I’m not linking directly because it’s a spoiler thread, but from a comment at Making Light:

What impresses me most is that fact that as the characters in the book matured, so did the story and the writing. The first book is clearly written for younger children, and the reading levels progress as the series progresses, until you reach the final books which are written for teenagers/young adults.

The author of the comment goes on to say the following:

As my mom (the elementary school teacher) said, that’s something she’s never seen a children’s book author do before.

Ever.

And she spent years on the West Virginia Children’s Book Award committee.

I think that commenter has it right.  The books get darker and darker, black and white moral positions fade into gray, and it becomes increasingly apparent that wizards are people as well as users of magic.  They’re wonderful books.

I too was drawn into it. 

A friend of a friend works for Scholastic and she actually gave me a copy with the prophesy that it would be huge. (Truer words, eh?)

I read it in an afternoon. It felt a little strange reading a childrens book but I loved every second of it.

Add me to the list who thought they would never read them...but decided a while ago that would be something I would do this winter, start with the first and work my way through them all.  Of course, who knew that we would be having mid October weather now (yesterday Boston area was the coldest in the entire United States AND Canada) and so therefore, I need to get my books lined up as winter is a mere month away...........

Linkmeister, I stopped by your blog after I’d written this—for some reason I’d either forgotten or hadn’t realized you were a Harry Potter fan. I’m glad to know that.

I also followed your link over to the spoiler’s page and found it absolutely fascinating. I don’t mind knowing how it all ends before I read the books. I know how the first five books end already, so it’s okay. There’s a lot of meat on these books’ bones that I haven’t even looked at yet. Once I’ve read the set, I will go back through and read at a slower pace to pick up the things that I’m sailing past on the first reading—especially some of the points raised in that spoilers post. I just can’t stop reading and I’m reading too fast. Just finished book 2.

The lad tells me that book 3 is way better than even the first two books. Looking forward to it!

Steve, I was poking around the Scholastic website last evening. They have quite a Harry Potter section. It’s really neat. I read someplace that Rowling had to peddle her book to several publishers before one would take the chance. Imagine how the ones that declined it must feel now. Heh.

A well-written children’s book appeals across age groups. I think this speaks very well of the Potter series. I’ve been completely drawn in. And I’m looking forward to seeing how the writing matures with the characters.

Cyn, Sunday and yesterday were just awful. By last night I was cold to the bone. Perfect evening to burrow under a thick layer of blankets and get lost in a fantasy world. I don’t do that nearly often enough. What a perfectly delightful evening (night) it was. I’m kind of looking forward to winter already. Don’t remind me I said that when February gets here and I’m hatin’ on it.

I have the newest HP book in my possession. GC! Read it in one sitting, of course, lol. GC2 is reading as I type. I have a book to finish before I pick it up. I have threatened bodily harm to any child that even speaks a word to me about it before I am done lol. Then I will read it aloud to the BC.
I was at the market last night and the woman in front of me started talking about what her son said about it. I had to very nicely ask her to please not talk about it, as I haven’t read it. She said that I was the last straw to break the so called camels back. She was going to read them lol.
They are wonderful stories IMHP. I hope you enjoy your journey as much as we all have Kate!!!
Uhg, now off to feed these rechid children before the eat the book before I get to read it!!!

I’m enjoying it, J.

This evening I snagged the last two books of the series at Walmart. Had to stop there for something and there was a pallet loaded with the newest book in the front of the store. $18.97. I found book 6, too. Now our set is complete.

While there, a little girl (about 3 1/2 yrs old) and her mother were in the book section where I browsed the Potter books. The little girl watched what I was doing for a second and then pulled on her mother’s arm..."Mama, Hawwy Potter. Mama, look. Hawwy Potter.” Even the tiny ones recognize the books.

And I also snagged two pairs of Rider jeans WITHOUT the spandex in them. YAYYYY!!!!

Thats a triple Yayyy! I knew I wasn’t losing it and that I saw some of the jeans you like not too long ago lol.

Kate, that spoilers thread is full of professional writers.  That’s what strikes me about the books; even the pros were enchanted enough to read and absorb them.

egads. I just finished book 3 and am taking a few days away from them. When you start referring to everyday life as the Muggles world, you know it’s time to take a breather. 

Every now and again I stop over at Making Light. It’s an exercise in humility. The people who hang out there are awfully smart people. But yeah, they really like Harry Potter. How cool is that?!

Grins.  I had been reading there for a long time when I suddenly became related by marriage to the proprietors.