COLLEGE STATION - Move over Siegfried and Roy. The real magical powers these days belong to Harry Potter, at least when it comes to capturing kids' interest.
The book has stirred renewed interest in reading among all ages that few others ever have, but has especially captivated children, says a Texas A&M University education professor who will incorporate the Harry Potter series into her courses this fall.
The newest Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, will be released at 12:01 a.m. Saturday (July 8) and it's already a best seller, with more than 5 million copies ordered in the United States and Great Britain.
The book has lured children away from television and video games and has gotten them interested in reading, and for that it gets an "A plus," believes Dr. Donna Norton, professor of children's literature at Texas A&M.
"It's rare to see a book that appeals to all ages, but the Harry Potter series has kids reading again, and that's magical in itself," says Norton, who admits she is one of Harry Potter's biggest fans.
Harry Potter is the fictional character created by British author J.K. Rowling. Potter is an orphan who is raised by some cruel relatives, but he discovers that he has magical powers and is a wizard. Friends Ron, who came from a family of witches, and Hermione, a girl who is the brains of the trio, form the nucleus of the series as they battle various types of evil forces.
So what is the appeal to kids?
"It's fantasy at its best," believes Norton.
"Harry is basically an underdog, and the reader is always pulling for him and his friends. He rides a broomstick and does tricks to get out of situations, and he is forced to use his wits.
"The book's message is that you should use the talents you have, you should improve the skills you have to solve problems, and above all else, you should have faith in yourself. All of those things strike a nerve that kids seem to love," Norton adds.
Though the book has been phenomenally well received, it has not been without its critics. The chief criticism deals with the extensive use of witchcraft, spells and supernatural powers.
"Some school districts have tried to get the book banned," Norton notes.
"The idea of kids and witches is not for everyone. But some people fail to realize that it is a fantasy book and pure fiction, that it tries to stir the reader's imagination.
"And it's basically Good vs. Evil, with Harry Potter trying to overcome the forces of evil which are always around us. That's a message throughout all of the Potter books."
Norton says the book is very similar to the J.R. Tolkien books, among them Lord of the Rings. "Tolkien used much the same techniques as Harry Potter and his books were written decades ago," she explains. "Even some of C.S. Lewis' books could be comparable to the Harry Potter series."
Other authors that have similar works include Philip Pullman, Ursula LeGuin, Robin McKinley, Lloyd Alexander and Susan Cooper, Norton says.
Even more amazing is that the newest Harry Potter book checks in at 734 pages. Trying to get kids to read a 734-page book years ago would be a magic trick worthy of smoke and mirrors.
The first three Harry Potter books sold more than 20 million copies and made Rowling, a one-time single mother on welfare living in Scotland, the rage of the publishing world.
"Any book that gets children reading has to be a good book," adds Norton. "If nothing else, the Harry Potter books should be given a great deal of credit for stimulating the imagination and showing kids that reading is fun."
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Contact: Keith Randall at (979) 845-4644 or Donna Norton at (979) 696-4319.
7/07/00
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