Harry P. and Me

I read my first Harry Potter book about three years ago, I think. I was at my niece's house and borrowed the first two books from her. I borrowed two more from a friend at school, then bought the other two for myself (and sold them on E-Bay for just about what I paid for them). I had heard a lot about the books, and as a middle school teacher, I've always prided myself on keeping up with what my students find interesting. I've also been a voracious reader since childhood, and the idea of a continuing series appealed to the secret soap opera fan in me.

I watched the first three movies all at once (again, from the collection of my niece), and the fourth when it was released on DVD. I haven't yet seen movie #5; don't know if I'll venture to the theater or wait for the DVD.

I am a Christian, and was--thankfully--brought up in a Christian home with wonderful parents. My mother seldom censored my reading material, but she did censor my television viewing. I think she had a good idea about what I read, since she was with me when we went to the public library or to the used book store, but she never said much about it.

When the Harry Potter furor first started, there was a blurb on the local news announcing an interview with someone from the Watchman Fellowship (do a Google search if you want more information). I decided to make it a point to watch, and it turned out to be with a man with whom I had gone to college. He made some excellent points, and I try to use those same points when I am talking about Harry and his friends. My friend pointed out that if we ban the Harry Potter books, we should probably also ban the J.R.R. Tolkien books and the Chronicles of Narnia series written by C.S. Lewis. J.R.R. Tolkien was a devout Christian, and influenced C.S. Lewis in his conversion to Christianity. My friend said that parents should be aware of what their children are reading, and be sure that children understand the difference between fantasy and reality.

I have now read all seven of the books, and have enjoyed them all. As an educator, I know the importance of reading to a student's success, and if the Harry Potter series has encouraged a reluctant reader to take up the habit, then J.K. Rowling has done a good deed. In fact, she mentioned in her interview with Meredith Viera that one of her greatest rewards was being able to encourage reading.

If you are a parent and unsure about Harry and his friends, then please read the books before you make a final decision. You know your child, and you have shared your beliefs and values with him/her. Read the books aloud; talk about the books; use them as an opportunity to develop reading comprehension and vocabulary skills. As many others have commented, Harry's success depends on good choices, not on magic. Use the books to talk about choices, about love, about loyalty, and even the benefits of developing a good imagination (look at how much money it's made for Ms. Rowling!)!