Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

Sayyou'vespentthefirst10yearsofyourlifesleepingunderthestairsofafamilywholoathesyou.Then,inanabsurd,magicaltwistoffateyoufindyourselfsurroundedbywizards,acagedsnowyowl,aphoenix-featherwand,andjellybeansthatcomeineveryflavor,includingstrawberry,curry,grass,andsardine.Notonlythat,butyoudiscoverthatyouareawizardyourself!ThisisexactlywhathappenstoyoungHarryPotterinJ.K.Rowling'senchanting,funnydebutnovel,HarryPotterandtheSorcerer'sStone.Inthenonmagichumanworld--theworldof"Muggles"--Harryisanobody,treatedlikedirtbytheauntandunclewhobegrudginglyinheritedhimwhenhisparentswerekilledbytheevilVoldemort.Butintheworldofwizards,small,skinnyHarryisfamousasasurvivorofthewizardwhotriedtokillhim.Heisleftonlywithalightning-boltscaronhisforehead,curiouslyrefinedsensibilities,andahostofmysteriouspowerstoremindhimthathe'squite,yes,altogetherdifferentfromhisaunt,uncle,andspoiled,piglikecousinDudley.Amysteriousletter,deliveredbythefriendlygiantHagrid,wrenchesHarryfromhisdreary,Muggle-riddenexistence:"WearepleasedtoinformyouthatyouhavebeenacceptedatHogwartsSchoolofWitchcraftandWizardry."Ofcourse,UncleVernonyellsmostunpleasantly,"IAMNOTPAYINGFORSOMECRACKPOTOLDFOOLTOTEACHHIMMAGICTRICKS!"Soonenough,however,HarryfindshimselfatHogwartswithhisowlHedwig...andthat'swheretherealadventure--humorous,haunting,andsuspenseful--begins.HarryPotterandtheSorcerer'sStone,firstpublishedinEnglandasHarryPotterandthePhilosopher'sStone,continuestowinmajorawardsinEngland.SofarithaswontheNationalBookAward,theSmartiesPrize,theChildren'sBookAward,andisshort-listedfortheCarnegieMedal,theU.K.versionoftheNewberyMedal.Thismagical,gripping,brilliantbook--afutureclassictobesure--willleavekidsclamoringforHarryPotterandtheChamberofSecretsandHarryPotterandthePrisonerofAzkaban.(Ages8to13)--KarinSnelson--ThistextreferstotheHardcoveredition.Readersareinforadelightfulrompwiththisaward-winningdebutfromaBritishauthorwhodancesinthefootstepsofP.L.TraversandRoaldDahl.Asthestoryopens,mysteriousgoings-onruffletheself-satisfiedsuburbanworldoftheDursleys,culminatinginatrioofstrangersdepositingtheDursleys'infantnephewHarryinabasketontheirdoorstep.After11yearsofdisregardandneglectatthehandsofhisaunt,uncleandtheirswinishsonDudley,HarrysuddenlyreceivesavisitfromagiantnamedHagrid,whoinformsHarrythathismotherandfatherwereawitchandawizard,andthatheistoattendHogwartsSchoolofWitchcraftandWizardryhimself.Mostsurprisingofall,HarryisalegendinthewitchworldforhavingsurvivedanattackbytheevilsorcererVoldemort,whokilledhisparentsandleftHarrywithalightning-shapedscaronhisforehead.Andsothefunbegins,withHarrygoingofftoboardingschoollikeatypicalEnglishkid?onlyhissuppliesincludeamessage-carryingowlandamagicwand.Thereisenchantment,suspenseanddangergalore(aswellasenoughcreepycreaturestosatisfythemostbogeymen-lovingreaders,andevenamagicalgameofsoccerlikeQuidditchtoentertainsportsfans)asHarryandhisfriendsRonandHermioneplumbthesecretsoftheforbiddenthirdflooratHogwartstobattleevilandunravelthemysterybehindHarry'sscar.Rowlingleavesthedoorwideopenforasequel;bedazzledreaderswillsurelyclamorforone.Ages8-12.