Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (Book 1) - J.K. Rowling

Sets the scene well

...and is undoubtably well-described, but the actual storyline wasn't quite as exciting as everyone said it would be. Still, I will be reading the next one!

From a Primary Teacher's perspective

The first in the collection explores a typical plot of an orphan boy who is badly treated by his uncle and auntie, and is suddenly offered a place at Hogwarts, the school for young and aspiring wizards and witches. From the moment young Harry meets Hagrid, the friendly half-giant and groundkeeper of the school, the realm of the magical and mysterious unravels before him, gradually revealing the true past of his dead parents.

Clearly the most predictable choice of all books due to the worldwide interest the series has received, few pupils nowadays would not be able to describe an event, character or plot from Harry Potter. This in itself can be used to create further interest in reading and a whole manner of cross-curricular activities.

Film adaptations have been equally as successful as the books, so there are many avenues in which the teacher can lead them into reading. Ideally this read is for Years 5 & 6, but because of the sheer level of interest it could be argued that Year 2 onwards would be keen to hear readings and therefore give them a clear goal to head towards. And as there are so many facets to the Harry Potter phenomenon as well as a deep passion expressed by many children from across the world, it wouldn't be hard to harness the interest of this book and use it to propel a particular lesson. With links to English, Maths, Science, PE, RE, PSHE and school ethics (i.e. house points and community issues), the opportunity to use Rowling's work as a springboard is endless and is therefore inescapably a must-read for any teacher.

An excellent start to a fantastic series!

I remember the moment back in 2001 when one of my friends thrust Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone into my hands and ordered me to read. I'd already been vaguely curious about the series before, what with all the hype surrounding Goblet of Fire, which had been released the previous year. The minute the book was put into my hands during a lunch break at college, I began to read. After that, I couldn't put it down. My form tutor rolled his eyes when he caught a glimpse of what I was reading - obviously he'd failed to be driven into all the hype surrounding Harry Potter - but I ignored his sniggering and carried on, and i'm very glad I did!

I was 17 when I started reading the books, around the same age as Harry was by the end of the series. His experiences in this book brought back all the memories of school, such as the daunting experience of the first day at secondary school, making friends, been forced to put up with teachers we hate, having enjoyable lessons with our favourite teachers and so on. That, coupled with all the magical elements of the book made it a fantastic read for me. The characters are beautifully written and the plot is wonderful. Harry's thoughts and feelings towards his new life at Hogwarts and the loss of his parents are very well written. The Mirror of Erised chapter is particularly moving.

Harry potter and the Philosopher's Stone is the perfect read for adults and children alike. There's the magical elements for the younger readers and the memories of life at a boarding school for the older audience! (I loved the school part, even though I was only 17 when I started the series so had only just left school!).

Overall, a great start to the series. The characters are well developed and the plot is exciting, moving and enthralling. If you haven't started the Harry potter series by now then now is the time to do so!

Wow!

I saw the movie before I read the book and I totally regret it. But the book was amazing and I don't get how some people don't like "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone." And I can't wait till I get the second in the series. (And if you've seen the movies, start reading the books now before more movies come out).

A magical book for all ages

I first read this enchanting novel nearly a decade ago, and throughout this time 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone' has consistently lived up to its reputation as a magical, exciting work of fiction for readers of all ages. The character of Harry Potter is developed on a scale appropriate for the younger reader, although the twist-and-turn-full plot will leave any aged reader waiting for the next chapter, and indeed the next book. Recommended.