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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. 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. Harry is feeling especially edgy at the lack of news from the
magic world, wondering when the freshly revived evil Lord Voldemort
will strike. Returning to Hogwarts will be a relief... or will it?
The fifth book in J.K. 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. 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.
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. 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. Life isn't getting any easier for Harry Potter. 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.
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. 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. Gone is the
wide-eyed innocent, the whiz kid of Sorcerer's Stone. Here we
have an adolescent who's sometimes sullen, often confused (especially
about girls), and always self-questioning. Confronting death again, as
well as a startling prophecy, Harry ends his year at Hogwarts exhausted
and pensive. 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. (Ages 9 and older) --Emilie Coulter
ISBN-13: 9780439358071
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