"I cannot live without books" - Thomas Jefferson

On July 7th, 2000, I had just finished watching the news.  Nightline came on, and they were live at a bookstore.  In every scene, I saw hundreds of kids and teenagers, many dressed in costumes.  As the reporter conducted interviews, 11 and 12 year-olds described lemonade stands, mowing lawns, and babysitting to save up dimes and quarters and dollars.  All of them were waiting to buy copies of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. 


I had never heard of Harry Potter before, but was immediately intrigued.  Here was a book that was encouraging and inspiring reading!  I went out the next day and bought the first book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.  Since then, I have read the entire series at least four times.  I own the first seven movies, and will buy the finale as soon as it is available.  Like millions of readers worldwide, I consider Harry Potter one of my all time favorite series.

What is it about Harry Potter that captivates readers?  Why do we find ourselves awake at 1 am, Harry Potter book in hand, thinking "just one more chapter"?  Readers can't put Harry Potter down for three key reasons.

A captivating plot line.  Simply stated, J.K Rowling has written a great story.  Readers want to know what happens next.  When you get to "the good part", you can't turn the pages fast enough (or maybe you are like my wife and have to skip ahead to see what happens).  The plot races through twists and turns, highs and lows, captivating our attention the first time, and demanding a second reading to find all the clues. 

A compelling world.  Anyone who has read the whole series has dreamed at least once of visiting Hogwarts, or flying on a broom, or being able to pull off one little magic spell.  (Need evidence of that?  Look no further than Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios - even though it didn't open until June, the new attraction increased Universal's park attendance by 30% for the year!)  The best books and movies allow us to suspend disbelief.  They create a world that we want to visit, and we find ourselves imagining what it would be like.

A cast of sympathetic characters.  Stories are most powerful when the reader can see themselves in the characters.  Maybe you know someone like Harry.  Or perhaps you remember being teasing in school for knowing the right answer, just like Hermione.  Or maybe you were a younger sibling, trying to find your own place in the world, and you recognize exactly how Ron feels.  Harry's friends and classmates have come to feel like people we know.  They remind us of ourselves.

And now we come to the end of the series (the final movie was released two weeks ago).  Author Paul Sweeney once said, "You know you've read a good book when you turn the last page and feel a little as if you have lost a friend."  Maybe you miss Luna, or are feeling a little home sick for Hogwarts.  If so, try one of the following books - you just might find another friend.  (I consider all of the recommendations appropriate for teenagers and adults.)

• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, J.K. Rowling -- If you haven't read the books yet, it is time.  The first one will only take you a couple of hours, and you will be hooked.  If you have already read them, I would just repeat Oscar Wilde's famous quote, "If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all."
• The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins -- Captivating and scary and inspiring, The Hunger Games is set in a future North America where an annual spectacle (the book's namesake), pits 24 teenagers against each other in a fight-to-the-death reality show.  You will not be able to put it down until you know what happens to Katniss.
• Ender's Game, Orson Scott Card -- Another futuristic tale, this one focused on Ender Wiggins, a gifted young boy with the simple task to "save the world."  If you have ever known a gifted child, your heart will go out to Ender.
• Uglies, Scott Westerfield -- The first in a series that includes Pretties and Specials. You will find yourself wondering if it could happen to us.  Although not as terrifying as Hunger Games, this young adult (YA) dystopia will keep you reading till the end.
• The Lightening Thief (Percy Jackson), Rick Riordan -- The author created these stories for his son, who suffers from dyslexia and ADHD, but who loves Greek Mythology.  Can you imagine a world where the Greek Gods still exist? Where Olympus is of course in New York and Hades is below Los Angeles?  Where Medusa runs a garden statuary shop?  Where demi-gods are responsible for most of the wars in the world?  You will love Percy Jackson and Annabeth's attempts to save the world from the Gods.
• Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis -- One of the originals in youth fantasy, the Chronicles of Narnia deliver magic, war, excitement, love, and a deep moral lesson.  While written for younger readers, adults will love the hidden messages.
• The Hobbit, J.R.R Tolkien -- Tolkien is truly the founding father of epic fantasy.  The Hobbit is his (more accessible) prequel to the Lord of the Rings trilogy.  The Middle Earth setting is dramatic and fun.  Even if you aren't a traditional fantasy reader, the Hobbit is worth your time.

Tomorrow (July 31, 2011) is J.K. Rowling's 46th birthday and Harry Potter's (the character's) 31's birthday. (It also happens to be my youngest daughter's birthday - and no, we didn't name her Harry or Hermione!)  Celebrate with a good book!