Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

4th Potter has brilliant plotting -- and dragons.

Author: J. K. Rowling Illustrator: Mary Grandpré Pages: 734 Publisher: Scholastic Inc. Published Date: 07/08/2000 Genre: Fiction - Fantasy HC Price: $29.99 Publisher's Recommended Reading Level: 9-12 Read Aloud: 9+ Read Alone: 10+

Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that brilliant plotting and pacing and increasingly rich characterizations will keep kids enthralled for weeks. This pop culture phenomenon will challenge even advanced readers, stretching their imaginations to anticipate the twists. Kids will be quite upset when a teen character dies, and sensitive readers may have trouble with the idea of a hand being severed and Harry's capture and torture. Since the characters are 14, they're starting to notice the opposite sex as well. J.K. Rowling handles this well, with age-appropriate awkward moments asking girls to dances and getting rebuffed for jealous outbursts. This fourth in the series keeps the positive messages of friendship and loyalty going strong.

Families can talk about what they saw coming and what was a complete surprise. Many kids say this book is their favorite in the series -- if so, why? If not, which book wins out? Cheating is rampant among the teachers and judges involved in the Triwizard competition, but not among the competitors. Why do you think this is? Does Ron have a right to be jealous if he didn't ask Hermione to the ball? Do you stand behind Hermione and her SPEW movement or do you think it's a lost cause?

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Matt Berman

The question on everyone's mind: can J. K. Rowling, who has turned the publishing world upside down, pull off a 734-page book for children? The answer: yes.

This author is one of the great masters of plotting. Throughout the incredible length of this novel (the table of contents alone takes five pages!) the pace only flags once, during the Yule Ball. Otherwise this is a page-turner from beginning to end, filled with Rowling's customary plot twists and imaginative play.

Once again the story seems to go in a dozen different directions at first, with many seemingly unrelated characters and events, but hardly a word is wasted. All comes together in a heart-pounding series of climaxes that are breathtaking, brutal, and, at times, moving.

Only Hermione's House-Elf Liberation Front seems to come to nothing, but it seems likely that this is setting up a thematic element for a later book. Meanwhile, Rowling makes some powerful statements about fairness and diversity, the nature of courage, and true friendship.

Children in the 8-10 age range who loved the first three books will find this one tougher going -- not just for its length but also for the convoluted plot, quantities of untranslated British vocabulary, and some horrific and deadly scenes that may concern parents. Older readers will love the satires on politics, the media, and professional sports. And the heroes' entrances into adolescence -- tentative, funny, and very real -- will have readers squirming in sympathy.

From The Book

And then the chair was facing Frank, and he saw what was sitting in it. His walking stick fell to the floor with a clatter. He opened his mouth and let out a scream. He was screaming so loudly that he never heard the words the thing in the chair spoke as it raised a wand. There was a flash of green light, a rushing sound, and Frank Bryce crumpled. He was dead before he hit the floor.

Two hundred miles away, the boy called Harry Potter woke with a start.

Plot Summary:

Though too young at 14, wizard-in-training Harry Potter is mysteriously entered in the dangerous Triwizard Tournament. The long-awaited fourth installment in this historic series justifies every bit of the hype. Despite the book's length, the battle between Harry and his nemesis, the evil Lord Voldemort, keeps readers excitedly plowing on for hours through thrills, complex issues, and a richly imaginative vision.

After attending the Quidditch World Cup, where Voldemort's followers, the Death Eaters, cause a riot, Harry heads to Hogwarts for his fourth year of wizard study. There, Headmaster Dumbledore announces that instead of the usual interhouse Quidditch matches, Hogwarts will host the Triwizard Tournament. This competition between the great wizard schools of Europe has not been held for centuries, because of the high death toll.

The magic Goblet of Fire chooses one champion to represent each school, but somehow Harry is also chosen, even though he is underage and Hogwarts already has a champion. Sirius Black, Harry's godfather, suspects that this is another plot against Harry's life. As Voldemort is returning to his full power, and complex and deadly schemes are in motion, few people are who they seem to be, and even Dumbledore's protection may not be enough to keep Harry safe this time.

The Movies:
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

The Video Games:
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: PC Version
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Harry Potter: Quiddich World Cup

Web Sites:
JKRowling.com
Mugglenet.com

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Content		CS	adults	kids
Content
Sexual Content Not really, but the boys and girls are starting to notice each other in a new way.
Violence Lots, including two (bloodless) murders and a self-mutilation. The murder of one of the teen characters is the most disturbing. Harry is captured and tortured.
Language "Bloody hell," "piss off," and similar light curses.
Message
	Social Behavior Hermione has her teeth reduced to become more attractive, and she campaigns for the rights of house elves. Much on the part of the villains, of course, but also Ron's jealousy of Harry reaches a peak. A couple of off-color jokes. Friendship, love, bravery, and loyalty are always major themes in the series. Plenty of cheating by adults in the tournament, but not as much by the competitors. Characters and multiracial.
	Commercialism
	Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco Madame Maxime's horses only drink single-malt whiskey. Students drink butterbeer -- a magical-world drink with a pinch of alcohol.