J.K Rowling’s fifth installment of the highly celebrated fantasy series, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix takes the story of “the boy who lived” to an all new depth, in a year filled with death, triumph, and change. In a world of witches, wizards, and elves, Harry finds himself fighting to prove that the evil Lord Voldemort has returned from death and is planning his rise back to power.
While Harry gives a vivid account of seeing Voldemort transform from a small creature into a snake-like man, the other wizards refuse to believe that such danger is in the horizon. With the support of very few, who call themselves the Order of the Phoenix, Harry struggles to raise his voice higher than those of wizards trying to make him out to be a delusional drama queen. Not only does Harry have evil and oblivious wizards to deal with, but for the first time ever, he has to deal with the struggles of being a normal teenager.
Rowling delivers a story so compelling and life-like, the reader is forced to read cover to cover without pause. In a series filled with magical beasts, feasts, and struggles, the reader may be surprised to find Harry faced with girls, built up anger, and patronizing adults. Harry Potter fans are not used to seeing Harry as a real boy, so when he is forced to deal with ordinary teenage problems, I believe fans of the series will be delighted to find that they have a lot more in common with “the boy who lived” than they thought. Also new to the series, Harry finally finds himself with a parent-like figure, Sirius Black, who plays a big part in keeping Harry sane and hopeful, in his struggle to learn Occlumency, which will allow him to keep his mind separate from Voldemort’s.
Keeping the advice “save the best for last” in mind, Rowling keeps the thrilling battle subjective to the last few pages, where a beloved character departs for good, and the fight between good and evil becomes as intense as ever. Throughout the story Harry finds himself making close friends, and risky decisions. Many characters are growing up, and doing things that weren’t possible in the other four books. The book also takes a turn for the different when Hogwarts is not the only wizarding place the reader gets to visit. From places like St. Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries to the Ministry of Magic, Harry Potter branches out into a world of danger and unknown, in which none of the other books have ever seen.
Reviewed by BHS student M. Stuenkel
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