Editors’ note: Sharon High seniors enrolled in Honors Advanced Print & Digital Journalism are writing reviews of books available in the Sharon High School Library catalog. Read the following review by Brendon Wen to relive some of the magic from the first book in J.K. Rowling’s epic fantasy series as you eagerly await a new filmed version to be streamed on HBO.
3 sets of plain work robes (black)
1 plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
Among other supplies, this list happens not to be for the stereotypical green-skinned, creepily ancient witch living in a dim-lit cave ensconced deep within a treacherous, demonic forest; rather it’s what every first-year student needs for their time at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Based on what I’ve seen from the movies and deduced from the books, the first-years are 11 years old and look like regular humans living in towns and villages.
If that doesn’t ring a bell yet, I’m talking about J.K. Rowling’s overnight sensation “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” the trailblazer of her timeless seven-book series, which chronicles the spell-binding saga of the Golden Trio—Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ronald “Ron” Weasley.
Just like Rick Astley is no stranger to love, I’m no stranger to the Harry Potter series, having read the books at 11. I think what people say about books and wine is true: they get better with time. Unfortunately, this isn’t a wine review (and I can’t drink!!!), but I’ll tell you what has changed over the years in my perception of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.”
To the Potterheads who have read the books over a hundredfold, please lend me your Remembralls if I happen to forget anything in my recount of this delightful story. Harry Potter, the Boy who Lived, lives in his humble abode, the cupboard under stairs in 4 Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey. Since his parents apparently died in a car accident when he was but a wee infant, he’s had to put up with abusive relatives: Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia, and his cousin Dudley Dursley.
Of course, this isn’t just a story about a neglected, abused boy, though. No, Harry had a sort of special quality about himself—like lightning-bolt-scar-on-forehead kind of special. Some would even say magical. Well, the half-giant Rubeus Hagrid says, “Harry—yer a wizard” (50).
Like most wizards and witches, Harry begins a new chapter of his life at Hogwarts, surrounded by students from all four houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Slytherin, and Ravenclaw. Despite his uncertainty for what’s to come, the boy makes lasting friendships that support him through ups and downs. He isn’t short of enemies either: Draco Malfoy (who hates him just because their friendship wasn’t meant to be) and Professor Snape (this guy’s history with the Potters goes way deeper, so we’ve reached a snag—or, should I say, stag).
While juggling hangouts with friends and clashes with rivals, Harry finds himself caught in a conspiracy: someone is after a powerful artifact hidden within the castle walls. With Ron and Hermione’s help, Harry sneaks around in the night and bravely passes magical tests to save the fate of the wizarding world.
The thing that immediately strikes present-day me is the youthful, jovial tone that Rowling employs—and I don’t mean using slang. Instead it’s the deliberate imagery and syntax that sucked younger-me straight into the story, kind of like how the Floo Network, a means of wizarding transportation, works. Consider when Harry finds letters addressed to himself, not any of the Dursleys. He progressively gets more aggressive, saying, “I want to read that letter. I want to read it. I WANT MY LETTER!” (35). We can feel the intensifying frustration embedded in the boy’s voice, thanks to Rowling’s brilliant use of repetition and varying fonts. She uses this effect to the book’s benefit everywhere. For instance, Peeves, the resident poltergeist, snitches on the Golden Trio as they sneak around: “STUDENTS OUT OF BED! STUDENTS OUT OF BED DOWN THE CHARMS CORRIDOR!” (159). The use of all caps is a refreshing touch that jumps out of the page in a good way; as a reader lurking around the halls alongside the three first-years, I feel a sense of urgency to run and hide. Rowling doesn’t shy away from wordplay, among other techniques such as situational irony and eye dialect (read: Hagrid).
Perhaps Rowling’s greatest strength lies in her foreshadowing. I felt my Inner Eye awaken during my latest read-through. If I had to sum up “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” (and, really, the entire series) in one sentence, it would be the visionary centaurs’ statement, “Mars is bright tonight” (254). An allusion to the Roman God of War, the phrase carries so much weight in its subtext: war is coming, which truly does appear in Harry’s encounters with general evil and his archnemesis Voldemort. Throughout the story, Rowling plants plot devices that only gain significance later on. For instance, Harry encounters the Mirror of Erised (desire spelled backwards) one winter night, but this powerful artifact comes into play beyond a source of endless want when he attempts to stop the robbery of the Sorcerer’s Stone. Even the Sorcerer’s Stone was hinted at by Hagrid’s visit to Dumbledore’s vault in Gringotts. Or, think about the Chosen One’s budding quidditch career with his trusty Nimbus 2000 broom. Rowling slyly drops in the topic of the broomstick-based wizarding sport during Harry and Hagrid’s trip to Diagon Alley, both in conversation and in setting.
I cannot understate the novel’s universality either; motifs have gained more nuance to me over time. Harry’s rejection of House Slytherin while wearing the Sorting Hat becomes more than a simple “I don’t like them; I don’t want them” situation: it’s a symbol of self-determination. Dumbledore presents as the traditional all-knowing old sage and while his words haven’t changed in the slightest, I understand his wisdom of love, courage, and humility to a greater degree. In the same vein, the theme of friendship has become ever more apparent through the late night adventures, quidditch matches, and confrontations with Malfoy and co.
In the years that have passed, the Wizarding World has expanded deep into and beyond Harry Potter-related lore and canon. I’m talking fanfictions, theories, video games, and HarryPotter.com itself. Universal Studios runs two Harry Potter theme parks featuring Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. Whatever you want—be it a wand, butterbear, House-themed robes, horcruxes, dragon eggs—they have it all. Warner Bros is even filming a new “Harry Potter” TV series with plans to adhere to the books’ original plots as closely as possible. It is set to release in 2026 on HBO.
But like Dumbledore, I digress. J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” is an unrivaled trendsetter, conceiving an immersive magical world that millions of Potterheads will always call home. To the wizards and witches among us, welcome back. To those who’ve yet to read the series, think of this as your Hogwarts acceptance letter. See you on Platform 9 ¾.
HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE
By J.K. Rowling
Scholastic Press. 309 pp. $19.95.