Kid's Korner is a new weekly feature here at Once Upon a Series where we will be reviewing children's fiction. Whether you're looking for something to read with your little ones (especially with the school holidays now upon us) or just enjoy this type of fiction yourself, hopefully this feature will help to inspire your reading choices.
Once again, Harry Potter pops in... We're not going to give you another review for Book 1 at Once Upon A Series though. You get the idea, me & Chrissie aren't HPVirgins anymore, right? The whole Harry Potter series is worth a re-read though if you, your children, anyone reading this, have read it before. And if you haven't, why not?
Reminder: For the last Harry Potter, which I reviewed for Kid’s Korner as well, I confessed Harry Potter is kinda new to me, but the movies weren’t. I hadn’t read Harry Potter before but of course I’d heard lots and even watched the first three/four movies. I know I’d definitely got up to Prisoner of Azkaban so I decided to write a poem thing about what I knew about Harry Potter before. You'll see it...
Publisher - Bloomsbury Publishing (original)Publication Date - July 2nd 1998 (original)
Paperback - 341 pages
Genre - Children's Fantasy
Source - Acquired through my brother ;)
Rating - 4 out of 5: I really liked it
Reviewed by - Amy
Book Info - The Dursleys were so mean and hideous that summer that all Harry Potter wanted was to get back to the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. But just as he's packing his bags, Harry receives a warning from a strange, impish creature named Dobby who says that if Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts, disaster will strike.
And strike it does. For in Harry's second year at Hogwarts, fresh torments and horrors arise, including an outrageously stuck-up new professor, Gilderoy Lockheart, a spirit named Moaning Myrtle who haunts the girl's bathroom, and the unwanted attentions of Ron Weasley's younger sister, Ginny.
But each of these seem minor annoyances when the real trouble beings, and someone--or something--starts turning Hogwarts students to stone. Could it be Draco Malfoy, a more poisonous rival than ever? Could it possibly be Hagrid, whose mysterious past is finally told? Or could it be the one everyone at Hogwarts most suspects...Harry Potter himself.
My Harry Potter Poem -
Well I knew who Harry Potter was. You’re a wizard, Harry.
Living with the Dursleys, I knew. Arrived in the night.
Hagrid, Albus Dumbledore and; Minnie Mcgonagall. Professors.
Giants- triple the man Voldermort is,
Or shall I call him He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named?
You-Know-Who. Slytherin.
I knew about that, and have heard of Snape.
There’s snakes and languages wizards sometimes use to communicate,
Speaking to snakes isn’t that normal though-
Should a Gryffindor have that power?
Not a Huffle Puff or a Ravenclaw,
Harry is one of a trio: him, Hermione and Ron-
They go through Hogwarts, year after year.
Death eaters nor Quidditch destroy their friendship.
But- the question is- is there more to Harry Potter?
I believe it must be about more than just those things,
More than just those and a tale of Azkaban to follow, or why is it so popular?
Everlasting hype, is that what made millions recommend it to me?
(No spoilers intended)
My Thoughts-
I was thinking about how to do another fun review for the second Harry Potter book while watching the movie. I was enjoying it but starting thinking about the differences; BAM- I had an idea for a review... Book & Movie, I hope you're OK with that.
Well, we met Voldermort a lot more in this book as now he's kind of stronger, isn't he? My imagination didn't really have change to go wild as having watched (ages ago, don't judge me!) before reading changes things but I think how I'd have imagined lots of it was as it was- there is definitely nothing wrong with the setting portrayal in written form or movie adaptation. Both bring to life a world of imagination... This is something I love authors for doing & when its really successful I kinda feel I don't want to leave Hogwarts. Potterheads, don't worry- we're at Hogwarts in our hearts :D
Anyway, back to the review. If you've read & watched (which please do!), you'll probably notice how inconsistent the drama is in both- I came to appreciate the book's more though as it included it all. The film sometimes took away drama- like when Lucius & Arthur don't fight in the bookshop... How could some of the later things have happened if that didn't help? It would be harder & I don't think it should've been different in the movie. There was no reason to do that & if I'm honest, I liked seeing a Malfoy being beaten to a pulp. I bet that's exactly what Ron wants to do to the Junior Malfoy, isn't it?
I loved how Draco put his finger in a Mandrake's mouth in the film- what an addition to the book that would've been. I nearly cried from laughter... Oh, how I've really come to love Ron too. He grew so much & I feel that really, Hermione ought to like him a lot more now but she's not always very clever... I like how she talks about cleverness & all that, she really is a nice soul (she'd fit in any house besides Slytherin, really). Ron is a Griffindor for a reason, so is his younger sister Ginny. I already knew I adored Ginny...
Anyway, back to the drama. Sometimes there was more drama, like when Harry falls out of the flying car near Hogwarts express... No, that didn't happen! Now I see the issue. Films really don't keep to the books!
Sometimes for reason... I'm going to let you into a little secret here, I hate how in the books everything is often left to the end of the year when they should, or are, doing exams & so forth. Why couldn't really interesting stuff with action happen earlier on the year? In real life, there's always drama and action at school. If a book can't even have a good amount of action all the way through (or enough early on too) I seriously cannot love the book. In the film the earlier bits were sped up, or just plain missed (deathday party for example- I never want to go to one of those FYI), in order for the action to come earlier & engage watchers. It should carry over to books as well. If I hadn't read the first book & found it inventive and intriguing before realizing 'Wait! It's now a few weeks before Summer & something's actually happening!' I don't think I'd have been much interested in the series... It's interesting, of course, you can't deny but there is a little issue in that respect for me.
Summary - So, would I recommend it, I'm just discussing the book now, despite that? Of course! It's a lovely tale of friendship, fantasy & development for a whole range of characters. There's heaps going on at Hogwarts & it's always got mysterious things happening... For a school, it's fun. It's not about who's dating who, it's about what's in the school... And, what can Harry do?
My only regret is, I didn't read these when I was younger & less critical. It's probably fair to say the primary school kids will be blown away & most highschoolers, or adults, find something in the books for them too- will we ever enjoy it as much as the children do? Bless the people who grew up with it & await their Hogwart's letters- I wish I was once one of them...
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