Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - J. K. Rowling

Kids (Grade School) & . . . - 5 Book Rating

 Author: J.K. Rowling
Publisher:  Scholastic Inc.
Publishing Date:  January 1997
320 Pages
ISBN-13:  9780590353403

Book Blurb:
Harry Potter has never played a sport while flying on a broomstick.  He's never work a cloak of invisibility, befriended a giant, or helped hatch a dragon.  All Harry knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley.  Harry's room is a tiny closet at the foot of the stairs, and he hasn't had a birthday party in eleven years.

But all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger:  a letter with an invitation to a wonderful place he never dreamed existed.  There he finds not only friends, aerial sports, and magic around every corner, but a great destiny that's been waiting for him....if Harry ca​n survive the encounter.

MY THOUGHTS:
Harry Potter lives in the cupboard under the stairs.  He's never met his parents and all he knows is they died in a car crash while he was left with a lightning bolt scar on his forehead.  Harry generally tries to stay out of the way of his Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon and Cousin Dudley and it isn't difficult since they usually act like he's not around anyway.  Suddenly on his 11th birthday his life changes.  Harry is no longer just a regular kid he is famous for something he doesn't remember doing.  And so begins Harry's new adventure into a whole new world he didn't even know existed.
 
Harry's struggle of trying to live in a household who clearly didn't love him or want him and treated him more like a nuisance than a family member is difficult to read, however, Harry shows how resilient he is.  Somehow it didn't bring down his spirit.  I find J. K. Rowling did a masterful job not allowing Harry or the reader to get stuck in all the bad that was his life.  Instead she was able to inject humor when it looked like Harry would get in trouble with the Dursleys' yet again.  At the age of eleven Harry finds out he's a wizard which would explain all the strange things that happen whenever he's worried (growing his hair back after its been cut too short) or in danger (jumping on the roof trying to get away from Dudley).  This is how we get introduced to the wonderful wizarding world and Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.  For the first time Harry is surrounded by kids who want to be his friend which is a totally new experience for him.  Nevertheless Harry is completely unaffected by any of this.  He doesn't see himself as anything special or different he's just happy to be in an environment where he's welcomed.  With Harry having no airs about him it's pretty easy for him to make friends.  His very first friend is Ron Weasley and all it took was for a mutual dislike of another classmate Draco Malfoy while on their way to Hogwarts soon thereafter they became inseparable.  Hermione Granger, on the other hand, wasn't as easy to get along with in the beginning.  She is a bookworm and a know-it-all, which doesn't endear her to most of the kids there.  All it took was for Hermione to be in danger for Ron, Harry and Hermione to become fast and best friends.   However, that wasn’t the only or last time they find themselves in danger.  Through many adventures and mishaps Harry believes someone is trying to steal the Sorcerer’s Stone and is trying to convince his friends.  Once Ron and Hermione realize that someone is trying to harm Harry they start to believe him. (I doubt I’m giving any spoilers since this book has been out forever and you’ve either read it, seen the movie or have come across some information about it.)  In order to discover and stop the Sorcerer's Stone from being stolen they all must get past challenges using their strengths—Hermione’s knowledge, Ron’s tactical skills and Harry’s determination.
 
Since J. K. Rowling wrote Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone millions of kids and adults have read and re-read the whole seven book series of Harry Potter.  I initially didn't understand why I saw a bunch of adults on the train reading a children's book.  Finally after the third book I decided to give these books a try so I went to my local bookstore and bought the first one.  Needless to say after I was done I ran to get the rest of the books and lucky for me the fourth book came out shortly thereafter.  I couldn't wait to see what else happened to Harry and his friends.  However, I will say that as the series progresses the books do start to take a darker tone but I digress. . .I have loved the books ever since I read them in the early 2000's and I usually re-read them either every year or other year and I find that I can still sit and read these books like it was the first time.  What made the Sorcerer's Stone a good book is J.K. Rowling's writing.  She immediately draws you into the wizarding world without any question of whether any of it is real but wondering why it isn't real or maybe it is?  All of the characters evoke some sort of response--you're either cheering for them or hoping they get in trouble.  I genuinely love this book along with the others.  I can't wait to introduce these books to my daughter when she gets older. 
 
Have you read Harry Potter?  Where you eager to read them when they came out or hesitant?  Did you like the book?  What did you think about Harry's family?  Ron? Hermione? Draco Malfoy?  Neville Longbottom?  Were you surprised by Harry's loyalty to his new school and friends?  Due to Harry's upbringing were you surprised by his kindness?  Should Dumbledore have awarded the points to Gryffindor at the awards dinner?  Do you plan to read the rest of the series?