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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

* Harry's first trip to the zoo with the Dursleys, when a boa constrictor winks at him.
* When the Dursleys' house is suddenly besieged by letters for Harry from Hogwarts. Readers learn how much the Dursleys have been keeping from Harry. Rowling does a wonderful job in displaying the lengths to which Uncle Vernon will go to deny that magic exists.
* Harry's first visit to Diagon Alley with Hagrid. Full of curiosities and rich with magic and marvel, Harry's first trip includes a trip to Gringotts and Ollivanders, where Harry gets his wand (holly and phoenix feather) and discovers yet another connection to He-Who-Must-No-Be-Named. This moment is the reader's first full introduction to Rowling's world of witchcraft and wizards.
* Harry's experience with the Sorting Hat.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

* The de-gnoming of the Weasleys' garden. Harry discovers that even wizards have chores--gnomes must be grabbed (ignoring angry protests "Gerroff me! Gerroff me!"), swung about (to make them too dizzy to come back), and tossed out of the garden--this delightful scene highlights Rowling's clever and witty genius.
* Harry's first experience with a Howler, sent to Ron by his mother.
* The Dueling Club battle between Harry and Malfoy. Gilderoy Lockhart starts the Dueling Club to help students practice spells on each other, but he is not prepared for the intensity of the animosity between Harry and Draco. Since they are still young, their minibattle is innocent enough, including tickling and dancing charms.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

* Ron's attempt to use a telephone to call Harry at the Dursleys'.
* Harry's first encounter with a Dementor on the train (and just about any other encounter with Dementors). Harry's brush with the Dementors is terrifying and prepares Potter fans for a darker, scarier book.
* Harry, Ron, and Hermione's behavior in Professor Trelawney's Divination class. Some of the best moments in Rowling's books occur when she reminds us that the wizards-in-training at Hogwarts are, after all, just children. Clearly, even at a school of witchcraft and wizardry, classes can be boring and seem pointless to children.
* The Boggart lesson in Professor Lupin's classroom.
* Harry, Ron, and Hermione's knock-down confrontation with Snape.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

* Hermione's disgust at the reception for the veela (Bulgarian National Team Mascots) at the Quidditch World Cup. Rowling's fourth book addresses issues about growing up--the dynamic between the boys and girls at Hogwarts starts to change. Nowhere is this more plain than the hilarious scene in which magical cheerleaders nearly convince Harry and Ron to jump from the stands to impress them.
* Viktor Krum's crush on Hermione--and Ron's objection to it.
* Malfoy's "Potter Stinks" badge.
* Hermione's creation of S.P.E.W., the intolerant bigotry of the Death Eaters, and the danger of the Triwizard Tournament. Add in the changing dynamics between girls and boys at Hogwarts, and suddenly Rowling's fourth book has a weight and seriousness not as present in early books in the series. Candy and tickle spells are left behind as the students tackle darker, more serious issues and take on larger responsibilities, including the knowledge of illegal curses.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

* Harry's outburst to his friends at No. 12 Grimmauld Place. A combination of frustration over being kept in the dark and fear that he will be expelled fuels much of Harry's anger, and it all comes out at once, directly aimed at Ron and Hermione. Rowling perfectly portrays Harry's frustration at being too old to shirk responsibility, but too young to be accepted as part of the fight that he knows is coming.
* Harry's detention with Professor Umbridge. Rowling shows her darker side, leading readers to believe that Hogwarts is no longer a safe haven for young wizards. Dolores represents a bureaucratic tyrant capable of real evil, and Harry is forced to endure their private battle of wills alone.
* Harry and Cho's painfully awkward interactions. Rowling clearly remembers what it was like to be a teenager.
* Harry's Occlumency lessons with Snape.
* Dumbledore's confession to Harry.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

* The introduction of the Horcrux.
* Molly Weasley asking Arthur Weasley about his "dearest ambition." Rowling has always been great at revealing little intriguing bits about her characters at a time, and Arthur's answer "to find out how airplanes stay up" reminds us about his obsession with Muggles.
* Harry's private lessons with Dumbledore, and more time spent with the fascinating and dangerous pensieve, arguably one of Rowling's most ingenious inventions.
* Fred and George Weasley's Joke Shop, and the slogan: "Why Are You Worrying About You-Know-Who? You Should Be Worrying About U-NO-POO--the Constipation Sensation That's Gripping the Nation!"
* Luna's Quidditch commentary. Rowling created scores of Luna Lovegood fans with hilarious and bizarre commentary from the most unlikely Quidditch commentator.
* The effects of Felix Felicis.

Magic, Mystery, and Mayhem: A Conversation with J.K. Rowling

"I am an extraordinarily lucky person, doing what I love best in the world. I'm sure that I will always be a writer. It was wonderful enough just to be published. The greatest reward is the enthusiasm of the readers." --J.K. Rowling

Find out more about Harry's creator in our exclusive interview with J.K. Rowling.

Did You Know?

The Little White Horse was J.K. Rowling's favorite book as a child.

Jane Austen is Rowling's favorite author.

Roddy Doyle is Rowling's favorite living writer.

A Few Words from Mary GrandPre

"When I illustrate a cover or a book, I draw upon what the author tells me; that's how I see my responsibility as an illustrator. J.K. Rowling is very descriptive in her writing--she gives an illustrator a lot to work with. Each story is packed full of rich visual descriptions of the atmosphere, the mood, the setting, and all the different creatures and people. She makes it easy for me. The images just develop as I sketch and retrace until it feels right and matches her vision." Check out more Harry Potter art from illustrator Mary GrandPre.

Product Description
The most eagerly anticipated book of the year, the grand finale of the Harry Potter series, is here. Harry must at last fulfill his destiny: to destroy the Dark Lord Voldemort or be destroyed himself. Take Harry with you everywhere you go with this audiobook, narrated by the award-winning Jim Dale.

Customer Reviews: Read 3149 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

Worth the price! July 17, 2008
While I would have preferred to be able to purchase this as a digital download (a format the other books in the series are available in), this CD set meets the need. Fantastically narrated, this is a great way for couples/families to read a book together. And, of course, anyone looking at the last book in this series already knows this is an excellent series and story.

5 out of 5 stars

The terrifying, yet satisfying conclusion... July 16, 2008
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows" is the utterly terrifying, mystifying, captivating, and satisfying conclusion to JK Rowling's Harry Potter series. This story brings together all the threads, and brings them all to satisfying, and in some cases surprising, conclusions.

Harry and his friends do not return to Hogwartz for their seventh year, as the death of Dumbledore has changed nearly everything. Voldemort's rise to power accelerates, as he now controls both Hogwartz and the Ministry of Magic! Going into hiding, Harry, Hermoine, and Ron take on the task that Harry feels is the legacy that Dumbledore has left to him. Together the three begin hunting down the remaining Horcruxes, and search for ways to destroy them, while at the same time desperately trying avoid detection by the Death Eaters, who now have the full might of the Ministry of Magic behind them. In this story we find the young children that began this journey through magic and adventure over six years past, gown to adulthood, and showing that Dumbledore's faith in them was not misplaced.

****WARNING, MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!!!!****

This book is definitely NOT for the faint of heart, nor those who are looking for a nice, happy little stroll through fairyland story. These kids have come of age, and the danger that they face has also, as they face life and death consequences. I thought that reading the death of Dumbledore was difficult...but reading the last moments, and the sacrifice, made by Doby, it was the first that I actually sat the book down, because I couldn't see through the tears in my eyes. A definite MUST READ for any Harry Potter or modern fantasy fan.

HIGHLY recommended, in fact, probably one of my favorite stories that I have ever read.

RD Williams, author of "The Lost Gate"

4 out of 5 stars

Harry Potter the final book. July 15, 2008
My only complaint about the book was the ending I felt, like many others, that it was a bit of a let down for Harry to win because of a technicality. Their were so many other ways that it might of ended in Harries favor, like the sword having some additional power, etc. But, to come all this way after so many years it was a bit of a let down and that is why I give it four stars instead of five. Maybe they will fix this in the movie but I would be happy if they just stuck to the books.

5 out of 5 stars

One Enchanted Wizard, One Decieving Villian, and A Blood-Thirsty Writer July 14, 2008
Well, what you can say about a 756 page book that ends a decade of an absolutely fanomanal saga of books? I felt as if there was nothing in the world except the book that draw my eyes to it as if it were a big, heavy magnet. As I was walking out of the premeire party kids were slapping my hands just because the book was in the green Barnes & Noble bag that was in my hand.It was truly a remarkable story. There were quite a few deaths however. Just as you were sure you're favorite was with you till' the end, Rowling ripped them out of your heart. On the bright side, every question you could ever wonder was answered. Such as the identity of R.A.B., although most of us who read Half-Blood Prince already figured that out. I was a little disappointed when Rowling came out with the whole "Dumbledore is gay." thing, but I guess you can't have a great writer who's not blood thirsty for more publicity. I was hoping she'd make a few prequels of Voldemort, Dumbledore and even maybe Snape. i just hope she can stay true to what her real ideas are.

3 out of 5 stars

A perfect 3 stars out of 7 July 11, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful

Well, there you have it. I have read all 7 books, and they are all of 3 stars entertainment quality. Considering they were written for children they are all good, but not great. What makes them 3 stars only is that one complete book could have been written from all of the Ron and Hermione arguing about the detail of the sunset, snowfall, screaming wallpaper, boring ghosts that serve no purpose, as well as tedious facial expressions of drunken teachers and disgusting old hall monitors that serve no other purpose than to take up space of the hall corridors and the readers time. Professor Snape, Harry. Professor Snape, Harry. Professor Snape, Harry. Professor Snape, Harry. Professor Snape, Harry. Could anyone that is portrayed as a brilliant know-nothing wizard be that stupid? Apparently not. She became a millionaire writting about one. Remove all that crap, especially from the 870 page 5th book and you have 6, 4 star books. Goodbye Harry! Goodbye.

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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows