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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

(2003, Fiction - Fantasy, Written by J. K. Rowling, Illustrated by Mary Grandpré)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 8, age appropriate for kids over 10; suggested age 10.
  • Is it any good?

    5.0
  • Common Sense says

    Rowling mixes up a potent and volatile brew.

updated 07.04.08

Why We Rated This on for Ages 10 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Aside from the usual rule-breaking, Harry, driven by anger, often behaves badly toward his unusually patient friends. Friendship, love, bravery, and loyalty are always major themes in the series. Strong female characters.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence :

    Lots, including some gore, and the death of a major character. Teens fight adults who threaten their lives. Harry is tortured until he is writhing in pain. A teacher oversees cruel punishments for misbehavior, drawing some blood. A character is brutally attacked by a snake. Neville's parents are shown as insane after being tortured years before.
  • Sex :

    A kiss, not described.
  • Language:

    Rare, mild.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Several references to drunkenness, a scene with children in a bar, where it is implied the shady bartender might be willing to serve them alcohol.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Parents need to know that though there is a high level of violence and emotional upset, the morality and boost to reading ability more than balance them out. A group of teens fights adults who want to kill them and a major character dies. Harry is tortured again with a curse that makes him writhe in pain; another character is attacked by a snake. Positive themes of friendship, equality, and loyalty continue to flourish, but Harry develops a short fuse.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about Harry's turbulent and triumphant moments. Why do you think he seems so much angrier in this book? Do you think he treated his friends fairly when he arrived at Grimmauld Place? Why did he agree to let Rita Skeeter tell his story? When the article is banned at school everyone wants to read it -- and does. Can you think of examples of this happening in today's media?
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See all 56 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Kid Reviewer
    Age 10
    Lives in Massachusetts
    I rate this title on for age 9 and give it 5.0

    It is a exiteing but sad story

    I realy liked it. some parts are very depreesing a inportent charater dies

  2. Parent Reviewer
    Anonymous
    Lives in Iowa
    Kids ages: 5, 10, 12, 15
    I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give it 5.0

  3. Kid Reviewer
    Age 10
    Lives in Connecticut
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 4.0

    good read but not the best.

    this book is by far the longest but it is very good. i recomed it.

  4. Teen Reviewer
    Age 14
    Lives in Illinois
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 3.0

    I love the "Harry Potter" series, but not this book. It could have been at least 200 pages shorter, meanders around, introduces pointless characters like Grawp, and so on. The best stuff was Fred and George's antics. Don't get me wrong, it's not terrible, but it's not great either. Grade B- Age recomm: 12+ or younger mature kids.

  5. Teen Reviewer
    Age 14
    Lives in
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    Highly Recommended

    I recommend reading this book, if you can understand this. I don't think there really is a factor of how old you are just, if you can read it. But obviously it is a little too big, and may need more time than you think, but it is really interesting, and will keep you wanting more...

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