Tomes of Spellcasting--Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Tomes of Spellcasting

Welcome to the land of mystery, where the impossible is possible, and the improbable the reality. Join me as I investigate worlds filled with magic and meet the souls that wield this wondrous powers.

W A R N I N G !

This review does not represent the opinions of the general public. It reflects my personal thoughts and opinions on the book.

That said, on to the review!

Title: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Author: J. K. Rowling
Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.
Format: Hardcover
Copyright Date: 1999

Harry's fled from his home with his Muggle relatives, only to find himself thrown into a world where something dark and malevolent seems to be hunting him down. It nearly gets him, but Harry manages to escape--through no magic of his own, surprisingly enough--and finds lodgings at the Leaky Cauldron, right off of Diagon Alley. That makes it easy for him to prepare for the new term at Hogwarts. However, he quickly learns that things are not all right in the world of wizards and witches. A powerful wizard, imprisoned for siding with Voldemort and killing a number of Muggles (and a wizard, too), has escaped from the wizard's prison, Azkaban, and all indications show that he's coming after Harry. While he might seem safe enough at Hogwarts, it's only there that he can remain safe, which means he can't leave the campus at all, not even to go into town with his friends. Trapped in intrigue, imprisoned in the school, what's a young wizard to do? Sneak out, of course! The only question is: how?

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban continues the stellar sequence begun with Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Like the other books, the story starts shortly before Harry goes to Hogwarts. This time, however, the school may become the only thing standing between Harry and death and destruction. It remains to be seen, however, if Harry will be able to fully appreciate it. How could anyone at that young age be able to appreciate it?

The best thing about this book? I like the continuity that goes from one book to the next to the next. We have Harry, of course, and his friends Ron and Hermione. All three characters grow in natural (if you consider magic and wizardry natural) and believable ways. We have the school and its teachers and staff, like Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape and Filch and Hagrid. But there's also the fact that Hogwarts just can't seem to hold onto a good Defense Against the Dark Arts instructor. Having this particular role changing from book to book allows the introduction of new plots, since each new instructor undeniably brings something new to his office. Which, if you think about it, is how teachers should be...although I'd rather any teacher of mine didn't bring along the baggage that some of these instructors bring along. Don't you agree?

After reading Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and its predecessors, I can't wait for the next book in the series to come out. And the one after that, and the one after that. I think readers like you and me can look forward to at least another three books since I think Hogwarts is a six-year school. And I'm sure we can clamor for more as well, right? Like Harry Potter in college or something? Well, we'll just have to wait and see!

Rating: Thumbs up! What would you do when you were a student faced with overwhelming restrictions on you? Violate them, of course!

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