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Saturday, June 5, 2010

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban



Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K.Rowling

Am I the last person on earth who has NOT read all the Harry Potter stories? I think not. Which is why I chose to review it today.

This book is the third installment of the Harry Potter legacy. I did not read this book quietly to myself, instead I spent the last six months reading the story aloud to my children. Reading aloud is one of the most important gifts of time you can give your children. If you want your children to grow up and appreciate the love of stories and be life long readers, start reading aloud every night. You will not regret it.

My children love the Harry Potter series and all that goes with it, mystery, intrigue, fantasy, humor and friendship. I am also enjoying the series and the valuable time spent with my children. The books have become a big part of our culture. But I feel as though the books are way to predictable. I keep figuring out most of the mysteries before they are revealed.

The Prisoner of Azkaban does not disappoint the reader as it continues the adventures of Harry, Hermione, and Ron at their beloved wizard school, Hogwarts. My favorite character is Hermione and she takes a bolder role in this book as she grows into a strong young woman. I love how she stands up for what she believes in and protects her friends even though she may lose them with her honesty.

My children and I read the book first and then watch the movie. So they really want to finish all the books because most of their peers have seen the films already. I am excited to continue this reading adventure and move on to the next book, but I am intimidated by its size. Reading it aloud takes longer. We read about 15 minutes every night but that is only about 6-10 pages. As a read aloud, it is ok, I have read other books that flow better. It is always fun to create a voice for the characters.

2 comments:

  1. I didn't figure out the mysteries in these, but then again I read them fast and not over a long period of time. I'm sure that contributed. After the third book, they get a lot older, particularly starting in the second half of the fourth book. My oldest son is slowly going through them but he's gotten to the point where he must wait a few years before moving to the next in the series.

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  2. I agree with you that the length of time it takes to read aloud the books contributes to figuring out the mysteries. Thanks for pointing that out. I have read lots and lots of books out loud to my kids and I don't have the same issue. My kids are 9 and 12. We are starting book #4 in September.

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