Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
Author Biography:
J K (Joanne Kathleen) Rowling was born in the summer of 1965 at Yate General Hospital in England and grew up in Chepstow, Gwent where she went to Wyedean Comprehensive. Jo left Chepstow for Exeter University, where she earned a French and Classics degree, and where her course included one year in Paris. As a postgraduate she moved to London to work at Amnesty International, doing research into human rights abuses in Francophone Africa. She started writing the Harry Potter series during a Manchester to London King's Cross train journey, and during the next five years, outlined the plots for each book and began writing the first novel. The Harry Potter books have sold 400 million copies worldwide. They are distributed in over 200 territories and are translated into 67 languages. Information retrieved from Amazon.com.
Published by: Scholastic Paperbacks
ISBN: 0439064872
Genre: Fantasy
Reading Level: Ages 9 and Up
Reader’s Annotation:
Returning to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardardy for his second year, Harry quickly finds himself embroiled in a mystery concerning the Chamber of Secrets. A warning promises doom to anyone who opposes the heir of Slytherin and supposedly contains a creature capable of petrifying its victims. With the wizarding school in an uproar, Harry and his friends take it upon themselves to get to the bottom of the matter – placing themselves in mortal danger.
Plot Summary:
Harry is all too eager to return to Hogwarts for his second year. Loathed by his adoptive family and locked in his room, he counts down the days until he can return to the world of wizardy where he can be himself. A peculiar creature named Dobby appears before Harry one day, warning him to never return to Hogwarts or else his life will be in danger. Undeterred, Harry swears he will attend school, prompting Dobby to make a mess of the house. Harry’s adoptive family returns and, mortified by the damage to the house, locks him in his room. It isn’t until Harry’s friend Ron arrives at the house in a flying car that he is able to escape and go to school.
As promised, Harry life is indeed in danger. Students and even the groundskeeper’s cat become petrified over the course of days, throwing the students into a panic. A bizarre message also appears claiming the Chamber of Secrets has been opened and threatens the lives of certain students. As Harry and his friends investigate, they learn the chamber was constructed by one of the school’s founders, Salazar Slytherin, and is supposed to contain a terrifying monster.
As the investigation continues, more mysteries are revealed and soon students begin to suspect that Harry has something to do with the attacks, forcing him to prove without a doubt that he is not. In the process, however, he places himself in grave danger, and even comes face to face with his mortal enemy. Nothing is what it seems at Hogwarts.
Critical Evaluation:
Harry Potter returns with even more magic and action. Unlike the previous book, The Chamber of Secrets is a bit darker which benefits the overall story line. As Harry comes under suspicion for supposedly attacking other young students and even writing warnings in blood, his plight seems even worse than it did than when he was living with his aunt and uncle locked in his room. We also see grater character development from Harry’s friends Ron and Hermione. As the trio interact with each other we learn more about them and watch as they get on each others’ nervous before finally banding together to defeat a common enemy. The book is a swift read as well, with descriptions giving just enough information to form the magical world surrounding the protagonists while not being so heavy handed as to interrupt the action. The Chamber of Secrets is an excellent entry into the series and should not be missed.
Curriculum Ties:
Challenge Issues:
Defensive Maneuvers:
Book Talk Ideas:
If you were accused of a crime you didn't commit, would you do everything you had to to restore your name? What if it meant putting your life in danger for the people that are accusing you?
Why This Book?
By now, Harry Potter has become a modern day classic and is well known for its memorable characters and excellent writing style. The Chamber of Secrets stands out as it gives additional depth to the characters established in the first book, and ratchets up the sense of danger as Harry is suspected of a crime he didn’t commit. It is an excellent collection to any library’s collection.
J K (Joanne Kathleen) Rowling was born in the summer of 1965 at Yate General Hospital in England and grew up in Chepstow, Gwent where she went to Wyedean Comprehensive. Jo left Chepstow for Exeter University, where she earned a French and Classics degree, and where her course included one year in Paris. As a postgraduate she moved to London to work at Amnesty International, doing research into human rights abuses in Francophone Africa. She started writing the Harry Potter series during a Manchester to London King's Cross train journey, and during the next five years, outlined the plots for each book and began writing the first novel. The Harry Potter books have sold 400 million copies worldwide. They are distributed in over 200 territories and are translated into 67 languages. Information retrieved from Amazon.com.
Published by: Scholastic Paperbacks
ISBN: 0439064872
Genre: Fantasy
Reading Level: Ages 9 and Up
Reader’s Annotation:
Returning to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardardy for his second year, Harry quickly finds himself embroiled in a mystery concerning the Chamber of Secrets. A warning promises doom to anyone who opposes the heir of Slytherin and supposedly contains a creature capable of petrifying its victims. With the wizarding school in an uproar, Harry and his friends take it upon themselves to get to the bottom of the matter – placing themselves in mortal danger.
Plot Summary:
Harry is all too eager to return to Hogwarts for his second year. Loathed by his adoptive family and locked in his room, he counts down the days until he can return to the world of wizardy where he can be himself. A peculiar creature named Dobby appears before Harry one day, warning him to never return to Hogwarts or else his life will be in danger. Undeterred, Harry swears he will attend school, prompting Dobby to make a mess of the house. Harry’s adoptive family returns and, mortified by the damage to the house, locks him in his room. It isn’t until Harry’s friend Ron arrives at the house in a flying car that he is able to escape and go to school.
As promised, Harry life is indeed in danger. Students and even the groundskeeper’s cat become petrified over the course of days, throwing the students into a panic. A bizarre message also appears claiming the Chamber of Secrets has been opened and threatens the lives of certain students. As Harry and his friends investigate, they learn the chamber was constructed by one of the school’s founders, Salazar Slytherin, and is supposed to contain a terrifying monster.
As the investigation continues, more mysteries are revealed and soon students begin to suspect that Harry has something to do with the attacks, forcing him to prove without a doubt that he is not. In the process, however, he places himself in grave danger, and even comes face to face with his mortal enemy. Nothing is what it seems at Hogwarts.
Critical Evaluation:
Harry Potter returns with even more magic and action. Unlike the previous book, The Chamber of Secrets is a bit darker which benefits the overall story line. As Harry comes under suspicion for supposedly attacking other young students and even writing warnings in blood, his plight seems even worse than it did than when he was living with his aunt and uncle locked in his room. We also see grater character development from Harry’s friends Ron and Hermione. As the trio interact with each other we learn more about them and watch as they get on each others’ nervous before finally banding together to defeat a common enemy. The book is a swift read as well, with descriptions giving just enough information to form the magical world surrounding the protagonists while not being so heavy handed as to interrupt the action. The Chamber of Secrets is an excellent entry into the series and should not be missed.
Curriculum Ties:
- Mythological creatures and their appearances in popular literature and culture.
Challenge Issues:
- Sorcery/anti-Christian themes
Defensive Maneuvers:
- Have the library's collection policy on hand and memorized. Even though you may have it committed to memory, being able to show specific provisions as proof with strengthen your position.
- Be familiar with the book. Having great knowledge of it will prove you understand the content and the way the challenged matters interact with each other.
- Cite any awards the book may have. Though the patron may disagree with the book, showing that it is well known and seen as having great literary merit will strengthen your defense.
- Have a few reviews ready from respected sources such as Amazon or VOYA. At the very least, you can prove you understand the material and reviews will corroborate that.
- Have a strong idea WHY that item is in the library. Explain its merits, who the intended audience is, and so on.
- State your library's commitment to providing intellectual freedom as written in the Library Bill of Rights.
- Stay calm. Getting defensive or hot under the collar will only weaken your position.
- And finally, be open to discussion and LISTEN. Even if you do not agree with the patron, their concerns are still legitimate and you should show that you are engaged with them. Listening to their concerns may be enough to take the edge off.
Book Talk Ideas:
If you were accused of a crime you didn't commit, would you do everything you had to to restore your name? What if it meant putting your life in danger for the people that are accusing you?
Why This Book?
By now, Harry Potter has become a modern day classic and is well known for its memorable characters and excellent writing style. The Chamber of Secrets stands out as it gives additional depth to the characters established in the first book, and ratchets up the sense of danger as Harry is suspected of a crime he didn’t commit. It is an excellent collection to any library’s collection.