Book Reviews 2003
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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
J.K. Rowling

This is the fifth installment in this seven book series about a teenage boy named Harry Potter. Harry received a letter in the first book inviting him to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He was eleven then. Now, he’s made new friends and looks forward to coming to Hogwarts each year.

In his fifth year, Harry is fifteen and those teenage hormones are starting to kick in. Harry is grumpier and gets angry very easily. His friends say one thing as a joke, and he takes it seriously. There is a new Defense against the Dark Arts teacher. It’s a woman and her name is Professor Umbridge. She absolutely loathes Harry. Between her and the usual Snape, Harry is having a tough time this year.

This book is the darkest one yet, but the excitement and adventure is still there. Harry will face new, more difficult challenges that he is unsure he can overcome. Someone close to Harry will perish in the few sad concluding chapters. This strikes him hard, but Harry knows he has to go on. His courage and cleverness is what makes these books wonderful.

 Christine, Grade 9