book review harry potter and the sorcerer's stone

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Book review: harry potter and the sorcerer’s stone, by j.k. rowling.

Perhaps nostalgia is a powerful steam engine, but I got lost in the first book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone every bit as easily as I did back in the day. There was definitely an element of comfort and familiarity at play as I got pulled back into the story. Pulling this book off the shelf was like visiting with a beloved friend you haven’t seen in a long time for a hearty meal.

But you can’t put it all on nostalgia. That takes away from the effortless charm and breezy wit Rowling employs in building the world of Harry Potter in this first installment. She makes this introductory volume less plot heavy in order to focus on world building without overwhelming the reader. The plot isn’t so much about a hero and a villain like all the others would be (the villain is practically an afterthought). Here, the plot is about Harry’s first year at Hogwarts. As such, we get to follow along on the journey and get to know all about what it is to be a student at Hogwarts–and a wizard living in this world. With this framework established, Rowling would be able to play about more boldly in subsequent books.

It also allows Rowling to keep the focus light and airy. Sorcerer’s Stone is solidly in the intermediate level. As the series progresses it will get darker, trending further and further into the young adult level–aging along with Harry himself and the seriousness of the dangers he faces. In comparison to where we’re going, Sorcerer’s Stone is practically a children’s book. Even Harry’s concerns in this book are childish. His biggest goal here, at age 11, is winning the house cup for Gryffindor. For context, by the time Harry is fourteen in book four the house cup will barely even rate a mention. Even Quidditch will barely factor into the later books. To be fair, by the end a lot of heavier plot devices have been set in motion that make it impossible to include everything that happens in a school year. But the point stands: at this point in time, Harry has a lighter view of the world and lighter cares. Winning the house cup means the world to him because he can’t imagine anything worse than being a loser anymore.

The fact that Rowling makes plot take a backseat to world building is probably a smart decision in the long term, but there’s no denying that it makes the conclusion problematic. Because there has to be a showdown of some sort, and she needs to get to work setting up Voldemort’s eventual return, otherwise Sorcerer’s Stone would go nowhere and it wouldn’t do a proper job setting up the conflict Harry will face over the course of seven books. So the villain plotline is relegated to a subplot that gets teased out in hints and details here and there, finally coalescing into something actionable only in the last forty pages. At that point it feels rushed, slightly haphazard, and doesn’t come together. Just as it’s forming, we get a deus ex machina to take care of everything. I suppose that makes sense considering that Harry only just learned that he’s a wizard–there’s no way he would be able to believably win a fight against a powerful wizard, especially one powered by Voldemort. Employing a deus ex machina allowed Rowling to hew closer to the reality of Harry being a child. Having someone else essentially fight the battle here makes it more effective when he grows up and fights his own battles beginning in the next book.

Except there’s also no denying that the plot, as much as there is one, doesn’t make much sense if you stop to think about it. There are entire plot points built around the flimsiest of premises. So when we’re expected to follow the reality of Harry’s youth sidelining him from the big fight at the conclusion just as it’s about to get interesting, we’re also somehow expected to believe that Harry, who has never flown on a broomstick, is such a natural at it that he’s not only good at it but he becomes the youngest player on his house’s Quidditch team and gets himself out of serious trouble simply by being so inherently good at it. That’s problematic. More problematic for 33 year-old me to accept than 18 year-old me. I was more willing to check my brain at the door and go with the flow as a youth, I suppose.

To be fair, it doesn’t help that the market is currently saturated with “chosen one” stories that have essentially ripped off Harry Potter. 18 year-old me would naturally have an easier time going with the flow in a story like this because I wouldn’t have learned to be jaded by all the low-quality imitators glutting the market. The very fact that Rowling attempts a balance puts Harry Potter head and shoulders above the pretenders to its throne (most of whom now also wear the dystopia badge after The Hunger Games ). Even here, when she is introducing her protagonist, Rowling was never interested in making Harry perfect. Yes, he’s impossibly brave and noble. Yes, he tends to make the difficult choices in order to do what’s right. But he’s also impetuous. He has a temper at times and can be stubborn. He can be misled. He can even be rude and thoughtless.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. Sorcerer’s Stone is still great, charming fun, even if it was a little disappointing to realize how shallow it is. It does an excellent job of setting up the drama to come, but that’s about it. I’d probably grade it a touch lower, but in the end I appreciate that the time Rowling spends establishing what a typical year at Hogwarts is like in this book allows her to use that framework to break those very boundaries in subsequent installments.

Read on for more about this installment. Or check out my Harry Potter page for more. Up next: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets .

New Characters

Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher

Professor Quirrell has precious little to recommend him or make him memorable, despite his passion for turbans and his zest for garlic. Until his villainous reveal, that is. But since the action of Sorcerer’s Stone is relegated to the background until the final forty pages–and Quirrell only spends twenty of those pages in the spotlight. As DAtDA professors go, Quirrell is far and away the most forgettable of the lot. Which shouldn’t really be allowed to happen since the dude has Voldemort living on the back of his head . I mean, that should count for something, right? Grade: 2/5

Special Artifacts or Spells

Harry spends most of the book obsessed with his Nimbus 2000 broomstick, but of course the entire book hinges on the safety of the titular Sorcerer’s Stone (known in the UK as the Philosopher’s Stone). The Sorcerer’s Stone is the creation of alchemist Nicolas Flamel and using it can grant a person immortality. Dumbledore has it moved to Hogwarts to protect it, but Professor Quirrell and his oversized Voldemort pimple quickly infiltrate the school and conveniently take the entire school year to figure out how to get beyond the defenses Dumbledore set up around it. Nevermind that the centerpiece of those defenses, the Mirror of Erised (which shows you your heart’s deepest desires) spends half the school year located somewhere else so Harry can stumble on it, see his parents, learn an important lesson, and understand how the mirror works when he encounters it in the final showdown. Harry also gets his first uses of his invisibility cloak , a tool which will allow him to sneak about the school for years to come.

The State of Harry’s Legacy

Solid as a rock. In this super-wholesome entry everything is sunny all the time, so no one other than Draco Malfoy or Severus Snape (or the Dursleys) would dare question Harry Potter’s noble intentions or do anything but admire him for being ‘the boy who lived.’ Harry won’t get his first taste of suspicion or fear until the next book in the series, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets , and even that will look tame compared to what lies in store in the future.

Dumbledore Wisdom

In his introduction Albus Dumbledore remains a peripheral character, albeit one of striking nobility, honor, wisdom, and wit. It’s no mistake that Dumbledore serves as the novel’s deus ex machina. The impression he makes on Harry Potter–and us–will have repercussions throughout the series. Rowling goes to great pains to establish Dumbledore as a great and honorable man, then in the later books will force us to question his every method, just as Harry will be forced to do the same. But that’s later. For now he’s just lovable old sweets-loving Dumbledore, spouting wise turns of phrase like a fortune cookie. Here are his best bits of wisdom from Sorcerer’s Stone :

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

A novel that needs no introduction is Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J. K. Rowling. It is the novel that has shaped the lives of millions of readers and is still one of the most read novels today! Keep reading to find out why this novel and series is as popular as it is.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone Summary

On his eleventh birthday, Harry Potter finds out he is a wizard and will be attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Before then, Harry did not even know that magic was real or that he was famous. As Harry learns about his past and his parents who died protecting him, he prepares to embark on a new journey.

Harry arrives at Hogwarts and becomes friends with two of his classmates Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger. The trio all are members of house Gryffindor and help each other pass the first year at Hogwarts. But as they find out throughout the course of the year, they will face many challenges and enemies.

Suspicious activity at Hogwarts like a three-headed dog guarding a trap door and a troll somehow entering and attacking Hogwarts makes the trio suspicious. Harry, Ron, and Hermione soon discover Professor Dumbledore is hiding something at Hogwarts and someone is trying hard to steal it. As the first years try to manage the workload, they must also stop whoever is after the secret artifact before it is used by the dark forces at the school.

Originally published as Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in the United Kingdom in 1997, within the first six months of release, the children’s book took off. When Scholastic bought the U.S. rights, Scholastic’s Arthur Levine believes that the title wouldn’t work for American readers. After some discussion, the novel’s title was changed to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone which was suggested by Rowling.

Rowling went on to say that she wished she hadn’t changed it but since it was her first novel, she didn’t have as much leverage. The title change was not necessary and makes it a bit confusing for some people. The good thing is that that is the only novel where that happened. Maybe Scholastics should give readers a little bit more credit.

I was first introduced to the Harry Potter world by the movies. As a kid, I was always intimidated but the size of the Harry Potter novels and did not believe I would be able to read a book that big. It was later on in my life that I tackled bigger novels and even later when I finally read the Harry Potter novels.

I fell in love with the novels wholeheartedly. The writing is great, the characters are wonderful, and the overarching plot and how everything connects was done perfectly. One thing the movies never did well was showcase Harry’s struggle of not having a family and his loneliness. In the novel, we see how they affect Harry’s state of mind and acting out because of those feelings, something the movies don’t do that well.

This novel and the whole Harry Potter series should be read by every reader in my opinion. Not everyone has to like it but reading it and finding that whether you do or not should be a test given to everyone. It will get a lot if children into reading and that is always a great end result. Expect reviews for all the novels in the series in the coming months!

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In the first paragraph u wrote eep instead of keep… XD

Thanks I’ll fix it now 🙂

I used to be a huge fan of the movies but never read the books. It’s always interesting to hear the differences. Good to know that the book expands on the characters a bit more!

The entire series ends differently in the books than in the movies. the boom ending in Deadly Hallow makes much more sense.

My daughter made sure all her copies were the the UK versions

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these series made a reader out of me, thanks for sharing 🙂

Thanks for reading! 👍

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I also saw the movies first. It wasn’t until after “The Goblet of Fire” film came out that I started reading the books. But I read the 4th one first, and the rest out of order, until “The Deathly Hallows” book was released. Not too long ago, I started rereading the 1st “Harry Potter” novel, and picked up on some new details and moments that I’d missed before, including some dark ones.

Rereading them now and there’s a lot that you realize that you missed. Rowling thought it all out!

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I love Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s stone also known as. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.

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The cover was good, but I read a little, and I thought that if I read more it would be more interesting. Well, beyond interesting, but my new favorite book!

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Harry potter and the sorcerer's stone: harry potter, book 1.

Common Sense Says
Parents Say 65 Reviews
Kids Say 380 Reviews

Common Sense Media Review

Magical start of the fantastic boy-wizard series.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 8+?

Kids are in peril often, but it's mostly at the hands of fantasy creatures. A th

Hagrid mentions having way too much to drink one night and giving away a dangero

One instance of "damn" and a "Good Lord."

Any Positive Content?

Friendship and bravery are more important than books and cleverness. There are m

Main characters Harry, Ron, and Hermione, models of dedicated friends, are rewar

Author borrows many magical creatures, people, and concepts from other fantasy t

There's a little diversity at Hogwarts. Lee Jordan is described as having dreadl

Violence & Scariness

Kids are in peril often, but it's mostly at the hands of fantasy creatures. A three-headed dog threatens Harry and friends. Harry and Draco see a dead and bloody unicorn and are chased by a hooded figure in the Forbidden Forest. Harry and friends fight a troll and knock it unconscious, are nearly crushed by a constricting plant and pummeled by a life-size chess board. Some minor injuries: a dragon bite that swells up and a broken wrist after a fall off a broom. Some bullying and a fistfight. One minor character dies. Mostly friendly ghosts roam the halls; the ghost Nearly Headless Nick shows how he got the name. Talk of Harry's childhood with his Muggle family, how his cousin bullied and hit him and his aunt and uncle neglected him. Harry's uncle points a gun at Hagrid. Flashback to the (bloodless) deaths of Harry's parents and much discussion about how they died and the one who killed them.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Hagrid mentions having way too much to drink one night and giving away a dangerous secret. At another time Hagrid carries and drinks from a flask, and at Christmas dinner he drinks heavily and kisses Professor McGonagall on the cheek. Vernon Dursley is served brandy after a trying day. Witches drink sherry, and someone smokes a long pipe at a wizard bar. Baby dragons drink a mixture of brandy and chicken blood.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Positive Messages

Friendship and bravery are more important than books and cleverness. There are many kinds of bravery, and it's even braver to stand up to your friends than to your enemies.

Positive Role Models

Main characters Harry, Ron, and Hermione, models of dedicated friends, are rewarded for their bravery. They are usually punished for rule-breaking but also get away with quite a bit, especially when Harry gets his hands on an invisibility cloak. Harry always means well, though, and just like the sorting hat says, he has a "thirst to prove himself." Dumbledore (Hogwarts' eccentric headmaster) is a wonderful mentor to Harry, showing up with sage advice at just the right times.

Educational Value

Author borrows many magical creatures, people, and concepts from other fantasy traditions and puts her own spin on them: Nicholas and Perenelle Flamel and their Sorcerer's (or Philosopher's) Stone, wands and potions, unicorns, goblins, centaurs, dragons, giants, trolls, and more.

Diverse Representations

There's a little diversity at Hogwarts. Lee Jordan is described as having dreadlocks, and the Patil twins are sorted into the Gryffindor house. Some diverse family structures are described: Harry lives with his aunt and uncle and Neville with his grandmother. Harry and Ron bond over growing up with second-hand clothes and wishing they had more money; Ron's insecurity over being from a poorer family comes up a lot. Women have prominent roles at Hogwarts: Professor McGonagall and Professor Sprout are both heads of houses. There are two girls on the Gryffindor quidditch team. There's only one larger-sized character who isn't a bad guy, and that's Hagrid. Lots of negative language around the size of Dudley and his father and Malfoy's Slytherin friends Crabbe and Goyle.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Parents need to know that Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is the first book in J.K. Rowling' s Harry Potter series about an orphan boy who begins his studies at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The novel respects kids' intelligence and motivates them to tackle its greater length and complexity, play imaginative games, and try to solve its logic puzzles. Book 1 is the lightest in the series, but it still has some scary stuff for sensitive readers: a three-headed dog, an attacking troll, a violent life-size chess board, a hooded figure over a dead and bleeding unicorn, as well as a discussion of how Harry's parents died years ago and how he was raised by an aunt and uncle who neglected him. Some adult wizards drink, especially Hagrid, who drinks to excess more than once. There's little diversity at Hogwarts beyond a few students of color, but women have prominent roles at the school, and the smartest kid in class is Hermione, a girl. The 2015 lavishly illustrated, larger-format edition features a new cover (different from the original U.S. cover pictured here) and more than 100 full-color illustrations by Jim Kay ( A Monster Calls ) that depict shimmering ghosts amid breathtaking scenes of Hogwarts, character portraits, and pages from magical textbooks. Parents who want to learn more about the series (and spin-off movies and games) can read our Harry Potter Age-by-Age Guide .

Where to Read

Parent and kid reviews.

Parents say (65)
Kids say (380)

Based on 65 parent reviews

Great book for kids and adults alike. Beautifully written :)

What's the story.

In HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE, Harry Potter is left on his aunt and uncle's doorstep as a baby after his parents are killed. For 10 years he's forced to sleep in a cupboard under the stairs while his bullying cousin, Dudley, is spoiled rotten. The summer before the start of secondary school, a letter arrives with his name on it, no stamp, and a mysterious seal. Uncle Vernon snatches it away before he can open it, but it doesn't matter. More and more letters arrive and the family is eventually chased down to a rocky island by a large hairy man named Hagrid. Thanks to Hagrid, Harry finally gets to open his letter: an invitation to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. And, surprise! "You're a wizard, Harry." It turns out that Harry is one of the most famous wizards ever, called the Boy Who Lived after he survived an attack from the evil Lord Voldemort. Not only did Harry survive the attack that killed his parents, but somehow baby Harry also managed to defeat Voldemort in the process. So that's how he got that lightning-bolt scar on his forehead.

Is It Any Good?

There are two kinds of magic in this phenomenal boy-wizard tale, the literal spell kind and the spell cast by a thrilling world for young (and old) fantasy readers to explore. While Harry Potter and his new friends Ron and Hermione get their first lessons in potion making and how to make a feather fly ("swish and flick!"), readers are getting lessons in delightful ideas like owls delivering the post, secret train platforms, pictures and staircases that move, sports played on broomsticks, and even odd-flavored jelly beans. Readers will want to grab their owl, cat, or toad (how can you choose just one?!) and hop on the train to Hogwarts immediately.

But it's not all fun with flying broomsticks. Harry Potter isn't called the Boy Who Lived for nothing. He's an orphan because an evil wizard killed his parents and wanted to kill him, and that evil still lurks at the school. As Harry, Ron, and Hermione uncover a plot to steal the Sorcerer's Stone of the title, more and more school rules must be broken (and some serious house points must be lost) to figure out who the enemy at school really is. Readers will enjoy the twists, danger, and kid wizard heroics that drive the final action.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about when kids knew they were ready to read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone . Did you feel pressured to read it when your friends did? Were any parts too scary for you? How did you handle it?

Kids just getting into the series will find a whole world of Harry Potter available to them, from Chocolate Frogs for sale at the grocery store to theme parks. A die-hard Potter fan can spend a lot of money in their lifetime on merchandise and experiences. Do you think this is worth your money? Are there other ways you can celebrate books you love without raiding your piggie bank?

This series has been commended for getting so many kids to love reading. Which books made you start to love reading? Or are you still looking for them?

Book Details

Author : J. K. Rowling
Illustrator : Mary Grandpre
Genre : Fantasy
Topics : Magic and Fantasy
Book type : Fiction
Publisher : Scholastic Inc.
Publication date : September 1, 1998
Publisher's recommended age(s) : 9 - 12
Number of pages : 309
Awards : ALA Best and Notable Books , Common Sense Media Award , Kids' Choice Award
Last updated : May 5, 2024

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Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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Summary and Reviews of Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. (Joanne) Rowling

Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone

1st Published in UK as Harry Potter & The Philosopher's Stone

Critics' Consensus:
Readers' Rating:
First Published:
Sep 1, 1998, 309 pages
Sep 1999, 312 pages
Speculative, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Alt. History
Young Adults
UK (Britain) & Ireland
Contemporary
1st in Series
Magical or Supernatural
Publication Information
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About This Book

Book summary.

Harry hasn't had a birthday party in eleven years - but all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives with an invitation to an incredible place.

Harry Potter has never been the star of a Quidditch team, scoring points while riding a broom far above the ground. He knows no spells, has never helped to hatch a dragon, and has never worn a cloak of invisibility. All he knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley - a great big swollen spoiled bully. Harry's room is a 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 an incredible place that Harry and anyone who reads about him - will find unforgettable. For it's there that he finds not only friends, aerial sports, and magic in everything from classes to meals, but a great destiny that's been waiting for him... if Harry can survive the encounter.

Chapter Two The Vanishing Glass

Nearly ten years had passed since the Dursleys had woken up to find their nephew on the front step, but Privet Drive had hardly changed at all. The sun rose on the same tidy front gardens and lit up the brass number four on the Dursleys' front door; it crept into their living room, which was almost exactly the same as it had been on the night when Mr. Dursley had seen that fateful news report about the owls. Only the photographs on the mantelpiece really showed how much time had passed. Ten years ago, there had been lots of pictures of what looked like a large pink beach ball wearing different-colored bonnets - but Dudley Dursley was no longer a baby, and now the photographs showed a large blond boy riding his first bicycle, on a carousel at the fair, playing a computer game with his father, being hugged and kissed by his mother. The room held no sign at all that another boy lived in the house, too. Yet Harry Potter was still there, asleep at ...

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Book Review & Discussion: Harry Potter & The Sorcerer’s Stone

THIS BOOK! ⚡ This book has literally triggered a cultural revolution. It has impacted so many lives and influenced so many minds. It’s crazy to even think about how much one boy living in one magical world created by one author could change so many lives.

I first read this book in fifth grade, but I skimmed through it without really appreciating everything for what it was. Last month, I started listening to the Harry Potter audiobooks on Overdrive through my public library’s online catalog. 🎧 Let me just say…If you haven’t listened to the Harry Potter audiobooks…YOU NEED TO!! It’s like a movie but 8 hours instead of 2!! It’s incredibly convenient to listen to throughout my day (eg. walking between classes, eating lunch, sitting on a toilet)

Spoiler-Free Summary: I mean you should know already, but basically, Harry Potter is an orphan who discovers that he’s a wizard on his 11th birthday. Follow him on his journey to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry! DUN DUN DUN.

This book deserves all the stars. It’s a 5/5 from me. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The writing is extremely simple and direct, but it’s super easy to read and follow. The world created is so firetrucking magical. ✨ There’s nothing like it. I mean, there’s a reason why this book fostered a million dollar franchise. I absolutely love this book, and the audiobook will make you love it more (#SponsorMeAudible). 10/10 recommend! 💯

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

The Characters

I grew up viewing Hermonie as a role model, and I can definitely draw parallels between the 11-year-old witch and my younger self. Of course, I was never as cool or smart, but the insecurities any girl has as a preteen are universal. We’re worried about friends and how we appear to others in school. 📚 We want to succeed but that sometimes comes off as showing off. Whenever I see news of Emma Watson today or the latest Harry Potter movies, I always forget that Hermonie was once like me. Before she becomes the brightest witch of her generation, she is a teenager who’s still trying to figure everything out.

Harry is a boy who has gone through so much. My life is extremely smooth sailing compared to his, but the major lesson he has taught me is resilience . Life is unpredictable. One minute you’re an orphan boy living under a staircase…the next you’re a famous celebrity.

Ronald Weasley. I’m so excited to see him grow throughout the rest of the series. Even in the first book, you can tell he has a good heart and is maturing along. Yes, he does treat Hermonie very rudely, and that is inexcusable. However, seeing the trio grow as friends really warms my heart. I think the greatest showmanship of his character is during the chess game when sacrifices himself. In the movie, Ron is sitting on a horse which gets destroyed, but in the books, Ron actually subsitutes the chess piece. He literally gets b*tch slapped by the Queen chess piece!!

I always forget that the plotline in the books is so much more extensive and intricate than the plotline of the movies. Tons of things are explored more such as Hagrid and his pet dragon.

The Writing

Like I said in the intro of this blog post, the writing is very simple and direct. ✏️Personally, I like it because it’s so much easier to visualize each scene. If you’re older, you may find it very childish or juvenile, but since this book caters to a younger demographic, I really don’t think that’s a fair area to criticize the book.

This book is definitely very information loaded. However, JK Rowling strikes a good balance of educating the reader on the fictional wizarding world and experiencing the story seamlessly.

The Audiobook Experience (Bonus)

It was so easy for me to just put on headphones and listen to 5-10 minutes of the story as I walked to class. Usually, during lunch, I scroll through my Instagram feed and eat my meal. 📱With an audiobook, I can do the same thing! You know how the Youtube app is incredibly annoying because you can’t close the app and multitask on your phone? That’s not a problem with an audiobook. You can do both at the same time!!😱 #SponsorMeAudible

In Conclusion

If you purchase the paperback or hardback version from Book Depository , I make a small commission which helps keeps my blog running. 🛍️ They have free shipping worldwide, so talk about a win-win solution!

HAVE YOU READ The Sorcerer’s Stone? WHAT WERE YOUR THOUGHTS? LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENTS! 💕

HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE

From the harry potter series , vol. 1.

by J.K. Rowling ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 1998

It’s slanted toward action-oriented readers, who will find that Briticisms meld with all the other wonders of magic school.

In a rousing first novel, already an award-winner in England, Harry is just a baby when his magical parents are done in by Voldemort, a wizard so dastardly other wizards are scared to mention his name.

So Harry is brought up by his mean Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia Dursley, and picked on by his horrid cousin Dudley. He knows nothing about his magical birthright until ten years later, when he learns he’s to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Hogwarts is a lot like English boarding school, except that instead of classes in math and grammar, the curriculum features courses in Transfiguration, Herbology, and Defense Against the Dark Arts. Harry becomes the star player of Quidditch, a sort of mid-air ball game. With the help of his new friends Ron and Hermione, Harry solves a mystery involving a sorcerer’s stone that ultimately takes him to the evil Voldemort. This hugely enjoyable fantasy is filled with imaginative details, from oddly flavored jelly beans to dragons’ eggs hatched on the hearth.

Pub Date: Sept. 1, 1998

ISBN: 978-0-590-35340-3

Page Count: 309

Publisher: Levine/Scholastic

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1998

CHILDREN'S SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY

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THE GIRL WHO DRANK THE MOON

by Kelly Barnhill ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 9, 2016

Guaranteed to enchant, enthrall, and enmagick.

An elderly witch, a magical girl, a brave carpenter, a wise monster, a tiny dragon, paper birds, and a madwoman converge to thwart a magician who feeds on sorrow.

Every year Elders of the Protectorate leave a baby in the forest, warning everyone an evil Witch demands this sacrifice. In reality, every year, a kind witch named Xan rescues the babies and find families for them. One year Xan saves a baby girl with a crescent birthmark who accidentally feeds on moonlight and becomes “ enmagicked .” Magic babies can be tricky, so Xan adopts little Luna herself and lovingly raises her, with help from an ancient swamp monster and a chatty, wee dragon. Luna’s magical powers emerge as her 13th birthday approaches. Meanwhile, Luna’s deranged real mother enters the forest to find her daughter. Simultaneously, a young carpenter from the Protectorate enters the forest to kill the Witch and end the sacrifices. Xan also enters the forest to rescue the next sacrificed child, and Luna, the monster, and the dragon enter the forest to protect Xan. In the dramatic denouement, a volcano erupts, the real villain attempts to destroy all, and love prevails. Replete with traditional motifs, this nontraditional fairy tale boasts sinister and endearing characters, magical elements, strong storytelling, and unleashed forces. Luna has black eyes, curly, black hair, and “amber” skin.

Pub Date: Aug. 9, 2016

ISBN: 978-1-61620-567-6

Page Count: 400

Publisher: Algonquin

Review Posted Online: May 13, 2016

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2016

CHILDREN'S ACTION & ADVENTURE FICTION | CHILDREN'S FAMILY | CHILDREN'S SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY

More by Kelly Barnhill

by Kelly Barnhill

THE PROBLEM WITH PROPHECIES

From the celia cleary series , vol. 1.

by Scott Reintgen ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 31, 2022

A very promising kickoff with arbitrary but intriguingly challenging magic.

A middle schooler discovers both up and down sides to being able to foretell the future.

Members of the Cleary clan in alternating generations have always been granted predictive powers on their 4,444th day of life, and Celia has been eagerly looking forward to her first vision—until, that is, it comes and reveals that cute, quiet classmate Jeffrey is slated to die in a hit-and-run. Weighing her horror against her wise Grammy’s warnings that fate is inexorable, she contrives a way to head off the accident…only to foresee another fatal mishap in his future. And another. By the time she’s saved his life five times in a row, she’s not only exhausted, but crushing on the hapless lad. (As, unsurprisingly, he is on her.) Reintgen generally keeps the tone of his series opener light, so even after Celia discovers that there’s ultimately a tragic price for her intervention, the ensuing funeral service is marked by as much laughter as sorrow. The author surrounds his frantic but good-hearted protagonist with a particularly sturdy supporting cast that includes gratifyingly cooperative friends as well as her Grammy and loving, if nonmagical, mom. There don’t seem to be many Cleary men around; perhaps that and certain other curious elements, like a chart listing particular Cleary specialties with names such as Dreamwalker and Grimdark, will be addressed in future entries. Main characters read as White.

Pub Date: May 31, 2022

ISBN: 978-1-66590-357-8

Page Count: 352

Publisher: Aladdin

Review Posted Online: March 1, 2022

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2022

CHILDREN'S FAMILY | CHILDREN'S SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY

by Scott Reintgen

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A Journey of Words

Book review: harry potter and the sorcerer’s stone, harry potter and the sorcerer’s stone book #1 by j.k. rowling, my rating: 3.5 / 5 genre: ya fantasy.

I have never read any Harry Potter books, nor have I watched any of the movies. The only thing I know about Harry Potter is what I’ve picked up over the years from references, movie clips, overheard discussions, etc. I am planning to go through the entire book series, and I have just finished the first one. Even though these books/movies have been out for a while and are really well known, I’ll still warn in advance that my reviews will likely contain spoilers .

I also plan to watch the movies, even though I was recently told that the movies were garbage. The same person also told me that I “just have to get through the first couple of books,” because after that, they get better (for clarification, he might come across kind of mean based on what I’m saying, but he was recommending the books, because he really likes them; he just had some caveats). However, I think he and I have a different taste in books, at least to a degree, because his brief reasoning for the later ones being better was because the first few were written for a younger audience. He said that as the characters aged, the writing was written for an older audience as well. I have always enjoyed things that are meant for teens or young adults though, even as I’ve gotten older.

With that in mind, I can honestly say that, though I saw what he was insinuating, about the book being for a young audience, it didn’t bother me much. I was a bit put off by the early chapters about Harry’s family, not just because of how terrible they were (which was obviously on purpose), but because of the way in which they were described. Definitely very silly and over-the-top. And some of that carried on throughout the book. However, I enjoyed the way the story unfolded all the same.

I appreciated the fact that, even though Harry was the main character and was obviously special in some way, he still had major limitations, which kept him from being too perfect to be real. He excelled in one main area, and I was rooting for him to do well as soon as he found that talent.

One of the things that bothered me the most was that the story seemed to just amble most of the way through the book. The main story goal was brought up now and then, but didn’t seem to take much precedence. Even when the characters spoke about it as if it were important, it didn’t feel all that important most of the time. I think that is mostly because much of this book was world-building. I have done 0 research about how this series got started, but it certainly reads as if Rowling knew it was going to be the first book in a longer series, and kept the story goal simple, so she could focus on setting up Hogwarts and the wizard world.

My other biggest issue is in the actual writing. I’m sure this is just the grammarist in me, and most people wouldn’t even notice, but the amount of commas where there should have been periods, or at least semi-colons, was really noticeable to me. I’d rather not notice those things, but I do…so it tends to take me out of the story.

One thing I’ll be interested to see as I go through these books is the way my perception of what might happen could be affected by the knowledge of the storylines that are floating around out there. People don’t worry nearly as much about avoiding spoiling something this old, and I don’t blame them. But because of clips or gifs I’ve seen from the movies, and things I’ve heard about the books, I didn’t really question the story I was being fed while reading. I have no real way of knowing if I would have had my own theories or suspicions as Harry and friends blamed Snape the entire book, but I definitely believed that he was the bad guy the entire time. Thus, I was shocked when it turned out he wasn’t.

Find out more about Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

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If you’ve read this book, or read it in the future, feel free to let me know what you think!

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Book Review

Harry potter and the sorcerer’s stone – “harry potter” series.

J.K. Rowling

Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic, Inc.

Year Published

After being raised in the miserably unfair home of his Uncle Vernon Dursley, Harry practically begins life anew when he discovers that he is a wizard and is invited to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Among Harry’s first-year adventures are making new friends (Hagrid, Ron and Hermione), standing up to the torments of school bully Draco Malfoy, and becoming the star player on his Quidditch team (the favored sport in the magical world). Harry’s life as a Hogwarts “first-year” is more interesting than that of most attendees, because he is already famous for surviving the attack of the evil Lord Voldemort, who tried to kill him as an infant. Everyone in the wizard world knows more about Harry’s family and his story than he does, so a great deal of the book is about Harry growing into his heritage.

By far the most important happening of Harry’s first year is unraveling the mystery of the Sorcerer’s Stone and coming face to face with Voldemort. The Sorcerer’s Stone has the power to turn things to gold and to give immortality to humans. Voldemort, who lost most of his power in the battle with Harry’s parents, is desperate to find the stone and use it for his own evil purposes. He enlists the help of one Hogwarts professor, and in the end, Harry meets both of them in hand-to-hand combat. Of course, Harry wins, but Voldemort is not defeated forever.

Positive Elements

At the wizards’ bank, Harry reads on the door the following warning against greed: “Enter stranger, but take heed of what awaits the sin of greed. For those who take but do not earn must pay dearly in their turn. So if you seek beneath our floors a treasure that was never yours, thief, you have been warned, beware of finding more than treasure there.”

Unraveling the Sorcerer’s Stone mystery, Harry, Ron and Hermione find themselves involved in a life-sized chess game, in which they become playing pieces. Two positive things here: first, Harry recognizes that Ron is more gifted than he at chess, so he defers to Ron as the wiser partner. More important, Ron proves himself to be such a good friend to Harry that he is willing to sacrifice his playing piece (and get knocked unconscious in the process) so that Harry can go on to find the stone.

Harry’s parents loved him unconditionally, even sacrificially. The message is clear about the effects of this kind of love: Voldemort says, “I killed your father first, and he put up a courageous fight … but your mother needn’t have died. … She was trying to protect you.” Later, Dumbledore says, “Your mother died to save you. If there is one thing Voldemort cannot understand, it is love. He didn’t realize that love as powerful as your mother’s for you leaves its own mark. Not a scar, no visible sign … to have been loved so deeply, even though the person who loved us is gone, will give us some sort of protection forever.”

Violent Content

No detailed description is given of the death of Harry’s parents. All Harry can remember is a huge flash of green light.

The resident directors in the Hogwarts dormitories are all ghosts. Two of them, in particular, have apparently died rather gruesome deaths, for they are named The Bloody Baron and Near Headless Nick, which gives some clue as to how they became specters.

Nicolas Flamel, the inventor of the Sorcerer’s Stone, agrees that it is in the best interest of humanity for the stone to be destroyed. This means that he and his wife, who both are over 600 years old, will die, because they will have no more sustenance from the stone. Harry expresses his distress over this selfless act, and the good professor Dumbledore responds, “To one as young as you, I’m sure it seems incredible, but to Nicolas and Perenelle, it really is like going to bed after a very, very long day. After all, to the well organized mind, death is but the next great adventure.”

As previously mentioned, an evil professor tries to knock Harry to his death (or at least to serious injury) during a Quidditch match. This same professor slaughters a Unicorn in order to drink the life-giving blood of an innocent animal.

Preceding the final match with Voldemort, Ron is knocked unconscious as he, Harry and Hermione struggle to solve the mystery of the Sorcerer’s Stone. The final battle itself is an intense struggle, for Harry soon discovers that Voldemort cannot touch his body without being badly burned. As Harry’s encounter with Voldemort rises to a climax, Voldemort screams at one of his followers, “KILL HIM! KILL HIM!”

Harry’s Family

Harry is treated horribly by Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia and cousin Dudley Dursley. The Dursleys make Harry sleep in a closet, and they make no excuses about denying Harry simple pleasures while spoiling Dudley (“Every year on Dudley’s birthday, his parents took him and a friend out for the day, to adventure parks, hamburger restaurants or the movies. Every year, Harry was left behind with Mrs. Figg, a mad old lady who lived two streets away. Harry hated it there. The whole house smelled of cabbage, and Mrs. Figg made Harry look at photographs of all the cats she’d ever owned”).

The Dursleys are not characterized in such a way that the reader understands them to be a respectable or even a normal example of a family. In fact, the Dursleys are set up more as an example of the damage that is done when a child doesn’t have a real family. Children who have been neglected are likely to identify with Harry and be encouraged by his success at changing his station in life.

The Hogwarts community becomes a kind of surrogate family for Harry. He has a better Christmas at Hogwarts than he ever had with the Dursleys. And through his new friend, Ron Weasley, Harry is semi-adopted into the Weasley family, who care for him and even send him gifts, though they are poor themselves.

Throughout the story, there is the understanding that Harry’s real family truly loved him and would have treated him well. Finally, Harry finds them through a magical mirror called Erised (desire spelled backward.) In the mirror, he is able to see his mother and father looking at him longingly and waving. The mirror is intended to show its viewer the deepest desire of his or her heart.

School Discipline

J.K. Rowling paints a detailed picture of each of the prominent professors—McGonagall is fair and an excellent disciplinarian; Snape is grouchy and vengeful; Quirrell is stuttering and spineless; Dumbledore is wise and altogether respected. Harry and friends figure out early where their loyalties lie and what they can get way with in the classroom. They respect McGonagall and Dumbledore most, because these two are upright, wise and understanding.

Hogwarts rules include no fighting, no sneaking around after hours and no use of magic outside the classroom. Harry and company find a lot of their adventure in breaking the sneaking around rule and usually wind up saving someone or making an important discovery when they’re doing things they shouldn’t. They are always justly punished when they are caught in their misdeeds.

Hermione is the dissenting voice, always warning Harry and Ron that they’d better toe the line. Unfortunately, it is when she finally concedes to breaking the rules (for a good cause, of course) that Hermione proves herself a true friend to Harry and Ron (“Ron dropped his wand. Hermione Granger, telling a downright lie to a teacher?… Hermione was the last person to do anything against the rules, and here she was, pretending she had to get them out of trouble. … From that moment on, Hermione Granger became their friend”).

In the end, Harry repents of his rule breaking: “It was a bit late to repair the damage, but Harry swore to himself not to meddle in the things that weren’t his business from now on. He’d had it with sneaking and spying. He felt so ashamed of himself.”

Alcohol Use

Hagrid, the school’s caretaker, likes to drink (both for social reasons and to calm his nerves). “Everyone [in the bar] seemed to know Hagrid; they waved and smiled at him, and the bartender reached for a glass, saying, ‘The usual, Hagrid?’ ‘Can’t Tom, I’m on Hogwarts business,’ said Hagrid.” Hagrid does renounce his drinking habit when he realizes that while he was under the influence, he disclosed secret information that could have cost Harry his life. (“It’s—all—my—ruddy—fault! … I told him! Yeh could’ve died! … I’ll never drink again!”)

Spiritual Elements

Witchcraft and wizardry are central devices in this story. And they are presented in a very stereotypical manner. For example, Harry’s school supply list includes “three sets of plain work robes (black) … one pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar) … one wand, one cauldron (pewter, standard size 2),” and books like “The Standard Book of Spells … Magical Theory and One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi.”

References to dark magic and other evils that pertain to the “dark side” are included, but they are never presented as desirable. Every character who is allied with these forces is an enemy or at least a tormentor to the hero of the story. For instance, one evil professor uses powerful dark magic to try to knock Harry off his broomstick during a Quidditch match. (On a cultural level, Rowling can be commended for steering young fans away from the so-called dark side, but from a spiritual perspective, it’s clear that there are not dark and light sides when it comes to witchcraft; it’s all as black as sin.)

The most intense example of dark magic occurs during Harry’s confrontation with Voldemort, when the evil one tempts Harry to come over to the dark side in order to save his own life: “‘See what I have become?’ the face said. ‘Mere shadow and vapor. … I have form only when I can share another’s body … but there have always been those willing to let me into their hearts and minds. … Don’t be a fool. … Better save your own life and join me … or you’ll meet the same end as your parents. … They died begging me for mercy.'”

“Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow, turn this stupid, fat rat yellow” is a spoken charm typical of what Harry and his friends learn at Hogwarts. Some children may be fascinated and want to try these seemingly harmless spells for themselves. Not a wise idea, considering how very real the occult is. The meaningless charms found in this book may not summon occult forces, but there are real charms that do.

That said, Rowling presents life in the supernatural realm as much fuller than life in the physical realm. Colors are brighter, people are more interesting and life is more exciting and surprising. But the side of the supernatural world that Rowling presents is not really the side that offers this abundant life. In fact, biblically speaking, to participate in the world of witchcraft brings death rather than a fuller life (1 Sam. 28:6-18, Is. 8:19 and 47:12-14). That’s more than enough reason for families to think long and hard before embarking on Harry Potter’s magic carpet ride.

Plot Summary

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Author and Storyteller

May 31, 2021

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: A Book Review

Updated: Jun 11, 2021

Giving A Book A Second Chance

You are probably wondering "Kali, didn't you just do a book review?"

Why, yes, yes I did. But for some reason this past weekend a book was calling my name. To be more precise, Harry Potter was calling to me.

All I could think about this past weekend was wanting to read or watch Harry Potter , but I only own the fourth book(nobody likes starting in a middle of a series) and have the first two movies in VHS. So, I decided to give in and buy the first book in eBook format(reasons like this are why I love my Kindle).

Now this isn't my first time reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. When I was first introduced to Harry Potter I was 9 years old. This puts me in third grade... the time when I feel children really start to get into stories.

My mom had purchased the novel for me in hopes I would keep busy with it one weekend. I was excited even though I had never heard of the story.

I remember cozying up in my bed ready to be brought into a world of magic. After 30 pages of reading I found myself bored and confused. I had no clue what the word Muggle meant or what was going on with the flying owls. So with that, I closed the book and didn't look at it again until the age of 19.

By this time, my copy of the book was long gone, but one of the girls living down the hall from my dorm seemed to have a plethora of Harry Potter memorabilia, including all seven books. I just finished my college mid terms and had about a week of down time. The last movie of the franchise was coming to an end and so I decided to give the books another try since I liked the movie so much.

After the week, I had finished all seven books while having giant bags under my eyes from the lack of sleep. So to say the least I liked the series.

I realized it had been 10 years since the last time I read them. So to keep the tradition going I decided to start again this past weekend.

Overview of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Kept in a cupboard, under the stairwell by his family, for most of his life, Harry Potter soon finds out he is a famous wizard after an owl delivers him a letter. Being accepted into one of the most prestigious schools of magic, Hogwarts, Harry finds himself meeting new friends, learning the ways of magic, all while trying to stay safe from He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, otherwise known as Lord Voldemort, a dark wizard who was unable to kill Harry as a baby.

The Cons of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

· Writing Style 'Tells' Rather than 'Shows'

J.K. Rowling gets straight to the point when it comes to this story. With that though, the author missed the number one rule in storytelling. Show not tell. The descriptions of the characters are very basic and paragraph-like when it comes to their outer appearance leaving nothing to the imagination.

· Harry's Acceptance with Magic

Even though Harry has grown up in the muggle world nothing seems to faze him when it comes to magic. His character seems okay with everything and very trusting of those around him. I feel his character would be more relatable if he was uncertain and apprehensive in the beginning than he let on.

· More of a Backstory

Even though the series as a whole goes into Harry's back story I think this novel would have hit home more if Lord Voldemort was spoken about with more intensity.

This would have made the readers connect more with the main character and see why Lord Voldemort was so dangerous in the first place.

The Pros of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

· Unique Story

Out of any story I've ever read, this is the most unique when it comes to the storyline, concept, and ideas. It keeps the reader interested throughout the book to see what cool magically elements will happen next.

· Character Qualities

Each character has unique and bold qualities about them. This helps keep not only the story interesting because of the array of personalities, but makes them more believable as characters. You can connect with almost any character in one form or another.

· Easy to Read

This story is easy to follow along with and simple to read. Besides the magical spells which even the students have a hard time saying them, this book is for any age.

· Each Chapter Moves the Story Forward

The best thing about this book is each chapter is important to the story. The author made sure to stay on point and only added ideas/concepts which are relevant. Nobody likes to read whole chapters which give nothing to the story.

Overall Review Summary

Rereading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone made me realize why I had the urge to read/watch it again. Apparently, I just needed a little magic in my life.

Out of 5 stars I give it a 5. A first for Kali Kuzma Author and Storyteller !

It's honestly a unique and exciting story someone from of any age can enjoy. I'm currently on the second book and hope to have it done in the next few days. I don't know if I will read all of them at the pace I did the first book but I know each one will bring the awesome element of magic.

Since it has been so long from the last time I read them I am interested to see how I relate to the characters again now that I'm older. Will I relate more with the teachers or the students? We shall see.

If you are interested other magical reads check out my children's picture book Princess Gabriella and the Never-Ending Kiss . You can purchase it on Amazon, in eBook, format for only $9.99! Or get a physical copy at Blurb.com for $32.99!

If you love YA novels and are interested in finding out about more I suggest taking a look at my review for Midnight Sun , A Witch in Time , or The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue!

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, by J.K. Rowling | Book Review

The Children’s Book Review | July 31, 2018

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Written by J.K. Rowling

Age Range: 8 and up

Paperback: 336 pages

Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books; Reissue edition (June 26, 2018)

ISBN-13: 978-1338299144

What to Expect: Fantasy and Magic

It is July 31. That means that it is Harry Potter’s birthday and the the perfect opportunity to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone .

Get your tickets ready. The grand, shiny red Hogwarts Express is ready to depart from platform 9 3/4, and you won’t want to miss the enchanting ride into the spellbinding wizarding world of Harry Potter.

Harry is an orphan who has been living with Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon, and cousin Dudley Dursley since he was a baby. The Dursleys are plain despicable and make Harry sleep in a cupboard under the stairs. On Harry’s eleventh birthday, mysterious letters addressed to Harry Potter begin arriving at the house, and his aunt and uncle try everything they can to keep them from Harry. That’s when a very large looking man, Hagrid, shows up to deliver the letter in person, along with a very important message: “You’re a wizard, Harry!” Unknown to Harry, he isn’t just any wizard, he is a very famous wizard with a destiny waiting to be fulfilled; a destiny that explains the peculiar lightning bolt scar he has on his forehead. Harry’s whole world will be turned upside down as he embarks on a new and exciting journey to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

J.K Rowling’s writing is as magical as the story itself. The settings and locations provide rich backdrops for the page-turning drama that unfolds—Hogwarts is located in a remote location in a majestic castle nestled against the Forbidden Forest. Feel-good moments soften, and also propel, the ever-growing tension—amidst the flurry of new magical activities (flying broomsticks and playing the wizarding sport of choice, Quidditch) and lessons (‘Care of Magical Creatures’ and ‘Defense Against the Dark Arts’), it becomes apparent that a dark power is growing stronger … the kind of power that could only come from the most feared wizard … He Who Shall Not Be Named. Could Harry and his lightning bolt scar be somehow connected to this dark wizard? This question and more make it near impossible to stop at just one or two chapters a night!

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is not to be missed by any reader, young or old. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of this story, Scholastic has released new covers for the series, illustrated by Caldecott Medal-winning artist Brian Selznick. The covers are a kind of magic in their own right: when placed side by side, the seven covers make one spectacular picture that highlights the arc of the seven book series. Selznick’s artwork is fantastical and the cover design concept is genius!

Of course, there’s only one thing to do: Grab your invisibility cloak, and jump headfirst into this adventurous, mysterious, perilous, and highly entertaining book about muggles (non-magical) and magical folk.

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About the author.

J.K. Rowling is the author of the record-breaking, multi-award-winning Harry Potter novels. Loved by fans around the world, the series has sold over 450 million copies, been translated into 80 languages, and made into eight blockbuster films. She has written three companion volumes in aid of charity: Quidditch Through the Ages and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (in aid of Comic Relief and Lumos), and The Tales of Beedle the Bard (in aid of Lumos), as well as a screenplay inspired by Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them , which marked the start of a five-film series to be written by the author. She has also collaborated on a stage play, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts One and Two , which opened in London’s West End in the summer of 2016. In 2012 J.K. Rowling’s digital company Pottermore was launched, where fans can enjoy news, features, and articles, as well as original content from J.K. Rowling. J.K. Rowling is also the author of The Casual Vacancy , a novel for adult readers, and the Strike crime series, written under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. She has received many awards and honors, including an OBE and Companion of Honour, France’s Légion d’honneur, and the Hans Christian Andersen Award.

About the Illustrator

Brian Selznick ’s books have garnered countless accolades worldwide, and have been translated into more than 35 languages. He is the Caldecott Medal-winning creator of the #1 New York Times bestsellers The Invention of Hugo Cabret , adapted into Martin Scorsese’s Oscar-winning movie Hugo ; and Wonderstruck , adapted by celebrated filmmaker Todd Haynes, with a screenplay by Selznick; as well as The Marvels and Baby Monkey, Private Eye (co-written with Dr. David Serlin). Selznick divides his time between Brooklyn, New York, and San Diego, California.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone , by J.K. Rowling, was reviewed by Bianca Schulze. Discover more books like Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by following along with our reviews and articles tagged with Books About Witches , Brian Selznick , Fantasy , Harry Potter , J.K. Rowling , Magic , and Wizard Books .

What to Read Next:

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Bianca Schulze is the founder of The Children’s Book Review. She is a reader, reviewer, mother and children’s book lover. She also has a decade’s worth of experience working with children in the great outdoors. Combined with her love of books and experience as a children’s specialist bookseller, the goal is to share her passion for children’s literature to grow readers. Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, she now lives with her husband and three children near Boulder, Colorado.

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Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

By j.k. rowling.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is one of the most popular children's books ever written. It is a story about the triumph of love and bravery over evil.

Article written by Mohandas Alva

M.A. Degree in English Literature from Manipal University, India.

‘ Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone ‘ is a very engaging read for children and adults alike. Since it is the first book in this series, we are introduced to an entirely new world in this book. The world of magic slowly builds itself as we read through the book. The genius of this book is using the protagonist Harry’s discovery of this world to parallel the readers’.

Furthermore, despite several hardships and literally being an orphan who never knew love, Harry still recognizes love and affection when he sees it. While this book is memorable for a plethora of reasons, some elements of Rowling’s writing triumph as winners.

Discovering the Story World and Magic as a Metaphor

J. K. Rowling does a great job writing this story with an omniscient third-person narrative but still keeping the narrator wherever Harry is for a major part of this book. This makes the reader’s fascination and interest in the world of magic as new and real as Harry’s. We are introduced to several facts and significant peculiarities of the world of magic, all of which seem very consistently developed, adding authenticity to it.

While there are a lot of similarities between the real world and the world of magic, the differences are usually peculiar and downright funny at times. Platform nine and three-quarters, running through a brick wall, ghosts roaming freely and talking to living people, and many other peculiarities add to the charm of creating an interesting story world. One could go on to theorize that calling non-magic people muggles and portraying the Dursleys as ordinary people who hate things like magic has a metaphorical purpose.

It furthers the cause and appeals to the readers to be more imaginative and creative. Magic is a metaphor for imagination in this case. The Dursleys are scared of anything out of the ordinary. They spend their entire day doing mundane tasks they assign meaning to and criticize almost anything and anyone that doesn’t fit their design.

On the contrary, Harry, despite being ill-treated and not loved by the Dursleys, has a flair for imagination and creativity. It didn’t take very long for him to get used to the wizarding ways, and he very clearly had the potential to do great things after all. This book is, in its essence, an inspiration for readers to make dreams come true and bravely follow their dreams despite obstacles. It is an apt narrative for children who, at their age, tend to discover new things and ideas to develop.

Good vs Evil and Heroism

The trope of a savior standing up to the tyrant is not new. However, ‘ Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone ‘ being a children’s book, delves into this slowly. When Harry is unaware of magic and thinks that his parents died in an accident, he is a normal child with very little to think about good, evil, and the need for heroism.

However, once he is informed of the actual circumstances of his parents’ death and after discovering magic, he gains new insights, and his worldview significantly changes. His sense of responsibility and the need to stop Voldemort at any cost from getting to the Philosopher’s Stone set the path for his heroism. This transition happens slowly, yet it feels very natural. He doesn’t know what he will do if he faces Voldemort. Despite this naive understanding of the consequences, he still chooses to face Voldemort.

This portrayal of heroism is quite commendable as it appeals to the very cause of wanting to stop the wrongdoing. The fact that an eleven-year-old boy and his two friends thwart a feared dark wizard from stealing the Philosopher’s Stone in a school that has so many adults who are way more experienced and well-equipped to do it portrays heroism in its purest form. Heroism is more the choice to take action against evil than the ability to stop evil. This book does a good job illustrating this subtlety.

Sacrifice in Harry Potter

Sacrifice is an essential part of this novel. The story of ‘ Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone ‘ uses sacrifice to define both friendship and love. Harry’s parents die because they sacrifice themselves to protect Harry. Ron sacrifices himself while playing Wizard chess. Several people who fought in the war against Voldemort sacrificed themselves for the well-being of the collective community.

The trope of sacrifice plays a major role in setting up differences in morality between the good and the evil. As Dumbledore points out to Harry, Voldemort does not understand love. The fact that Harry understands love and values it, sets a specific difference in the choices that Harry and Lord Voldemort make.

Harry is willing to sacrifice himself when he takes over the task of protecting the Philosopher’s Stone. On the contrary, Voldemort uses others for his selfish motives. This stark difference between willing to sacrifice oneself and using others as a shield to protect oneself makes all the difference and definitively separates good and evil in this book.

Why was Harry Potter banned?

Harry Potter was banned in a catholic school in Nashville, Tennessee, because of fear of evil spirits. Some other places have also banned Harry Potter books for similar religious fears. Some religious leaders were concerned that the spells and enchantments mentioned in the book were real and that they could summon evil spirits and dark magic.

Is Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone worth reading for an adult?

‘ Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone ‘ is definitely worth reading for an adult. While it was written as a children’s book, it has outlived this label, and there are people of all ages who not only read these books but also engage in community discussions and have fun playing games inspired by these books. Many people have found reading this book a very rewarding experience, as is evident from the sales and fame this book has garnered across all demographics.

Should I read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone or watch the movie?

While the movie is undoubtedly well-made and a thrill to watch, the books are far more detailed and a very thrilling read. Most people who have both read the books and watched the movies always choose the former as a better experience. Furthermore, there are several interesting and amusing characters and scenes in the book that the movie couldn’t incorporate. So, one would be missing out on a lot if one doesn’t read ‘ Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. ‘

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Review - A Thrilling Read

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Digital Art

Book Title: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

Book Description: 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone' by J.K. Rowling is an enchanting, generation-defining tale of a young wizard's magical journey.

Book Author: J.K. Rowling

Book Edition: First UK Edition

Book Format: Hardcover

Publisher - Organization: Bloomsbury

Date published: June 26, 1997

Illustrator: Thomas Taylor

ISBN: 1-4088-5565-2

Number Of Pages: 309

Writing Style
Lasting effect on the reader

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Book Review

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J K Rowling is a thrilling read that hooks the reader from page one. Published in the year 1997, it is one of the highest grossing novels ever written. Some elements of the novel like its elaborate yet accessible world-building makes it a very entertaining read for children and adults alike. It follows the story of an orphan boy named Harry Potter who realizes he is a wizard and the rest of the book records his journey as a young wizard in Hogwarts, a school of magic. This book, and the series as a whole have been a definitive part of an entire generation’s childhood and have garnered very high praise as an entertaining read.

The plot is entertaining and is a very immersive read.
Has a lot of early lessons for children on morality.
The characters are well developed and the story world is well structured and interesting.
The writing style may be a bit rudimentary for adult avid readers.
Several instances of Deux Ex Machina make the protagonist’s position very safe and lacking any real danger.
Some mild instances of body shaming exist within the novel.

Harry Potter Quiz

Summon your wit and wisdom—our Harry Potter Trivia Quiz awaits you! Do you have the knowledge to claim the title of Master Witch or Wizard? Take the challenge now!

1) What is the name of the train that takes students to Hogwarts?

2) Which object is NOT one of the Deathly Hallows?

3) What was the last Horcrux to be destroyed?

4) Which character is killed by Bellatrix Lestrange in the Battle of Hogwarts?

5) What is the name of the book Hermione gives to Harry before his first ever Quidditch match?

6) What does the incantation "Obliviate" do?

7) What specific type of dragon does Harry face during the Triwizard Tournament?

8) What is Dumbledore's full name?

9) In the "Order of the Phoenix," who is NOT a member of the original Order of the Phoenix shown in the old photograph that Moody shows Harry?

10) Which potion did Hermione brew in her second year that allowed her, Ron, and Harry to assume the identities of Slytherins?

11) What animal represents Hufflepuff house?

12) Who originally owned the Elder Wand before Dumbledore won it?

13) What form does Hermione Granger's Patronus take?

14) What is the name of the goblin who helps Harry, Ron, and Hermione break into Gringotts?

15) What is the name of Harry Potter's pet owl?

16) What are the dying words of Severus Snape in both the book and the film "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows"?

17) What does the Mirror of Erised show?

18) Who is the Half-Blood Prince?

19) Which creature can transform into a person's worst fear?

20) What potion is known as "Liquid Luck"?

21) Who was the Peverell brother that owned the invisibility cloak?

22) What is the core ingredient of the wand owned by Harry Potter?

23) Which spell is used to open the Marauder's Map?

24) Who teaches Herbology at Hogwarts?

25) What is the name of the goblin-made object that is supposed to bring its owner prosperity, but also brings them into conflict with goblins?

26) What is the effect of the Cheering Charm?

27) What creature is Aragog?

28) In which Harry Potter book does Harry first speak Parseltongue?

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About Mohandas Alva

Mohandas is very passionate about deciphering the nature of language and its role as a sole medium of storytelling in literature. His interests sometimes digress from literature to philosophy and the sciences but eventually, the art and craft of narrating a significant story never fail to thrill him.

About the Book

The Harry Potter section of Book Analysis analyzes and explorers the Harry Potter series. The characters, names, terminology, and all related indicia are trademarks of Warner Bros ©. The content on Book Analysis was created by Harry Potter fans, with the aim of providing a thorough in-depth analysis and commentary to complement and provide an additional perspective to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

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Sai Deeptha N

N.s.n memorial school.

Book Review

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone| Book Review by 14 year old from Chennai

Today’s review of an iconic book is by Sai Deeptha ,a 9th grader in N.S.N Memorial School, Chennai. She loves reading books and not being able to buy more books is depresses her.

August 26, 2020

Harry Potter and the philosophers stone Book Review by kids with Sara Bookosmia

Book- Harry Potter and the philosopher’s stone

Author- J K Rowling

Publisher- Bloomsbury,UK

When I first saw the cover of “ Harry Potter and the philosopher’s stone,” I thought that it would be a very droopy and boring story, but it was so not what I had expected. The cover has him, Ron, Hermione and Hagrid,the school’s gatekeeper, of whom he is very fond, with Hogwarts in the background.

The saying ‘ Don’t judge a book by its cover’ is used quite literally here .

I was engrossed in the book and I was experiencing all those adventures .

My friend recommended this book to me, but I tried to stall as much as I could, to not read the book. I did not even try to watch the movies.But, as I started reading it, I found it very compelling and kept reading it.

The story is basically about a young wizard called Harry Potter , who had survived a death curse and was living with his cruel aunt, uncle and cousin because his parents were killed trying to save him.But as he turned 11,he was taken to Hogwarts, a first rate wizard school. He was to be trained to be a skilled wizard. There, he made friends with his best friends for life, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. They have all sorts of adventures together during the quest to protect the philosopher’s stone from the villain, Voldemort, who had tried to kill Harry Potter.

The lead character is Harry Potter, who is a powerful young wizard. He is undeniably brave and extremely loyal to all his friends and family, so much so that they don’t mind giving their lives for him. It is interesting that even after so much pain and suffering, he stayed strong and continued fighting. That is really impressive .

In this story , Harry is mistreated and shunned by his own family and lots of people would be questioning their existence.But, even though his parents weren’t alive and he was cruelly treated by his aunt and uncle, he was still loved by his friends and they supported him no matter what. I feel that the central idea of the story is that love is more powerful than anything and it is proved when his mother’s love actually saved him from Voldemort .

The illustrations of the book is what that gave the book its magical feel but as I said before, I’m not very fond of the cover. The writing style makes me feel like I’m with them, experiencing all the adventures and undergo all they went through .

My favourite part of the book is when Harry,Ron and Hermione take on a fully grown Troll all by themselves.It is really impressive how they work together and vanquish it without any proper knowledge of spells .

My takeaway from this book is that love is more powerful than anything and even a powerful villain can be conquered easily .

The one thing that I would change in this book is that Draco Malfoy can be portrayed in a nicer way, so that he might not seem so cruel and arrogant. Draco is forced and brain washed by his parents to act the way he does ; to be as if he was better than anyone. I would have made Harry and Draco have an almost civil relationship and defeat Voldemort together .

Any person above 8 years can read this.It is in a very easy language and is appealing to all age groups.

I would definitel y rate the book 5/5* be cause I couldn’t put it down and was so engrossed in the book that I didn’t notice what happened around me at all.

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Sinopsis dan Review Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone adalah novel pertama yang diterbitkan oleh J. K. Rowling dan menjadi pembuka kisah Harry Potter serta teman-temannya dalam memenuhi takdir yang mau tidak mau harus mereka hadapi.

Secara garis besar, novel Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone menceritakan awal mula kedatangan Harry Potter ke Hogwarts, sebuah sekolah khusus penyihir yang legendaris. Di sini, ia belajar banyak hal dan bertemu orang-orang baru.

Apakah kamu penasaran dengan sinopsis dan review Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone ? Kalau iya, pas banget, nih! Soalnya, melalui artikel yang diringkas ke dalam poin-poin berikut, Telkomsel akan menjelaskannya kepadamu~

Sinopsis Novel Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Review novel harry potter and the sorcerer's stone.

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Tanpa berlama-lama lagi, yuk, langsung simak artikel ini!

Baca Juga: Review & Sinopsis Novel Hello Tere Liye, Cinta Beda Kasta

Kisah dalam novel Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone dibuka dengan penjelasan tentang latar belakang Harry Potter. Sejak lahir hingga saat itu, Harry hidup dengan paman dan bibinya yang memperlakukannya dengan sangat tidak baik.

Harry kecil tidak punya banyak pilihan. Ayah dan ibunya, James dan Lily Potter, meninggal dunia karena kejadian yang belum dipahaminya. Akhirnya, ia harus puas dengan ruang sempit di bawah tangga yang disulap sebagai kamar tak layak huni.

Singkat cerita, tanpa diduga sebelumnya, Harry menerima surat undangan yang datangnya dari Hogwarts. Anak laki-laki itu jelas kebingungan karena manusia biasa tidak pernah tahu-menahu soal keberadaan sekolah sihir tersebut.

Tak lama kemudian, Hagrid muncul. Ia pun menceritakan tentang Hogwarts dan Voldemort yang bertanggung jawab atas kematian kedua orang tuanya. Berbekal kepercayaan kepada Hagrid, Harry pun terbang ke sekolah barunya.

Sesampainya di Hogwarts, Harry melihat sesuatu yang tidak pernah terbesit di benaknya. Segala sesuatunya benar-benar ajaib di sana, mulai dari tangga yang bergerak sendiri, sapu terbang, sampai topi seleksi yang menentukan nasibnya.

Di Hogwarts, ada empat asrama yang diperuntukkan bagi setiap anak. Pembagian asrama tidak ditentukan oleh profesor atau guru lainnya tetapi oleh topi seleksi yang dipercaya mampu menelisik kedalaman hati manusia.

Berdasarkan keputusan topi seleksi, Harry ditempatkan di Gryffindor alih-alih Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, atau Slytherin. Ia pun berteman dekat dengan kawan satu asramanya, yaitu Ron Weasley dan Hermione Granger.

Kehidupan sekolah Harry berjalan dengan menyenangkan dan selalu dipenuhi hal-hal baru. Ia juga harus berhadapan dengan Severus Snape, guru yang pilih kasih dan entah mengapa menaruh kebencian terhadap dirinya.

Suatu hari, Harry menyadari eksistensi batu bertuah dan menerima informasi bahwa batu yang dapat membuat seseorang memiliki kehidupan abadi itu hendak dicuri oleh seseorang. Si anak lantas langsung mencurigai Snape.

Pada akhirnya, Harry, Ron, dan Hermione bahu-membahu untuk mengambil batu bertuah sebelum dicuri oleh Snape. Akan tetapi, Harry justru dikejutkan sosok jahat sesungguhnya yang sudah mengintainya dari jauh.

Usai menyimak sinopsis singkatnya, lanjut ke pembahasan berikutnya, yuk!

Baca Juga: Sinopsis dan Review Buku Laut Bercerita

Buku yang diterbitkan untuk pertama kalinya pada tahun 1997 ini dianggap sebagai karya debut yang jenius meskipun sebelumnya, J. K. Rowling sempat mengalami berbagai penolakan dari pihak penerbit.

Daya tarik utama novel Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone tentu saja adalah idenya. Sebuah sekolah sihir dengan sistem, ajaran, murid-murid, dan peta yang begitu impresif rasanya terlalu nyata untuk menjadi fiksi.

J. K. Rowling berhasil menggambarkan dunia Hogwarts dengan jelas dan detail sehingga pembaca dapat mengembangkan imajinasinya dengan baik. Penamaan karakter, kegiatan, dan tempat di dalam novel juga patut diacungi jempol.

Perihal alur, pembaca pasti setuju bahwa novel yang sudah diangkat ke layar lebar pada tahun 2001 ini menyajikan jalan cerita yang mendebarkan meskipun di awal, penulis lebih banyak mendeskripsikan kehidupan Harry selaku tokoh utama.

Penjelasan yang disematkan di setiap bagian tidak terasa berlebihan, perpindahan peristiwa tidak terkesan terburu-buru atau jumpy , dan pembaca nyaris tidak menemukan plot hole yang terlampau membingungkan.

Tak hanya itu, karakter yang dihadirkan di dalam novel juga sukses menjalankan perannya masing-masing. Harry sebagai tokoh utama mendapat spotlight yang proporsional dan tokoh lainnya pun punya pengaruh yang tak bisa dihilangkan.

Secara keseluruhan, novel Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone sangat worth to read dan benar-benar mampu membangkitkan rasa penasaran serta imajinasi. Novel ini sangat cocok dijadikan pembuka petualangan Harry dan kawan-kawan.

Baca Juga: Sinopsis dan Review Novel Keajaiban Toko Kelontong Namiya

Itu dia sinopsis dan review Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone . Semoga bermanfaat! Kalau kamu penasaran dengan review novel Harry Potter lainnya, kamu bisa mengecek konten yang diunggah pada book content creator di media sosial.

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