Young Adult Book Club discussion

This was the one book in the Harry Potter series that I did not enjoy very much. I felt like it was a big waste with Sirius being evil and then turns out it was just a hoodwink. While I like the idea of misinformation I thought the suspense was drawn out way too long.

I think Voldemort is not the main focus because Rowling was trying to back fill the main story with a lot of information. I really think she could have nested Book 3 into Books 1 and 2 without a major loss of content.

Harry is a remarkable character in that he possesses a very strong morality. He chooses not to kill bc he is pure hearted to the core, the antithesis of Voldemort.

I think Sirius because he never truly understood what had happened until he saw the rat (which he knew was a threat). Its one thing to be wrongfully imprisoned but to not even fully understand what had happened.

You can't let your fears dictate your life. You can be challenged by them but you have to learn how to accept them.

Robin wrote: "1)My favorite part in the book is when Harry and Hermione go back in time to save Buckbeak and Sirius.
2)I don't know if Sirius would have said anything to Harry, It's true that he was a wanted man..."

That's an interesting point about the Weasleys trying to cast a spell on Pettigrew in book 1. That actually shows great foresight on Rowling's part to weave the story together!

1) My favorite part in this book, are the DADA scenes, this is the first year they have a good teacher and I love seeing how Lupin interacts with the students and how well they learn from him.
2) I don't think Sirius would have introduced himself, that scene was likely the first time since Sirius' sentence that he had seen Harry and he wouldn't have felt ready to confront Harry.
3) I think this book was needed to give important back-story for characters coming into the plot and a way to prepare for future events. By writing this book, instead of a prequel, Harry still got to develop and get more "screen-time" and grow.
4) They only had a certain amount of time to do what they needed before they caught up to just after turning the time-turner to go back, for the amount of time they went backwards, saving Sirius and Buckbeak was most important and productive.
5) Harry has seen and felt the damage caused by murder, even if it is justified. He doesn't want to be just another villain that kills other people, like Voldemort and Pettigrew.
6)Pettigrew was more of a prisoner. Sirius was not affected by the dementors and because he escaped, he was clearly not as imprisoned as he could have been. Pettigrew was stuck inside of a rat body that was put through many trials due to the Weasley boys.
7)By focusing on the light, you can make a bad situation get better or go completely good, and also sharing your fears with others can help you confront them; since Lupin had them reveal their boggarts in front of the entire class.