Books

Harry Potter Prequel Waterstone's Bookseller, part of Bloomberg, requested that J K Rowling submit a short story to their "contest" which would benefit charity. She submitted this Harry Potter Prequel, a few paragraphs from her planned but not yet begun story of events leading up to the Harry - Hogwarts saga. Telling a story of James Potter and Sirius Black, and in her own handwriting, the two page story was won by a ghost bidder for 25,000 Pounds ($48,855 US). Philosopher's Stone / Sorcerer's StoneBook: One
Chapt: 17
Words: 76,944
Pub: UK: Jul 1997; US: Sep 1998
Harry learns that he is, in fact, a wizard and how his parents were actually killed. The ranks of "friends" and "foes" are established and Harry meets the "form" of the murderer of his parents while rescuing the "Philosopher's Stone." Chamber of Secrets Book: Two
Chapt: 18
Words: 85,141
Pub: UK: Jul 1998; US: Jul 1999
Harry unexpectedly stumbles across a vital secret of Voldemorts when he solves a Hogwarts mystery that even Dumbledore has been unable to solve. He is told how Voldemort can be vanquished, and continues to make valuable friends and acquaintances. Prisoner of Azkaban Book: Three
Chapt: 22
Words: 107,253
Pub: UK: July 1999; US: Oct 1999
Harry learns that he's not completely "alone" in the world, how Voldemort found his parents when they were protected by a "secret keeper" enchantment and meets friends of his parents. A convict, escaped from Azkaban, enters Hogwarts and a "servant" of Voledmort returns to him. Goblet of Fire Book: Four
Chapt: 37
Words: 190,637
Pub: Jul 2000
A prisoner in Azkaban escapes and becomes a teacher at Hogwarts. Harry wins the wizarding competition for the Tri-Wizard Cup but witnesses Voldemort's return before he escapes from the Little Hangleton cemetery. Order of Phoenix Book: Five
Chapt: 38
Words: 257,045
Pub: July, 2003
Harry is the target of attempted murder, heightened abuse from Fudge and the new DADA instructor, ostracism from Dumbledore and possession by Voldemort. A mentor dies and he learns why Voldemort attempted to kill him. Half-Blood Prince Book: Six
Chapt: 30
Words: 168,923
Pub: 16 July 2005
Harry learns more than he wanted to know about Voldemort's history including why he didn't die when his Avarda curse rebounded. Another mentor dies and Harry's life's "agenda" is elucidated. Hogwarts, however, is rid of Snape as a teacher. Deathly Hallows Book: Seven
Chapt: 37
Words: 197,651
Pub: 21 July 2007
Completing faithfully the tasks that his deceased mentor Albus Dumbledore gave him, Harry not only learned of his famous lineage but matured into the type of person who, like his mother, could willingly put other's need's before his own. Cursed Child (new)Book: Eight
Parts: 2; Acts: 4
Scenes: 75
Pub: Jul 2016
Written as a screenplay by Rowling, John Tiffany and Jack Thorne and takes up where book 7 leaves off but wanders all over the place through "time" giving new material and characters but further insite/clarification to previous material as well. Beedle the BardBook: Beedle
Chapt: 12
Words:
Pub: Dec 2008
Written/compiled by Beedle in the 15th century, this new translation from the original runes by Hermione Granger contains recently discovered annotations and comments by Albus Dumbledore with notes and illustrations by JK Rowling.

SCARPhelps

How to do a book report This site is so extensive that a little help may be necessary in order to be able to use it to the fullest extent. "Preview" of Book Seven (Answered)JKR said that she would close a lot of the loose ends or unanswered questions from previous books in book seven. We "helped" her a bit by listing what they were and predicting what the answers might be. See how we did! All of our questions and predictions have now been annotated with the answers Deathly Hallows gave. The "Hero's Journey" Literary Form There are stories that you enjoy for a while, and then STORIES that you remember for your whole life. What is the difference? What makes the stories of Arthur, Aslan, Luke, Frodo and Harry, so intensly memorable that they come back for several generations in several forms? An American professor, Joseph John Campbell, gave us the answer, and amazingly the "outline" of the complete Harry Potter series of books. Other Harry Potter links A collection of "pre-evaluated" Harry Potter web sites emphasizing refrences to the books.

Cursed Child (new)

At least the advertisements call this "book 8" in the Harry Potter saga even if much of the fan base doesn't see it that way. It is a screenplay written for the stage and not at all the full and rich tapestry of the wizarding world we've been accustomed to. Action does begin at Kings Cross station just at the same time book 7 ends. But then it winds dizzingly around through time, past and future, with convoluted flash-backs and a new plot; to become, at once, a difficult to follow and dark book, as well as a tantalizing refresher of Potter-world which can still bring a lump to your throat. Through the eyes of Harry's son, Albus Severus, we witness what the world would have been like had Harry failed to kill Voldemort; and then agonize with him as he finds that "saving the wizarding world" still didn't teach his dad the parenting skills necessary to fight the everyday battles with his children.

Tales of Beedle the Bard

In addition to the Peverell brothers meet Asha, Altheda, Amata and Babbitty Rabbitty in the Tales of Beedle the Bard. Written by Beedle in the 15th century, this new translation from the original runes by Hermione Granger contains recently discovered annotations and comments by Albus Dumbledore with notes and illustrations by JK Rowling.

Harry Potter - Prequel (excerpt)

Submitted as a short-story entry to a contest, JK Rowling penned an excerpt to the "Harry Potter Prequel" that she is "Not Writing." James and Sirius, riding their motorcycle, use a befuddled pair of policemen to elude some pursuing evil-doers riding brooms.

Deathly Hallows

Harry Potter, having recieved his assignment from his now deceased mentor, Albus Dumbldore, undertakes the task of finding and destroying four more Horcruxes in which Voldemort has stored fragments of his torn soul for safe-keeping. Hermione and Ron accompany him on the quest throughout the British Isles, each adding their own particular personalities and skills. The dangers range from the Dragon's of Gringott's vaults, to increasingly tyranical laws, to burgeoning numbers of Death Eaters and to the explosively more volatile temprament of Voldemort. Just as the weak and morally bankrupt add to Volemort's minions, the brave and true seem to come from everywhere to assist in Harry's quest - many giving their lives. Yet another set of magical objects, the Deathly Hallows, only temporarily deflect Harry's path; but, allow him to mature into an individual who, like his mother, would make the ultimate sacrifice - for the greater good. The prophecy that "neither can live while the other survives" is fulfilled; but, only after finding that many things, and people, are not what they seem, to either Voldemort or Harry, and in ways that both "knew not."

Half-Blood Prince

Dumbledore's personal retrieval of Harry from the Dursley's this year, marked the beginning of a significant change in their relationship. As USUAL, no one, including Ron and Hermione, believed Harry's intuition that Draco Malfoy was attempting to follow in his father's footsteps as a Death Eater; nor, understood his obsession with what Draco was secretly attempting to do. But, UNUSUALLY, Dumbledore began "private lessons" to tell Harry "the whole story," especially about Voldemort's greatest secret: that he had made vessels to contain split off portions of his soul (Horcruxes), in order to obtain "immortality." Using collected memories, and his Pensieve, Dumbledore revealed many interested things about Tom Riddle. Harry's sleuthing revealed Draco's plan, and even where he was working; but, the location of a third Horcrux was found and needed retrieving before dealing with Draco. Nearly impenetrable barriers necessitated Harry to reluctantly hurt Dumbledore. Despite Inferi they suceeded in escaping with the locket, but found Hogwarts had been penetrated by Death Eaters in their absence. Draco's assignment was revealed: to kill Dumbledore; but, he was dissuaded by Dumbledore's usual kindness and logic, until Snape burst on the scene and completed the deed. Harry's attempts to retaliate were completely inadequate; and, because new minister Scrimgeour was basically just a "clone" of Fudge, Harry realized that HE, only, could find and destroy the remaining Horcruxes — then face Voldemort.

Order of the Phoenix

Harry Potter actually lives through the subjugation of a people into tyranny; something that most of the current generation have only read about. Unfortunately, his tendency toward discounting adults as allies, actually heightens his pain and difficulties as Dumbledore, for undisclosed reasons of his own, began avoiding Harry — even making eye-contact. Yet another Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher was appointed, this time by an interfering Minister of Magic; but, unlike in previous years, readers weren't expected to guess what the teacher "really" was. Delores Umbridge was known to be evil from the start. The only question was: just how evil could she get. The weak and incompetent Cornelius Fudge had help that, "he knew not," in his frantic battle to retain power; all the while, simultaneously trying to convince everyone that it was "really" Dumbledore and Harry who were evil. Like it happens in real life, student's liberties and freedom's were gradually lost and anyone who opposed were quashed. The subsequent resistance movement, Dumbledore's Army, solidified Harry's supporters as well, from the most unlikely of places. Characters and places we've only here-to-fore heard about, actually make their appearance — for good and evil. Harry learns how he fits into a "prophecy" made about Voldemort and witnesses Dumbledore do actual battle. The enigma: just what does Trelawney's prophecy, "Neither can live while the other survives," REALLY mean; and what is Harry's "power that Voldemort knows not?"

Goblet of Fire

Harry's life never avoided athletics or competition, after all he grew up intimately participating in "Dudley's favorite sport: Harry hunting"; but, this year it grew to nearly take over everything else. Being invited to share in the Weasley's trip to the World Quidditch Cup, and to sit in the "top box" no less, is every wizard boy's dream! And being drafted as the youngest participant ever in the Tri-Wizard Tournament, was "to die for." The "dreams-come-true," however, became "irreversable nightmares" — Voldemort has a way of doing that. Pretty much everyone Harry knew as evil remained so, and then some. The Dursley's, Snape, Malfoy and Voldemort have never been very friendly. And certainly Hogwarts has never been a complete sanctuary for Harry; but … really … I mean …! Hogwart's lack of safety led to the capture of Harry by the one person who could do him the most harm, the most deadly game of "Harry Hunting" he'd ever played, betrayal by someone whose life he'd actually saved, and … the unthinkable! New characters are introduced — and killed. New places, new creatures and new situations are met; old "friends" re-met; and new skills, challenges and duties learned. The greatest, and very, very real, question has now become: "Will they be enough?"

Prisoner of Azkaban

Chamber of Secrets

Philosopher's Stone / Sorcerer's Stone