Did you know that the library has a volunteer group of 7th through 12th graders who help out at the library? YouthQuake Explosion meets once a week, and its members undertake all kinds of service and creative projects to benefit the library. YouthQuake Explosion member, eighth-grader Stella S., wrote these book reviews. Check out what Stella had to say about these popular books!
Harry Potter: The Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
I
have finished reading Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone by J.K.
Rowling. This book is the first in a series of seven. I loved this
book. It was extremely detailed and fun. Anyone of any age can read
this book because it so easily appeals to all. As many of the people
reading this probably already know, there are Harry Potter movies.
Though I must say, this book throws its film to the wind. It
all begins at Number 4, Privet Drive. A small baby is placed on a
doorstep and taken in by Number 4's stingy occupants. As this
book develops, you learn that Harry Potter is part of an amazing world
that he never even knew existed. Harry will attend a school where he
discovers who he truly is, where he makes new friends, and where
he finds himself on a dangerous and thrilling adventure that decides the
fate of a particular Dark wizard that Harry has a past with. I applaud
J.K. Rowling on this book. I know that it has been around a while and
these are compliments most have heard before, but they will never be
stressed enough. J.K. Rowling introduces us to a place filled with
people who have extraordinary gifts. She severs the barrier between
reality and what we all so desperately hope is reality. Her clever plot
grips you tight and refuses to let you go until you have finished
reading the last sentence on page 309. My favorite thing about this
book is how J.K. Rowling describes the setting of Harry Potter. She
builds a scene around the reader and makes us feel like we are there.
This is one of the hardest parts of writing. The writer wants the
reader to see what they do. J.K. Rowling wants to share her vision and
allow the reader to understand what it feels like to be a student at
Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. J.K. Rowling blew this
challenge out of the water. Not only that, but you meet brand new
characters that are all unique in different ways. For example, Hermione
Granger is one of the smartest witches in her year. She likes to
follow the rules and stay in her comfort zone. Yet, she manages to break
almost every Hogwarts law in the book and uses her heroic intelligence
to help Harry Potter save the magical world from the clutches of
Voldemort, a defeated Dark wizard with a deadly reputation who hopes to
rise again and take revenge on all who contributed to his downfall. I
also admire the way J.K. Rowling pulls together the excitement and fear
of Harry's experience at Hogwarts and the tight bonds of friendship that
Harry knits along the way. Like every good book, Harry Potter includes
a wrenching twist. The villain of this story is not who J.K.
Rowling first leads you to believe. Instead, she cleverly deceives you
and you learn that the real culprit was the most innocent-the most
unexpected. I would personally rate this book a 9 out of 10, my only
issue being that this book ended our amazing ride with Harry Potter too
soon!
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
After reading the first spectacular Harry Potter book by
J.K. Rowling, I was very keen to continue to the next book, Harry Potter
and the Chamber of Secrets. This book was by far the creepiest of the
two. Like the first book, the Chamber of Secrets begins at Number Four,
Privet Drive. This is where Harry lives with his aunt, uncle, and
cousin, whom are all Muggles. The events of this book focus on the
second attempt of Lord Voldemort in his efforts to rise again and become
the greatest Dark wizard that ever lived. Harry must face a series of
dangerous obstacles to defeat Lord Voldemort with the help of his two
closest friends, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley. As the plot
thickens, you learn that there is an unpleasant new creature in the
school that is terrorizing students, maybe even killing them. Be
prepared for spine tingling sensations as Harry discovers a part of
himself that he never knew existed, and realizes that he could be the
key to destroying Hogwarts or saving it from the horror within the
Chamber of Secrets. My absolute favorite part of this book was how J.K.
Rowling left me in suspense chapter after chapter. She made me think
about what was going on and how it was happening. I liked how she let
the readers get a chance at solving the mystery of the Chamber of
Secrets by including clues that we understand were always right in front
of us in the end. Eventually, J.K. Rowling wraps up loose ends and ties
them into a perfect bow. In similarity with the first book, J.K.
Rowling is able to effectively connect growing friendships with the
adventure that Harry Potter finds himself on. However, you can never
have a proper Harry Potter book without a sensational Quidditch game.
That is always one of the most important parts! I am joking! Not
really. Anyway, I loved this book. It was everything I wanted it to be
and more. I am once again finding myself admiring the brilliant mind of
J.K. Rowling. This book brought a sense of darkness to the series-but
in the best way possible. Stopping a mad wizard from destroying Hogwarts
and the rest of the wizarding world is definitely not all it's cracked
up to be. And that is exactly what J.K. Rowling shows us in Harry
Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. I give this book a ten out of ten. I
know it's a risky rating, but I think this book will always be worth it.
For more information about YouthQuake Explosion, please e-mail Miss Kate at KateB@Eastonpl.org, or call the Youth Services Department at 610-258-2917 x 306.
