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Muggles and More
The Allure of Harry Potter
By Julia Rosien
Remember cuddling up with The Hobbit or The Chronicles of Narnia? Those classics still line the library shelves at schools, but a new character, destined to become a classic, has broken onto the scene. Unless you've been living under a rock, you've probably heard of him. His name is Harry Potter, and author J.K. Rowling's magically-woven adventures and subsequent cinema masterpieces have captured the imaginations of preteens around the world.
If you're not sure what all the fuss is about, suspend your adult disbelief for a moment and meet the characters who are enchanting millions of children.
Harry's teacher, Professor Snape, appears to be an evil man out for Potter's death. A man with a history of subterfuge and rivalry with Harry's dead father, Snape has unpaid debts and grudges to bear. Surprisingly capable of human compassion, Snape exemplifies the idea that most people aren't good or evil, but a combination of attitudes and a product of the past. Hermoine, Harry's friend and female protagonist, blends wisdom, courage, skill and intelligence. Flawed, she struggles with a desire for perfection in an imperfect world. She emerges a well-rounded, intelligent female who knows how to succeed in a male-dominated world.