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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
- By J. K. Rowling
- Genre: Fantasy
Common Sense Media says
Rowling mixes up a more intense brew in fifth book.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that though there is a high level of violence and emotional upset in this fifth novel in the Harry Potter series, positive lessons and a 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. Harry develops a short fuse and needs help from his friends to work through his anger and frustration. Parents who want to learn more about the series (and spin-off movies and games) can read our Harry Potter by Age and Stage article.
What's the story?
Harry's summer break with the Dursley's is more wretched than usual in HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX, the fifth installment in the most popular book series of all time. Not only are the Dursleys as despicable as ever (though Rowling drops a few intriguing hints that there may be more to Aunt Petunia than meets the eye), but dark forces are reaching out for Harry even in Little Whinging, the drab suburb that had seemed too ordinary for magic.
But when he finally gets back to the wizarding world, Harry finds things aren't much better there: Voldemort is gaining followers; Dumbledore is avoiding Harry; the Daily Prophet has been running articles implying that Harry is publicity crazed and Dumbledore is senile (it seems that even in the wizarding world one defeats one's enemies by discrediting them in the media); Hogwarts is under siege by the Ministry of Magic, which has appointed a High Inquisitor to wrest control of the school from Dumbledore and ensure that the students do not learn any defense against the dark arts; and Hagrid is missing.
Added to these potentially fatal struggles are the stresses of growing up: Harry is a bit older, a bit taller, and a lot angrier; Fifth Year is the time for the first round of testing (Ordinary Wizarding Levels, or O.W.L.s) and career counseling; Harry has his first girlfriend (and first kiss, mercifully not described); and Ron and Hermione have both been appointed prefects (along with Draco Malfoy), but Harry has not.
Is it any good?
J.K. Rowling's characters are aging realistically, not only through obvious devices of moodiness and interest in the opposite sex, but through a graying of the black-and-white world view of the earlier novels. The heroes have notable flaws, and the villains become more human and sympathetic.
Rowling provides a rich emotional subtext that never strays from the believable and realistic. Rowling does what few, if any, in the literary or film worlds seem to be able to accomplish: to create a rip-roaring action/adventure/suspense thriller in which the human elements, character, emotion, motivation, relationships, are more important and believable than the action. And, perhaps equally importantly in a book with a high level of violence, when characters die, their loss has a profound and lasting impact on those left behind. Harry's anger and volatility are becoming as much a liability as his power and courage are assets.
What 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?
For kids who've seen the movie as well, did you like it as much as the book? What was left out that you missed? Were the new characters -- like Luna Lovegood and Tonks -- how you imagined them when you read the book?
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AGE
Interesting, complex, and violent
This was really good. Even though it's 800+ pages long, it's engrossing. However, it's more intense than the previous Harry Potter books; there's violence, some with blood, and a character dies (SPOILER: I was upset when Sirius was killed). A teacher abuses misbehaving students. There is some flirting, and a kiss (it's later describe as being wet). Some language, including h-ll, d-mn, and one use of f-ing (it's spelled like effing). I was annoyed by how moody Harry was for most bit of the book; I knew what he had gone through, but still. This book is great, however, but due to the violence, it's better for the 11/12 age group.
Written on 10.22.11
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AGE
Perfect, that's all!
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is a complicated and compelling novel for mature kids, up to adults! Filled with fantastical battles, and new revelations, and prophecies and angst, this book is easy to enjoy and get immersed into! READ IT!
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AGE
Harry Potter and the Book was Better than the Movie
I absolutely love these books. I wonder who else is trying to read them all before the last movie comes out? Well, anyway, I absolutely LOVED this book. Books by J.K. Rowling seemed to get better with every sequel. Harry and Dumbledore are thought of as crazy buffoons that say that You-Know-Who has returned, and the book makes it so realistic and reasonable for people wanting to believe he isn't. Sure, there are some scenes in the book that can be graphic if imagined to the fullest extent, but it's a very good book and I highly suggest you read it. It's MUCH better than the movie because in the movies, they only include a little of what's in the book, but they usually leave out things that were very important to the plot, such as Winky, who was left out of the movie of "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire", and she was a VERY important character in the book! You MUST read this!
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AGE
Spoiler Alert for the fourth book, don't read this review if you haven't read the 4th one yet!
It's Harry Potter, not much I can say. This time around, Harry is still dealing with the death of Cedric from book 4, and Dumbledore, and Harry are being read as liars, Voldamort can't be back, according to the MInister of Magic, and many more things are playing in Harry's mind, including the fact that Voldamort might have a connection to the boy who lived's mind. Dark, and intense, this novel includes death, torture, love, friendship, and just the problems of being a teen- age boy. This novel's violence is intense, and causes a major character's death. This novel is long, but the funny jokes, great acts of rebellion, and just plain spirit makes this for a good quick read. The book itself is nearly fifty pages off from being 900 pages. (That's very long!) KIds are in constant peril from adults, but it's for a good cause. We learn a great deal about Harry, and his connection with Dumbledore, and the sex includes jokes, flirting, a kiss (only described, no actual sex.) The kids sit at a bar, but don't drink anything but Butter beer, who knows if it as achiol in it. If you are a fan of the books, you will read this quickly and with out delay, enjoy!
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AGE
Great for all ages!
Amazing book, One of my Favorites. Some Violence. there is one death. There is Mild Language. other than that AWESOME!
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AGE
a nice book review.
a good book for your avid readers parents.
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| Topics: | magic and fantasy |
| Author: | J. K. Rowling |
| Illustrator: | Mary Grandpre |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Fantasy |
| Publisher: | Scholastic Inc. |
| Publication date: | June 21, 2003 |
| Number of pages: | 870 |
| Hardcover price: | $29.99 |
| Paperback price: | $8.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 9 - 12 |
| Read aloud: | 9 |
| Read alone: | 10 |
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