Book Review of
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
The Dursleys were so mean that hideous that summer that all Harry Potter wanted was to get back to the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. But just as he’s packing his bags, Harry receives a warning from a strange, impish creature named Dobby who says that if Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts, disaster will strike.
And strike it does. For in Harry’s second year at Hogwarts, fresh torments and horrors arise, including an outrageously stuck-up new professor, Gilderoy Lockheart, a spirit named Moaning Myrtle who haunts the girls’ bathroom, and the unwanted attentions of Ron Weasley’s younger sister, Ginny.
But each of these seem minor annoyances when the real trouble begins, and someone–or something–starts turning Hogwarts students to stone. Could it be Draco Malfoy, a more poisonous rival than ever? Could it possibly be Hagrid, whose mysterious past is finally told? Or could it be the one everyone at Hogwarts most suspects…Harry Potter himself?
Grace's Review
I think that this may be about the only time that I am going to say that the sequel was better. I know, I know, I may get some backlash for that, but then again, I don’t really care. A lot of people disagree with my thoughts on the first Harry Potter book. To me, the writing was a little better in the second book and since I already knew the characters, J. K. Rowling was able to spend a lot less time introducing me to them.
I think that the plot was very exciting, and this time I wasn’t able to predict who the ‘bad guy’ was. I was able to predict that in the first one, which may have ruined it for me a little bit. I understand why kids love this series. I do not love it personally, but I wouldn’t want to discourage anyone from trying out this book, especially if you are trying to learn to love reading again or trying to encourage your kids to read.