Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

I boarded a plane in Los Angeles the day after Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows released.

Before we were airborne, I opened the pages to the epic conclusion of the HP series. When I glanced to my left and right, I realized the passengers in my row were all doing the same.

What struck me in that moment was how Harry Potter transcended from a series for young adults to one for YA fans of all ages—a remarkable feat by one of the greatest YA storytellers in history.

If you haven’t read the books but have seen the films,… show more.

Recently, I read this book series to my children and was struck by the depth of meaningful connections between Harry, Ron, and Hermoine and a range of other students and adults at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. While the whole series deserves to be read with this in mind, I particularly highlight Book 7, which is the final book in the series. The friends have relied on each other through so many adventures. Without giving away too much (in case you haven’t read it or seen the films), they ultimately succeed not just on Harry’s strengths but because they… show more.

The last Potter book, despite being the end of the series, is the best one because it shows just how amazing J.K. is at character development. Yes, you have to have read all the previous ones to appreciate the depth and intricacies. But you are a citizen of Earth so you’ve read them. J.K. balances storytelling in this book perfectly by taking you down the past while simultaneously moving the story along. I realize many people might think, “Yes, that’s what you’re supposed to do.” But we’ve all read books that didn’t understand such a simple yet difficult-to-implement concept. Whenever… show more.

When I first finished reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (the 7th and final book in J. K. Rowling’s epic fantasy franchise), I knew I was holding a most exquisite piece of fiction. As a long-time researcher of superb world-building and soft magic systems, I found myself positively engulfed and enthralled by this novel. Harry Potter’s magical and whimsical world is penciled in both fine lines and broad strokes, building towards an epic and rewarding conclusion that had me on the edge of my seat. Harry’s moral conundrum of “Horcruxes” vs. “Hallows”, which ultimately decides the path to… show more.