Harry Potter and the Decade of Magic

Although I own and enjoy a wide variety of book genres, one particular group reigns supreme in my collection: fantasy. If books take me to another world, then fantasy novels take me to another dimension. While not everyone may agree with that sentiment, I think anyone who loves books can understand the joy found in pushing the endless boundaries of the imagination. For me, fantasy has always fed that desire. So, what better way to begin this journey than with one of the most consuming fantasy franchises of my generation?

Harry Potter is practically a household name nowadays. If you haven't heard it, you've either been living under a rock for the past ten years or you're too old to realize that your grandchild's favorite "hairy potter" isn't someone who crafts things out of clay. I was fortunate enough know about Harry Potter right when it began. I received Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (the first book in the series) when I was eleven, and the subsequent novels were each released when I was about the same age as the main characters. This unique experience allowed me to see the events of the novels through the same eyes as Harry, Ron, Hermione, and friends.

For you rock-dwellers, here's a basic synopsis of the seven-book series that spurned an entire fandom of Harry Potter lovers. The books, written by J.K. Rowling, focus on an orphan named Harry Potter who learns that he is a wizard. Harry discovers that there are two worlds, magical and muggle (non-magical). Soon, he leaves home to attend a wizard boarding school named Hogwarts, where students are taught magical skills. During the ages of eleven through seventeen, magical children attend school; each book in the series  documents one of these years in Harry's life.

There is one reason Harry is so special in this new magical world: he survived a deadly curse, cast by the deadliest wizard in the world, Lord Voldemort. This evil wizard creates most of the major conflict throughout the novels, in his attempt to fix his mistake and kill Harry once and for all (as well as take over the entire world). As Harry, his two best friends (Ron and Hermione), and countless others battle with school, dark magical forces, and just growing up, Harry also has to deal with the revelation that it is his destiny to kill Voldemort, since Harry is The Boy Who Lived.

Now, some of you may be rolling your eyes by now. And I admit, this watered-down version of the plot sounds like a typical, predictable movie I could find at the local dollar theatre every couple of months. But Harry Potter paved the way for young adult novels in more ways than one. To start, these are full length novels - the longest is 870 pages. I know many adults who wouldn't bother with such a lengthy book. As a future teacher, I applaud any author that can convince an adolescent to read a book that long and enjoy doing it! Also, contrary to the simple summary I just provided, the books are exceptionally intricate; the plot is woven into every detail of the novels. There are more characters with recurring roles in the story whom Rowling makes you care about and relate to than I could count on all of my fingers and toes. Plus, the story is just so incredibly interesting, with new terms, new people, new ideas...

In short, the Harry Potter series created a magical world with which we could relate. And when I say we, I am including adults. One of the primary reasons that I believe this series has become so loved, aside from the outstanding writing, is how relatable it is. The main characters are school-aged, but the troubles that plague them are not age-restricted. Also, Rowling does not insult the intelligence of adolescents by watering down anything in the novels. If I had just now picked up a Harry Potter book for the first time, I may not relate to it in the same way, but I can guarantee it would win my heart with both literary merit and a captivating story.

Over the years my favorite book in the series has changed a few times. For a long while, it was Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, fourth in the series. That changed both when the sixth book (Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince) was published, and when the release of the fourth film sort of ruined it for me - this just proves once more that the books are alwaysbetter than the movie adaptations! But after a trip to London in 2009, during which I was able to acquire the entire series in their original form, I once again fell in love with the book that started it all, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

I have a lot of personal ties to these books, and J.K. Rowling will always be one of my top five favorite authors. But, I feel I must stress that it is not the books alone that have carried me on this journey. I will say this again and again: books are more than just a story, they are an experience. Becoming a part of the character's lives, interacting with others who are passionate about the same book, feeling the need to be a part of something as big as what you've just read - these are the things that keep drawing us back for more, the reason why reading is an addiction that cannot be quenched. 

Harry Potter's life was an avenue that took me through a new world. But the road does not end there. It only ends when we stop finding joy in the possibilities. The "what ifs" in life keep us from running out of steam and books offer us an endless number of roads to take to find out what would happen if... Don't let life stop you from taking the time to explore your mind and find hope in the potential of something. It's what keeps us young.

What books have had an impact on your life?