harry potter and the order of the phoenix book

Rowling, the fifth in the bestselling series has been scheduled for release on Saturday, June 21, 2003. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, by J.K.

(Ages 9 and older) -Emilie Coulter From the Publisher: Readers, on the other hand, will be energized as they enter yet again the long waiting period for the next title in the marvelous, magical series. Confronting death again, as well as a startling prophecy, Harry ends his year at Hogwarts exhausted and pensive. Here we have an adolescent who's sometimes sullen, often confused (especially about girls), and always self-questioning.

Gone is the wide-eyed innocent, the whiz kid of Sorcerer's Stone. Harry faces the thorny transition into adulthood, when adult heroes are revealed to be fallible, and matters that seemed black-and-white suddenly come out in shades of gray.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, more than any of the four previous novels in the series, is a coming-of-age story. With an overwhelming course load as the fifth years prepare for their Ordinary Wizarding Levels examinations (O.W.Ls), devastating changes in the Gryffindor Quidditch team lineup, vivid dreams about long hallways and closed doors, and increasing pain in his lightning-shaped scar, Harry's resilience is sorely tested. Life isn't getting any easier for Harry Potter. Enter a particularly loathsome new character: the toadlike and simpering (' hem, hem') Dolores Umbridge, senior undersecretary to the Minister of Magic, who takes over the vacant position of Defense Against Dark Arts teacher-and in no time manages to become the High Inquisitor of Hogwarts, as well. Even Professor Dumbledore, headmaster of the school, has come under scrutiny by the Ministry of Magic, which refuses to officially acknowledge the terrifying truth that Voldemort is back. Somehow, over the summer, gossip (usually traced back to the magic world's newspaper, the Daily Prophet) has turned Harry's tragic and heroic encounter with Voldemort at the Triwizard Tournament into an excuse to ridicule and discount the teen. Rowling's Harry Potter series follows the darkest year yet for our young wizard, who finds himself knocked down a peg or three after the events of last year. Harry is feeling especially edgy at the lack of news from the magic world, wondering when the freshly revived evil Lord Voldemort will strike. It's been yet another infuriating and boring summer with the despicable Dursleys, this time with minimal contact from our hero's non-Muggle friends from school. As his fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry approaches, 15-year-old Harry Potter is in full-blown adolescence, complete with regular outbursts of rage, a nearly debilitating crush, and the blooming of a powerful sense of rebellion.

Harry potter and the order of the phoenix book