Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – J.K. Rowling (Review and #HPBlogateers)

Title: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Harry Potter #1)
Author: J.K. Rowling (as if you didn’t know!)
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books, 2001 (Reprint)
Genre: YA Fantasy, MG Fantasy

This review can be found on my Blog, TeacherofYA’s Tumblr, or my Goodreads page

This read was done with Megan @ bookslayerreads, Jasmine @ howusefulitis, Jodie @ forthenovellovers, Sammi @ onebookishgirl and Tiff from Tiffthebooknerd! We together have formed…THE #HPBLOGATEERS!

We plan on doing a feature where we read each book from the series, spotlight one of our team members, and ask that team member questions! It’s been great and we are moving on to book two today!

My Review:

I was fortunate enough to find a used copy at my local used bookstore and I nabbed it for $1.95 for the read. It may not be pretty, but it’s mine! All mine! For a poor girl, this is a good thing, lol!

Do I really need to recap what Harry Potter is about? I’m pretty sure every book blogger in THE WORLD has read this book!

Well…in case you haven’t, and you’ve lived under a rock all these years, or saw the movie awhile ago, OR you refuse to read it because you think, “Oh, everyone has read it so I’m going to rebel and NOT read it,” here’s my blurb…

And this boy lived in a closet under the stairs. Harry was orphaned and delivered as a baby to his mother’s family. Unbeknownst to young Harry, he is a wizard (cool, right?) and though strange things happen that he can’t explain, he is blindsided when a letter from Hogwart’s School of Witchcraft & Wizardry appears addressed to him.

After, of course, his foster family avoids the attempts at delivery…

Hagrid, a large excommunicated wizard, brings Harry to buy supplies and he tries to comes to terms with the fact that not only is he a wizard, but a famous one in the wizarding world as well.

When he attempts to get to Hogwarts, all on his own, he makes a friend in Ronald Weasley, the youngest in his family and also a new kid to the school. Harry realizes that there are so many people that have been brought up knowing all about magic…and he’s a little behind. But Ron at his side, he’s helped along on this new journey.

Once Harry arrives, he gets sorted into his “house,” a group of four houses that make up the school: Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin.

Harry gets put into Gryffindor, along with Ron and a nuisance girl, Hermione, who’s a bit of a know-it-all. Soon Harry realizes that there are things in this magical world that shouldn’t be messed with. Maybe it can be fun to learn transfiguration, but when you suspect a teacher of ill will, then homework tends to take a backseat.

Especially because of “You-know-who,” the wizard that killed Harry’s parents and gave him his wicked aweomse lightning shaped scar.

When they realize someone is after the Sorcerer’s Stone, they must act…because no one will believe them…and so they risk the trouble to take on powers stronger than theirs…in hope of saving Hogwarts and the lives of all wizards and Muggles (non-magic people) alike…

Is It Classroom-Appropriate?

Not only is this book classroom-appropriate, it has already been used in the classroom! Kids watch the movie, read the book, and get to do fun activities that are centered on magic and wizardry. When the book first came out back in 1997, there was a heavy backlash because some groups feared the magic aspect was demonic. I can understand the concern, but this book is all light and fun, and it is an imaginative story filled with wonder and great world building. J.K.Rowling really created a whole complex system when she wrote this book (and series), and it has inspired a whole new generation of readers! Anything that inspires young reading is a plus in my book. Lesson plans are easily found online or can be make with the help of discussion questions posted on the site.

Age Range:

This book is more “middle grade” because Harry is 10 when the book starts…but this book is enjoyed by young and old readers alike. I cannot stress that enough. Lexile.com rates it at 880L, but also recommends it for ages 9-17! That is one of the largest age ranges I have seen on Lexile. What does this mean? While the reading level can be comprehended at a young age, it still holds appeal and is complex enough for older readers to enjoy without getting bored. If your child fits in this age range, it should be a prerequisite to have them read this book: it’s that enjoyable for all groups.

**Now, before the End Result, I would like to introduce to you this book’s Spotlight reader: the one who came up with the idea to form a reading group for Harry Potter…I just came up with the name #HPBlogateers. So here is Tiffany from Tiffthebooknerd!**

We asked Tiffany a question each, and she answered each one! So let’s showcase our Spotlight reader, Tiffany!

ME: If you could pick any sweet from the cart on the train, what would it be and why?

“I would choose the chocolate frogs as my favorite sweet is chocolate and I like the feeling of being able to collect the cards which each sweet you have.” (I would too! Lol)

SAMMI: Who is your favorite bad guy in the book and why?

“I would have to choose Professor Snape as even though he appears evil at the beginning he is only trying to help harry at times and theres meaning to why he’s like he is not like the others.”

JASMINE: Did you enjoy the book more rereading it or reading it for the first time and why?

“I enjoyed the book rereading it more as its like meeting up with an old friend and jumping into their world all other again and I discover things that I have missed or forgotten every time I venture into it agian. This time as I said I was reading the illustrated version so it also felt like I was reading it for the first time again as it had the pictures to enjoy as well.”

JODIE: Who is your favorite character and why?

“Hermione is my favorite character as shes reminds me of myself alot as we both have very busy and messy hair which is hard to tame and we both are bookworms who like to try their best at school and stay out of trouble if they can. The fact that she also has a select few friends is very similar to myself aswell. This is why shes my favorite character as i connect to her very easily.”

MEGAN: If you could take one First Year course at Hogwarts, what would you pick? (Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, Charms, Potions, Herbology, History of Magic, or Astronomy?)

“I would probably either take charms as I find spell work fasinating or Astronomy to be able to learn the different planets and moon cycles, etc.”
And that’s it, guys! Please follow our adventure through the Harry Potter series…Chamber of Secrets is up next…who will the next Spotlight reader be?? Pleas check out my fellow bloggerinos and their reviews! I’m sure they would love some HP love as well!

I leave you with…

End Result:

Really, do you have to ask? I’m not even going to beat around the bush with this one. I give Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone ★★★★★! Or…

Maybe next time I’ll make a Harry Potter exclusive POP rating system…just for this series? What do you guys think? I could use HP Pops instead of my Rainbow Brite ones…just for this read? Hmmm…idea is forming!