Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

* Bibliographic information
Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Arthur A. Levine Books, 1997. ISBN: 9780590353403.

- First book in the Harry Potter Series.
- YALSA 100 Best Books (1950-2000)
- YALSA Best Books for Young Adults: 1999
- ALA Notable Children's Books: 1999


* Plot Summary
Harry Potter has been living life with the Dursleys, his very ordinary aunt, uncle, and cousin for the past ten years since the tragic death of his parents’. As his eleventh birthday approaches he begins to notice strange things that occur when he gets angry or frustrated. Then the letters begin arriving much to his uncles’ dismay. He has been invited to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry where he is to practice magic as his mom and dad once did. Harry never knew his family practiced magic or that he himself was famous for defeating the dark wizard Voldemort when he was just a baby on the night his parents’ died because the Dursleys had kept all information that concerned magic from him. Once Harry makes it to Hogwarts he gains two close friends, Ron and Hermione and quickly begins to feel at home in the world of magic. Ron and Harry find many ways to get into mischief while Hermione works on her school work and studies hard. While enjoying their first year at Hogwarts, the three of them uncover a plot to steal an important object of magic from the school by someone working for Voldemort. Voldemort, the very powerful, evil wizard whose very name invokes fear among adults was thought by most to be dead. The three young friends race to find out more about the object and who wants to steal it before the object is taken and Voldemort is able to become more powerful.


* Critical Evaluation
The Harry Potter books are aimed at younger teens but the books have captivated audiences of all ages. The writing of J.K. Rowling makes even adults interested in the adventures of eleven year olds practicing magic. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is especially fun to read because the reader sees young Harry go from living in a home where he is unwanted, living a very ordinary existence, to being in a magical world where everyone knows his name and story, except him. These books are very popular, especially because of the movies. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone would be great for older teens who are at a below grade reading level or for those who do not read as often as they should and need a book worth getting excited about. The story is very easy to follow with relatable characters. Readers get to feel the change that Harry goes through as he becomes more confident and happy in his new surroundings, finally feeling at home and finally getting the family that he has always wanted.


* Reader’s Annotation
Harry Potter has been living an ordinary life with a miserable family who pretends he does not exist when he is invited to attend a school for witches and wizards. He then learns that he is famous for defeating an evil wizard when he was just a baby and that there is a whole world of magic he never knew before.


* Information about the author
J.K. Rowling grew up in West England with her younger sister and two parents. She later went to the University of Exeter and then began working for Amnesty International. She started writing this book, the first in the series, when her, and a boyfriend were house hunting and the idea came to her. In 1993, she moved back to England, from Portugal, with her young daughter, who she thinks the world of. Instead of going back to teaching, she raced to finish the book knowing she would not have time to work on it with a baby and a new job. After sending it out to different agents and publishers the book was finally published in 1996. The author’s website says the books have been “distributed in over 200 territories and are translated into 67 languages” and that Rowling has received, in addition to many other awards, the “Author of the Year and Lifetime Achievement Award, British Book Awards, 1999 and 2008”. For more information, check out the author’s biography on her website, http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/biography.cfm


* Genre
Teen Fiction; Fantasy


* Curriculum Ties, if any
Literacy and English:
This book could be used to get older teens who are not interested in reading, or who are not reading at their grade level yet, to read a book that has good writing and great character development. This book could be a starting point because it is a fun, easy read.


* Booktalking Ideas
1) How do you think Harry’s life would have been different if he had been placed in a home with magic rather than a home with Muggles as a baby?
2) Focus on the personalities of Harry, Ron and Hermione. Why do you think they are able to be such good friends? What makes those friendships work so well?
3) Discuss why Harry Potter enjoyed staying at Hogwarts for the Christmas holiday rather than going home to the Dursleys’.
4) Talk about why it burned Professor Quirrell’s hand when he tried to stop Harry.


* Reading Level/Interest Age
Grade 4-7 / Ages 8 and up


* Challenge Issues and Defense
Challenge Issues: Magic/witchcraft. Some people believe the series promotes witchcraft, satanic beliefs and the occult.

Defense ideas:
1) Ask the patron about the book and issue in question and find out how much they know about the book.
2) Help the patron become more familiar with the book and its content.
3) Show the patron positive reviews for this book, such as ones found on amazon.com; Publisher’s Weekly and School Library Journal, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/054506967X/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books.
4) If available, introduce the patron to people who have read it in the library or tell the patron what you thought of the book if you have read it.
5) Show the patron the collection development policy for that particular library. For example, the one for the San Diego County library, http://dbpcosdcsgt.co.san-diego.ca.us/screens/Intranet/policy/sdcl-policy_O.41_material-selection.pdf
6) If they still want to file a grievance about the book begin the necessary paperwork by giving them the forms they need to fill out. In the San Diego County system, the grievance will then go to The Challenged Materials Team. If the committee cannot resolve the issue, it then goes to the County Library Director for a final decision. http://dbpcosdcsgt.co.san-diego.ca.us/screens/Intranet/policy/sdcl-policy_O.34_intellectual_freedom.pdf


* Why did you include this book in your titles you selected?
The Harry Potter books are very popular and have become more so because of the exciting movies that have been made of them. I felt that even though this book is aimed at younger teens many older teens are reading the books and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is the first book so it is the most important. This book introduces people to an exciting world of magic with characters that readers will fall in love with both on the pages and on the big screen. It is a fun book that should be enjoyed by all.