Recently I have been thinking about the Harry Potter series and why it is a favorite of mine. I started doing some research to find out how the series has influenced others and not just me. The millennial generation as well as anyone else who reads it.
The impact of the Harry Potter series is profound and widespread. Digging into the web I found many articles about the political, moral and psychological influence he has had on preteens to teenagers. There is also a book recently published titled Harry Potter and the Millenials by Anthony Gierzynski with Kathryn Eddy. When the first book was published in 1997 I was in high school. I fell in love with them! I remember thinking there wasn't really anything to them. But then I picked up book one and wasn't able to put it down. I still remember it took me 13 hours to finish the seventh book. And I cried that it was all over. That there wouldn't be anymore stories in the future. When a series has that much of an impact on the reader's life it is something to think about and know that you are changed for the better from reading it.
The themes that run through each book are universal: good/evil, bullying, sense of home, friendship, love, school, adolescence, mentor/pupil and the list goes on.
Every child and teen can relate to one of the characters in the books. Maybe you are the bookish overachiever. Is that really bad? No - Hermione shows us that she is a strong, capable, daring and loving person. The awkward kid that isn't wealthy? Ron is your steadfast, trusting, got-your-back friend. Of course there is the smart, bullied, and courageous Harry who shows you that not just the athletes are the heroes. We can't forget the thorn in his side Draco. It is hard to imagine someone might relate to him. But if you think about it, he has been conditioned to hate Potter and everything that Potter stands for. I won't spoil anything though if someone hasn't finished the series.
Each character develops and transforms more with each book. It is only natural that as a person ages, moving from preteen to teenager to adult, life becomes more complex and decisions made can affect so many people. Each book is darker then the previous. This is okay because the reader is growing up with Harry and his friends and can learn how to behave in situations. Of course there is no amazing game called quidditch with flying brooms. But there are all the other sports and activities to compare. Also how does one deal with the bullies at school? How does one handle open hostility? Is it right for someone to desire to rid the world of those unlike them? How should one think about right and wrong? What is true friendship?
These books will forever be a favorite of mine as will the movies. In 2013 there were 450 million copies in print worldwide. The series had also been translated into 73 languages. This is a worldwide phenomenon. And think of how many kids don't enjoy reading and then pick up book one and fall in love with where a story can take them and what it can teach them (whether they realize there's a lesson or not). It is sad but not surprising that the series is constantly being challenged and wanted to be banned. My response to this is that people are ignorant and scared of what they don't know (or think they know). I would gift this book to every kid if I could.
These books will forever be a favorite of mine as will the movies. In 2013 there were 450 million copies in print worldwide. The series had also been translated into 73 languages. This is a worldwide phenomenon. And think of how many kids don't enjoy reading and then pick up book one and fall in love with where a story can take them and what it can teach them (whether they realize there's a lesson or not). It is sad but not surprising that the series is constantly being challenged and wanted to be banned. My response to this is that people are ignorant and scared of what they don't know (or think they know). I would gift this book to every kid if I could.