within the framework of another year at the English wizarding boarding school Hogwarts, the beginning and ending of the story in the company of Harry's insufferable muggle (regular people) relatives, the Dursleys. Book Number Three is, in the richness of its plot and its psychological depth, more intriguing than its predecessors. That it's not very nuanced reminds you that this is a children's tale, but it comes very close to standing on its own as an adult book as well. It's a dark story: more than ever before Harry has to face the murder of his parents--even hearing time and again the screams of his mother--and though this is unsettling, J.K. Rowling so deftly writes these scenes with children in mind that, for most pre-teen readers, it will not be unbearable. This is, perhaps, in part because Harry has by now become a beloved and trusted friend to young readers: they're willing to stand by him, as with Harry's bosom friends Hermione and Ron, through the many trials and occasional triumphs of Harry's life.

The main thrust of the story follows the (previously unheard of) escape of a prisoner from the dreaded dungeon Azkaban. This escapee, a wizard and erstwhile best friend of the Potters named Sirius Black, is being hunted down by both muggle and wizarding worlds as a murderer. Indeed, it is widely believed in the latter sphere that not only had Sirius betrayed his friends, Harry's parents, to die, he is looking to murder Harry as well. Though containing interrelated subplots including involving a condemned hippogriff, a new power that Hermione is given, and, of course, the game of quidditch, this novel is principally concerned with the stalking of Harry Potter. Meanwhile, Harry continues to feel the cold venom of the Hogwarts Potions Professor Snape, and is newly befriended and aided by the latest Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Lupin.

J.K. Rowling seems to have her material well in hand with this entry in the Harry Potter saga. The previous two books, though charming and thoroughly likeable, seemed at times just a bit wooden. The writing in this volume is punchier; the story moves along swiftly. Just swiftly enough, in fact, to keep up, most of the time, the reader's necessary suspension of disbelief--only once in a while does the story give the reader pause to wonder, if only Sirius had been a somewhat better communicator, wouldn't a lot of the novel's problems have been avoided? Then again, that's life. All round, a decently written story that'll enthrall young readers and captivate adults as well.

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During his third year at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry, Harry Potter must confront the devious and dangerous wizard responsible for his parents' deaths.

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