harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban review

Heres a review of Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban


As Harry Potter begins his third year as a student at the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry, he is disturbed to discover that Sirius Black, a wizard who may have been involved with the death of his parents, has escaped from Azkaban Prison. Black left behind two clues, both of which indicate that he is headed for Hogwarts--and Harry. As a result, the school is being watched over by the Dementors, a terrifying sect of black-cloaked guards from the Azkaban Prison--whose very presence at Hogwarts has a potentially life-threatening effect on Harry. Meanwhile, he gets acquainted with Professor Lupin, Hogwarts's new teacher of Defense Against the Dark Arts, but Harry also wonders about his new teacher's secretive relationship with Professor Snape. This is the third entry in the wildly popular Harry Potter series of books, and a film version directed by Alfonso Cuaron was made in 2004.

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The best in the series!

Of all the books in the series, I liked the Prisoner of Azkaban the most. This I would say that this is the last of the Harry Potter books that I consider as a chidren's book - the rest, is more geared to young adults (and even older adults).

Here we're introduced to the creepy dementors from Azkaban that are searching for Sirius Black, the wizard responsible for the death of Harry’s parents. We’re also introduced to Professor Lupin, the new defense against the dark arts teacher – who also has a dark secret himself . He helps Harry overcome his fear of the dementors and teaches him a new spell, making him discover a new ability that he’s good at.

The story gets better in the third installment of the series as Harry discovers new allies and friends. This book also has nice twists and revelations and definitely a page turner as all the other books. If you weren’t much of a fan after reading the first and second books, this will probably the book that’ll get you hooked on Harry Potter.

Rowling and Harry begin to come of age

I would have to say that this book was a pivotal book not only in Harry Potter's life, but in JK Rowling's writing career as well.

For Harry, his past begins to reveal itself and danger comes ever closer to his reluctant sanctuary (ie-the Dursley's residence). For Rowling, her stories are no longer stand alone mysteries that share a common location, but are part of a larger story.

These changes are perfectly timed, as the 8th grade is a pivotal time. It is at this age that children are in between true childhood but not quite yet a young adult. We see changes in Harry, Hermione and Ron that indicate the change.

For one, Draco becomes less of an enemy and more like a pest-problems that they used to have no longer seem to matter, or at least not as much. The spells that Harry and his friends learn are likewise indicative of their maturity. Harry is learns to cast a protective patronus years ahead of his peers, which shows that he has matured beyond his peers. Harry takes his last, irrevocable step into adulthood when he choses to spare the life of his parent's betrayer so he can stand trial.

On the surface, Rowling does not "sanitize" the book as much as she did with the other two, a trend that continues with the rest of the series. Some people say that Prisoner was the last "children's" book and that Goblet of Fire begins her "young adult" books. While I agree with that assessment, I also think that JK was having her books grow up as her children did. We not only see character development in our heros, but in the writing style as well.

But her level of writing maturity does not end there. Each of the first two books had a beginning, middle and end. Each book was self contained. You could read Chamber of Secrets before Sorcerer's Stone and not miss much. Not so anymore. If you read any of the other books out of order, you could follow the plot but all the richness of her literary devices will not make sense to you.

I think what truely sets JK Rowling as a master story teller is that this book does not suffer from the "middle book funk". Too many book writers and movie produces use this excuse to cover their own laziness (sadly, too many people accept this excuse and keep wasting hard earned money on trash).

JK is able to produce a good book by following the same success formula that Marvel and DC comics did-have complete endings for the sub-plots so the readers feel satisfied. Rowling gives us plenty of satisfaction: the innocent escape death, the betrayer's cover is blown, Harry earns the respect of the people needs to rely on in later books and preparations are being made, at least by some, for the storm that they now know will come.

The greatest weakness I found was her assigning value and meaning to items from the first two books. When they were first written, these items were only described so much as to provide ambience. By retro-actively assigning significance to them, she created a feeling of artificialality that comes with forcing a plot device. This was corrected in later books and a much smoother flow will take place.

In short, Prisoner of Azkaban is a wonderfully writen transition book that takes Harry from being a child into adulthood and takes JK Rowling from being a great entertainer into a master storyteller.

John Holland-author of Necklace of Terrersylvanous

Harry Connect with His Past in an Unexpected Way

In this book the year begins with Harry being attacked by these magical prison guards known as Dementors. Dementors live by sucking the joy from others. Harry and his Cousin are attacked by Dementors. Of course the Dersleys think it is all Harry's doing. Harry discovers that a man by the name of Sirius Black has escaped from Azkabahn Prison. He is told that Sirius was responsible for the death of his parents. Sirius was one of his father's best friends at Hogwarts. He prepares himself to avenge his parents' death until he discovers that not everything is as it seems. Sirius has come to watch over Harry who is his godson and the real person who betrayed his parents is revealed. Of course Voldemort is up to his wicked ways and is attempting once again to regain himself. The Dementors come to Hogwarts to find Sirius but end up making life there miserable especially for Harry. Harry and his friends struggle to discover the truth and become closer friend during the ordeal. The end of the book leaves you longing for Harry because just as he finds his Godfather Sirius he has to help rescue him from the Dementors and send him into hiding.

This is a wonderful books with lots of twists and turns. The adventure begins with the first page and keeps your on your toes until the end.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban book.

Third in the Harry Potter book and movie saga, this story by J.K. Rowling is one of my favorites!

Harry Potter's third year at Hogwarts! He gets warned that someone may be out of the wizarding prison Azkaban, and might be trying to kill him! Sirius Black was accused of murdering thirteen Wizards with a single curse in a Muggle inhabited area. He is also said to be a loyal servant of the Dark Lord Voldemort, even after 12 years in prison.
Once the safest place for Harry Potter to possibly be (Hogwarts) may now be compromised by a traitor in their midst!


Winner of the Whitbread Award for Children's Literature, Booklist 1999 Editor's Choice, A Los Angeles-Times Best book of 1999, Winner of the 1999 Gold Medal Smarties Prize, An ALA Notable book, and A New York Public Library Title for Reading and Sharing.