Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Book Five, Harry Potter Series)

In the aftermath of the Triwizard Tournament, the Dark Lord Voldemort has been resurrected using Harry's blood, Cedric Diggory has been killed and Harry's life has been changed forever. However, things once again take a turn for the worse. At every turn, the Ministry of Magic is furiously trying to discredit both Harry and Professor Dumbledore and put down their claims that Voldemort has returned. In addition, the Ministry has appointed a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Dolores Umbridge, who begins to take school matters into her own hands. As Voldemort's power and influence grows and as the Ministry begins to take control of Hogwarts, Harry and his friends must fight against two very powerful foes while retaining their friendship and humanity. Deep in the Ministry of Magic, within the Department of Mysteries, there lies a Prophesy, one that will decide the fate of the wizarding world, and ours, and will dictate the lives of Harry and all he loves. Both Harry and Voldemort need this relic, yet only one can obtain it. It is the weapon the Dark Lord did not have last time he surfaced and tried to gain total power, and the weapon around which both their lives depend.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix  is a great installment in the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling, and the scene within the Department of Mysteries is both sad, triumphant and completely riveting. One of my favorites in the series. I loved this book and hope you do too.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Book Four, Harry Potter Series)

The Triwizard Tournament, a legendary event amongst the three greatest European schools of magic, Hogwarts, Durmstrang, and Beauxbatons. It is the ultimate test of a witch or wizard's skill in the magical arts and the winner will be bathed in eternal glory. This year at Hogwarts, Harry's fourth, is the first Tournament in over two-hundred years. With potential competitors from all three schools arriving to Hogwarts this year Harry is excited to experience this historic event, but has no intention of participating. In order to participate, the contestants must place their names into the Goblet of Fire, which will make the decision as to who will participate, one per school. To insure that there would be no casualties this year (there were before and the tournament was discontinued for two-hundred years) and that underage wizards could not compete, Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts, placed an Age Line around the Goblet. However, when the contestants are announced, Harry's name is amongst those chosen! Thrust into the Triwizard Tournament, Harry must now fight for his life and his humanity in three grueling events that will try to break him both mentally and physically. As Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire hurtles to it's ultimate conclusion, betrayal and treachery will be revealed and many a question will be answered. What is the secret of the graveyard Harry dreams of, and what is it's connection to the Tournament? These questions and more will be answered in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire!

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is one of the most well-written books in the series, filled with action, suspense and teenage angst (wait . . . what?). The scene at the end of the book (the one with the  cauldron) is one of my favorite in the series despite my initial reaction, "Well . . . ^&#%."

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Book Three, Harry Potter Series)

Entering his third year at Hogwarts, Harry has defeated the Dark Lord Voldemort, (for now . . .), has protected the Sorcerer's Stone from evil, and has slain the Basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets with the Sword of Godric Gryffindor. Simply put, a lot has transpired yet, thirteen-year-old Harry still hungers for the truth about his past and his strange connection to Voldemort. However, an ominous presence now looms over Hogwarts. As the train to the famed school of magic nears it's destination, the compartments are searched and ransacked  by Dementors, horrifying, ghoulish, creatures with the ability to steal someone's emotions and soul. Confused over the Dementor's presence, the students' questions are soon answered when they learn that the mass murderer Sirius Black has escaped from Azkaban, his whereabouts unknown. According to popular belief, Sirius was the one the betrayed Lilly and James Potter, Harry's parents, to Voldemort. As time goes on, however, Harry begins to realize that Sirius has a greater connection to him than he could have ever imagined. As the clock ticks, the danger and suspense only grows as Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban hurtles to its ultimate conclusion.

J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is one of my two favorites in the series, along with book seven, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The Prisoner of Azkaban has just the right balance of action, suspense, and magic. Moreover, it is a turning point in the series where our understanding of the main characters and the interconnections among them deepen. It is also the book where Sirius Black, a combination loyalty and bravery, and one of my favorite characters, is introduced.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Book Two, Harry Potter Series)

After defeating the Dark Lord Voldemort and his host, Professor Quirrell, in the chamber of the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry is now known throughout Hogwarts School (in truth, he was already known just for being Harry Potter) and is ready for a second year of magic. However, before he sets off for Hogwarts, a house elf named Dobby appears in his new, slightly larger room at the Dursley's and warns him not to return to Hogwarts this year for fear of dire consequences. When his attempts fail, and Harry refuses, the elf gets Harry grounded. After Harry escapes with help from his his friend, Ron Weasley, Harry is troubled by the elf's warning but travels to Hogwarts all the same. As the school year begins in full, Harry realizes the truth in Dobby's words. Students are being attacked at Hogwarts, including Harry's friend Hermione, who, with no way to resuscitate them, are being paralyzed. A warning has been written on the walls in blood: "The Chamber of Secrets has been opened, enemies of the Heir beware." Soon, a shocking revelation comes to light: a monstrous creature is stalking the halls of Hogwarts, threatening to bring about the end of the school forever. Now, it's up to Harry to put a stop to the terror and to solve the mystery once and for all.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, equal parts mystery and fantasy, is one of my favorite books of the Harry Potter series. J.K. Rowling spins a web of suspense that will leave you craving more and wanting to read past midnight.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Book One, Harry Potter Series)

In this first installment of the instant classic, a young Harry Potter has lived a tragic life. According to his abusive, adoptive family, the Dursleys, his parents died in a terrible accident when he was young. He suffers in silence in the cramped broom closet that is his bedroom beneath the stairs, and wishes for his life to be different. During an outing to the zoo, Harry begins to realize that all is not all as it seems -- he understands and talks to the snakes in the reptile room. On his eleventh birthday, Harry's life changes forever when he and the Dursleys receive a surprise visitor: an enormous man with hands the size of garbage-can lids who claims to have known Harry since he was a baby. The man, called Hagrid, brings to light a startling revelation: Harry is a Wizard and is eligible to attend the wizarding school, Hogwarts. Stunned by the revelation, Harry is escorted to Hogwarts and trains to master the arcane arts. Thrown into a world of magic and mystery, Harry makes both friends and foes and learns that there is more to himself then he could ever have imagined. However, darkness is brewing. The Dark Lord Voldemort is regaining strength. Eleven years ago, he tried to kill Harry and failed, his body and soul scattered in the process. Now, with his supporters regrouping and Voldemort himself searching for a host, Harry must learn what it means to be a wizard and the true meaning of friendship if he is to face Voldemort.

The Harry Potter series is arguably one of the most loved books of all time and has sold the most number of copies in history!  J. K, Rowling's first installation, Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone had me hooked from the start. I loved it, children and adults alike love it, and you will love it too.  If you haven't already gotten to it, it's never too late and no one is to old to appreciate this timeless neo-  classic.