As his fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
approaches, 15-year-old Harry Potter is in full-blown adolescence,
complete with regular outbursts of rage, a nearly debilitating crush,
and the blooming of a powerful sense of rebellion. It's been yet
another infuriating and boring summer with the despicable Dursleys,
this time with minimal contact from our hero's non-Muggle friends
from school. Harry is feeling especially edgy at the lack of news
from the magic world, wondering when the freshly revived evil Lord
Voldemort will strike. Returning to Hogwarts will be a relief... or
will it? The fifth book in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series follows
the darkest year yet for our young wizard, who finds himself knocked
down a peg or three after the events of last year. Somehow, over the
summer, gossip (usually traced back to the magic world's newspaper,
the Daily Prophet) has turned Harry's tragic and heroic encounter
with Voldemort at the Triwizard Tournament into an excuse to ridicule
and discount the teen. Even Professor Dumbledore, headmaster of the
school, has come under scrutiny by the Ministry of Magic, which
refuses to officially acknowledge the terrifying truth that Voldemort
is back. Enter a particularly loathsome new character: the toadlike
and simpering ("hem, hem") Dolores Umbridge, senior undersecretary to
the Minister of Magic, who takes over the vacant position of Defense
Against Dark Arts teacher--and in no time manages to become the High
Inquisitor of Hogwarts, as well. Life isn't getting any easier for
Harry Potter. With an overwhelming course load as the fifth years
prepare for their Ordinary Wizarding Levels examinations (O.W.Ls),
devastating changes in the Gryffindor Quidditch team lineup, vivid
dreams about long hallways and closed doors, and increasing pain in
his lightning-shaped scar, Harry's resilience is sorely tested. Harry
Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, more than any of the four
previous novels in the series, is a coming-of-age story. Harry faces
the thorny transition into adulthood, when adult heroes are revealed
to be fallible, and matters that seemed black-and-white suddenly come
out in shades of gray. Gone is the wide-eyed innocent, the whiz kid
of Sorcerer's Stone. Here we have an adolescent who's sometimes
sullen, often confused (especially about girls), and always
self-questioning. Confronting death again, as well as a startling
prophecy, Harry ends his year at Hogwarts exhausted and pensive.
Readers, on the other hand, will be energized as they enter yet again
the long waiting period for the next title in the marvelous, magical
series. (Ages 9 and older) --Emilie Coulter
Click on a subject to see other books listed with the same
subject or to drill down into components of the subject -- such as
geographical locations, dates and so on.
We query many merchants so that you can instantly
compare prices and
availability. You can even check historic prices and subscribe
for notifications. For a manual check, clicking on a link will open a
new window with a search for this book on the merchant's site of your
choice.
