Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is the first book of the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling. Harry Potter is a legend, in the wizarding world that is. In the “muggle world”, he is just an orphan who lives with his aunt, uncle, and cousin, in which he knows nothing of being a wizard. But that all changes when a letter arrives, marked with his name, delivered by an owl. The letter contains an invitation from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. In the wizarding world, Harry learns about his famous past and makes new friend. He finally feels at home and has several adventures awaiting for him.
This book was the beginning of my obsession with the Harry Potter series. I love the authors writing style, like how she manages to describe everything so perfectly. I love the whole plot of the story, it's uniqueness and how it brings history of real life events into the book. And the twists that come along with it, it has the perfectly creative. After reading this book, you will automatically long to have powers and to be able to go to the wizarding world, but mostly you would wish you went to Hogwarts. This book helps stimulate imagination, creativity, and shows the value of friendship.
-Reviewed by Nayri T., grade 9.
18 comments:
This book is excellent. Its many features are the stuff that is good, such as the fighting parts of the bosses and the many one that everyone knows about. The best part is the end when Harry Potter shoots him with a lightning bolt and he falls on the ground turning into stone. Those are the moments where you just fall into the book and just want to keep reading more. I highly recommend everyone to read this book.
Reviewed by E.P., grade 10.
I absolutely loved this book. It got me addicted to the Harry Potter series. I was not bored for one moment! I could not stop reading, and I finished it in just two days! I would recommend this to everyone, because it is a very fun book to read. I guarantee most people will love it! It is a book that is definitely worth reading; and I think that everyone should have a chance to experience the wonderful adventure of reading this amazing story. When I finished this book, I could not wait to read the rest of the series. I enjoyed this book very much!
Reviewed by Melody N, grade 9.
Central Library
Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone is the first book of the seven book series written by J.K Rowling. Harry Potter in the muggle word is just some orphan who is hated my his uncle and aunt. But in the wizard world he is much more , the only wizard to ever survive against Voldemort or "you know who". But even Harry doesn't know about his past and thinks his parents died in a car crash but really Voldemort had killed them. Then one day a letter comes and Harry finds out all about his past. Now he is heading to Hogwarts where he will make enemies and friends.
When i first saw the Harry Potter series I didn't think I would like reading it because it would be about mythical creatures, wizards, and all that other "nonsense". But I decided to give it a try and page by page I would get addicted to reading it. The authors diction was so good that i could imagine everything in my head, it was like I had gone to a new universe. The writes plot was also so good that I felt like I was at Privet Drive or at Hogwarts. Dont judge the book because it is about wizards because once you read it you will realize it is much more.
Armand, grade 9
Glendale Central Library
Summary: This is the first book in the Harry Potter series. This story starts off with the story of how Voldemort kills Harry's parents when he was just an infant. After the tragedy, he is taken in by his aunt and uncle who mistreat him. Eventually, he gets into Hogwarts School of Magic and meets Ron and Hermione, which become his best friends. While attending this school he discovers what is called, The Sorcerer's Stone, which grants immortality to whomever wields it. Now Harry and hid friends have to try and pass magical challenges to try and get to it before Voldemort does. Your going to have to find out the rest by reading it though.
Opinion: I personally liked this book a lot because as the story goes on you start to figure more and more thing about the plot and the characters themselves. The ending was great because all the pieces seemed to fit right in and all was revealed. There is a lot of foreshadowing in this book that gives you hints about what is going to eventually unfold. I especially found Harry's personality to be one that I admired because even though he was wildly popularized by his classmates, he didn't let the popularity go to his head. This book was great and I would definitely read it again and recommend it to all my friends.
Reviewed by: Arvin Ohanian, grade: 9
Glendale Central Library
Harry Potter doesn't have the best life. He lives with the Dursleys, Harry's aunt, uncle and their son. The Dursleys treat Harry badly and act as if he didn't exist. He lives under the stairs in a little cupboard. But that will all soon change. Harry soon finds out that he is a wizard when a mysterious letter shows up with his name on it. He has been accepted at Hogwarts, a school of witchcraft and wizardry. Harry quickly makes a couple of good friends and starts getting used to being a wizard. But something mysterious is hiding in Hogwarts and he is soon going to come face to face with one of the most feared wizards of the day.
I really liked Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone. I enjoyed learning about Harry and all of his friends and the adventures that they had together. I also really liked the whole setting of the story, like the Dursleys home and Hogwarts. It was interesting to read about what Harry and his friends had to learn as wizards and what they would use their teachings for. The whole storyline and the plot of the book was really good and interesting in my opinion. Overall, I really liked the book and thought it was really great and would recommend reading it.
Reviewed by John N., grade 9
Montrose Crescenta Branch
In Harry Potter and the Sorcer's Stone, by J. K. Rowling starts out talking about Voldemort killing Harry Potter's parents. Since Harry doesn't have his parents he has to live under the stairs in his uncle's house. One day Hagrid a half-giant goes to the Dursleys house and tells Harry he is a wizard and he was accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
I liked this book because it had so much detail and an amazing story-line. I really liked how it incorporated a lot of magic and spells. I like how all characters and spells are unique in their own way. I recommend this book for people who like magic, adventure, and overall a great story, you would definitely like this book.
Reviewed by Kyle L., grade 9
Montrose Crescenta Branch
Harry Potter is a boy whose parents are killed in the beginning of the book. After the death of his parents, he stays with his aunt for 11 years. After receiving multiple letters to join Hogwarts Academy of Wizardry, his aunt and uncle leave the house and go on a trip. On this trip, Hagrid, Harry's unknown caregiver, appears and takes Harry to Hogwarts to learn to be a wizard. In Hogwarts, he meets his lifelong friends, Hermione and Ron, and his lifelong enemy, Malfoy.Harry is put into the Gryffindor group and learns of his parents and their murders. The murderer, Voldemort, is a powerful wizard who is still on the run. As Harry progresses in his wizard training, he learns of the difficulty of defeating Voldemort and his family's past.
It took me two years to finish the series and in these two years, I had never felt so enlightened. I loved the details and how it contradicted the thought that these books are nerdy. Once you start reading them, you won't stop. I read 200 pages without knowing it! Harry Potter was definitely one of the most enjoyable books I had ever read in my entire life and I will reread it over and over again.
Reviewed by Arthur, Grade 8
Grandview Library
In this book, it tells the story about an eleven year old boy named Harry who is poorly mistreated by his aunt and uncle. He is an orphan that lives under the stairs because his family doesn't care about him. One day his life changes when he finds out that he is a wizard from another world. He goes on many adventures with his new friends, living a life he never thought he would have.
I thought that this was a really fun read because it was packed with suspense and adventure. There was never a boring page in this book. These are just kids who have to deal with such dangerous situations and it's really interesting to read about. This story will always be loved by many readers across the world. If you enjoy fantasy, than you will enjoy this.
Reviewed by Anonymous, Grade 12
Glendale Central Library
In Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, by J. K. Rowling starts out talking about Voldemort killing Harry Potter's parents. Since Harry doesn't have his parents he has to live under the stairs in his uncle's house. One day Hagrid a half-giant goes to the Dursleys house and tells Harry he is a wizard and he was accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
I liked this book because it had so much detail and an amazing story-line. I really liked how it incorporated a lot of magic and spells. I like how all characters and spells are unique in their own way. I recommend this book for people who like magic, adventure, and overall a great story, you would definitely like this book.
Reviewed by Kyle L., grade 9
Montrose Crescenta Branch
This story is a very interesting one and one I greatly enjoyed reading it. Harry Potter goes back to Hogwarts for his second year and his and his friends stumble apon a misterious object being talked about about by some teachers. They try to find out what it is and where it is and how they can aquire it, becasue the evil power in the story is trying to aquire that very same thing as well. So Harry and his friends have to battle it out and it gets pretty intense. You have to read it to find out the rest!
This book was written by arguable one of the best authors in the world, and the wording is so perfect you feel like you're there. The experience felt by the reader in this book is something truly out of the ordinary and I strongly suggest that you give this book a read. The plot of the story is also one that compete with almost anything out there and can have a lasting effect on your mind and more. This book is amazing! everyone out there should get themselves a copy!
Reviewed by Connor, Grade 9
Montrose Library
A young boy named Harry Potter has spent eleven years living with his wicked extended family, and inexplicably making the strangest things happen. However, on his eleventh birthday, Harry learns that he is, in fact, a wizard, and can leave his “family” and go to a school to learn all about magic. Once there, he makes friends, enemies, goes to classes, explores the castle, plays a sport with a flying broom, yes a flying broom!, hatches a dragon, and duels a fellow student. But it’s not all fun in games at Hogwarts; Harry discovers what really happened to his parents and found himself in a dangerous encounter with a powerful evil wizard that has come back to finish what he had started eleven years ago…
The Sorcerer’s Stone is one of my favorite books in the Harry Potter series because it is where all the magic began! I have read this book several times and it makes me happy each time. No one really understands why I like the Harry Potter series so much, sometimes I don’t even know why I’m so attached, but there is something about this series and the way J.K Rowling portrays her characters that make the reader not get enough of it. I recommended this book to anyone that loves adventure, thriller, mystery, romance, and fantasy.
Reviewed by Artineh A., Grade 12
Glendale Central Library
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is the first book of the epic series crafted masterfully by J.K Rowling. It all starts off by introducing the boy with the lightning scar. He was a lonely, orphaned boy who was stuck living with his despicable uncle, aunt, and cousin. His parents were killed when he was only a boy, the murderer unknown to him until later on in the book. Just as all his hope started to diminish, he encountered a great surprise on his eleventh birthday, a very promising surprise that gave him new hope and a chance to live a new life---as a wizard. Hagrid, the news deliverer, groundskeeper at Hogwarts, and now Harry’s new friend, introduces Harry to the wonderful world of magic--- but little did Harry know the new dangers that he would face in his conquest to seek revenge for his parents’ death, and save the world of magic from thou-who-shall-not-be-named.
The main reason why I started reading the Harry Potter series is because of all the rave about it. Another factor that contributed to my decision was that its genre is fantasy, which is one of my favorite genres. We are introduced to most of the main characters in this book, who, amazingly, are very relatable. It is quite astonishing how a person who might seem like the complete opposite of someone can be going through the exact same situation as them. For example, although Harry and his best friends are wizards and witches, they go through many of the same things as us teens, such as exams, homework, and bullies. I think that anyone with a bright imagination and a love for reading books in general would enjoy this series. I recommend that everyone give this book a try, even if it is out of their comfort zone, because it is a great book that is really fun to read.
Reviewed by R.O., Grade 10
Casa Verdugo Library
This book is about a boy named Harry Potter who lives with his aunt and uncle for the first 11 years of his life. But does not know he is a wizard and there is this whole other world with wizards and witches in it that think of him as a hero because an evil wizard named Voldemort tried to kill him but the spell rebounded and "killed him. Once he enters this world to go to a school for magic called Hogwarts he gets introduced with all these things he thought was a fantasy like dragons, flying brooms, and magic. But all this fun comes to an end when he finds out that Voldemort is not dead yet and he must find a way to defeat him. So Voldemort can't get stronger and rule the wizard world again. But Harry does not know what he is getting into with his two friends he meets in Hogwarts named Ron and Hermione. Them 3 must find a way to keep the sorcerer stone out of Voldemort's hands. If he gets it the stone will help him gain enough power to resurrect himself to how he used to be through magic.
I loved this book I first read it in elementary school and is a big part of my childhood. This book is amazing and I would recommend it to anyone, it does not matter the age if you like to read or just are interested in an amazing story this is perfect. I love this book because it puts you into this whole new world where magic is real and all these amazing things happen. But it also gives you this sense of you can be special without even knowing it. When I was younger I always hoped I would be a wizard and go to Hogwarts. Obviously that is not going to happen but that is the best part about this book young and old can appreciate for different aspects of it. As a teen now I love the book for the story and the character development. But before as a kid I just thought magic and dragons were cool. I have read this book and series more times than I can count and every time I read it as I grow up I appreciate it for something new. This is my least favorite book out of all of them but it is also my favorite in a way because it introduces this amazing world and story to you.
Reviewed by J., Grade 12
Glendale Central Library
The first of seven Harry Potter books this one starts off with Harry Potter talking about his family or lack thereof. It also talks about his aunt, uncle, and cousin. harry talks about their appearances and why they don't like him because of how weird and unusual he is. Harry gets a letter from Hogwarts and goes with Hagrid to get buy his wand and other materials for his year at Hogwarts. The rest if for you to read and unravel.
This book is one of my favorite from the series because the introduction really hooks you into the world of Harry, Potter. I would recommend this book to anyone with a lot of imagination. This book also has a big theme behind it that you can find out after you read it. Overall this book is a wonderful read and should be read by anyone that like fiction books. This book is readily available at any bookstore or any library so it isn't a hard one to find and read for yourself.
Reviewed by A.B., Grade 9
Grandview Library
Harry Potter is a lonely and abused by his aunt and uncle Vernon and Petunia Dursley. They have a son, Dudley, who also makes fun of him. Harry continuously receives letters from Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry by owls. Vernon and Petunia always disposed and destroyed the letters. Finally, on his 11th birthday, Harry gets a letter personally from Hogwarts' staff member, Rubeus Hagrid. Hagrid tells Harry how he is a wizard and his parents, Lily and James, were killed by the most evil wizard to exist, Voldemort. Hagrid says that Voldemort could not kill Harry and that the spell rebounded on him and hit Voldemort, destroying his powers. Hagrid takes Harry to The Leaky Cauldron, from there they can enter the magical marketplace, Diagon Alley. At Diagon Alley, Harry collects his parents' fortune from Gringotts Bank and gets a pet owl named Hedwig. He also collects his magic textbooks and his wand. Harry has to get to Hogwarts by taking King's Cross platform 9 3/4.
Harry befriends Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger. They also meet an enemy, Draco Malfoy, who discriminates Ron for being poor. When they arrive at Hogwarts, the students are asked to wear a hat to decide what school house they are selected in to. Harry, Ron, and Hermione are selected into Gryffindor, the house of bravery and courage. Slytherin is considered to be where the mean and bad students go to. Hufflepuff is for nice and gentle students and Ravenclaw is for the clever and witty students. Harry gains a love for Quidditch, despite never playing it before, and Professor Minerva McGonagall sees the potential. He also gains a disliking of Professor Severus Snape, who immediately questions Harry due to his popularity as everyone knows he survived Voldemort's attack. One night, Harry and Ron stumble upon a room guarded by a three-headed dog in the forbidden area of the castle. During Halloween, a troll is found in the girls bathroom. Harry and Ron go to investigate because they know Hermione was in their. They manage to take out the troll before the teachers arrive. Harry suspects something was in that room being guarded by the dog and suspects that Snape is trying to get into it.
In his first Quidditch game, Harry gets his broom jinxed. Hermione suspects it was Snape yet again because he was muttering something and not blinking. During Christmas, Harry gets an Invisibility Cloak from an anonymous person. Harry uses this Cloak to snoop around after the students go to bed and finds the Mirror or Ersed, the mirror that shows the viewer their desires. The headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, finds Harry and says that he sees a pair of socks. Harry, however, sees his parents. A few days later, while talking to Hagrid, he accidentally slips out that the objects being kept guarded is the Sorcerer's Stone, a magical stone that gives the owner immortality. A centaur named Firenze also warns Harry that Voldemort himself is planning this heist.
The first Harry Potter book is a great opening and introduction for people not familiar with the series. It introduced most of the main characters that are going to be with us throughout all seven books. The suspense and foreshadowing are done brilliantly. As well as the plot twist towards the end. In a very rare case, even the antagonists are very likable and have deep character traits. A top 3 book in the Harry Potter series and the shortest one, to see if you are into the series or not. 9/10.
Reviewed by Anonymous, Grade 9
Glendale Central Library
Harry Potter is a boy whose parents were killed, resulting in him being taken in by his unkind aunt and uncle. His aunt and uncle have an obnoxious and spoiled son. They don’t care about Harry and mistreat him every day. They neglect his birthday and make him clean and cook. One day, their house gets bombarded by letters from Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, by owls Harry’s uncle burns the letters and does not allow Harry to open a single letter. They get as far away as they can to avoid the owls, but one night, on Harry’s birthday, a tall and big man named Hagrid storms into their house and brings Harry gifts and a cake. He takes Harry with him and tells him everything about his past and his parents. Harry is a wizard who comes from a family of powerful wizards. Harry Potter is the boy who lived. He goes to Hogwarts and, together with his friends Hermione and Ron, they have to face many challenges to save everyone they love.
This book is one of the most classic and popular stories out there. I think it’s hard to go by living your life without reading a page from a Harry Potter book, hearing about it or at least watching the movies. This book makes you feel like you’re experiencing everything with the characters of the novel. This story makes it easy to imagine what you’re reading. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone never gets old and is a book that is constantly re-read. It marks the beginning of Harry’s adventures that we get to follow throughout many years. I recommend this book to people who like fiction and fantasy books, as well as people who like books with a bit of mystery and magic.
Reviewed by AK, Grade 9
Montrose Library
Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone is the first book of the widely know book and movie series that goes by the same name. The story focuses around an orphaned boy, Harry Potter, whose parents died in a supposed car accident and left to live with his aunt and her abusive family. When Harry reaches his eleventh birthday, he starts receiving strange letters about his acceptance to a wizarding school called Hogwarts and later discovering both his parents were wizards that were killed by a dark wizard known as Voldemort. The first book focuses on Harry's first year in Hogwarts and exposure to the Wizarding world that somewhat coexists with the non magical ("Muggle") world.
The Harry Potter series was one of the first book series that had made me an avid reader. The Sorcerer Stone does a great job introducing the Wizarding world to both the protagonist and to new readers. The story is interesting and the characters are likeable. There was not much filler or anything unnecessary that dragged out the plot therefore there was never a dull moment in this book. Although I will say that this is the most light hearted book in the series as later on, the whimsical tone gradually gets darker throughout the series and the tone shift is subtle and not sudden which can turn off readers.
I recommend anyone who wants to start reading books this series. Harry Potter at first is an easy read (Sorcerer's Stone is the shortest book in the series. It can get difficult later on as there is more reading in the later books). It is not my favorite book in the series but it a great book that sets up the entire Harry Potter universe.
Reviewed by Rafi, Grade 11
Harry Potter is a neglected child living with his extremely harsh relatives. Harry thinks that he's a normal boy, until one day everything he knows goes crashing down on him. It turns out that Harry is a wizard, capable of wielding magic, and he has been invited to the prestigious school of Hogwarts Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry explores this new world of magic, making new friends(and enemies) along the way. However, the world of magic may be more dangerous than Harry initially thought, as Harry finds out that he is more special than he imagined.
I think that this book is full of childlike wonder and fantasy. It's obviously more suited towards younger children, which is when I first read this book. The protagonist has so much innocence and curiosity that is sometimes infectious, relatable, and noticeable. However, that doesn't mean that it's simply a children's book, as people of all ages have adored the first book and the rest of the series. I was a bit thrown off by the world-building, since I have so many questions. A big question I had was how magic could be so versatile and dangerous, yet there is little enforcement or law protection. Nevertheless, I felt like you could ignore a few flaws by just immersing yourself in the story.
Reviewed by Abraham, Grade 9
Montrose Library
Post a Comment