Play Book Tag discussion

And so it goes that the third child, almost 11, comes to the end of Book Five this morning! Harry Potter Five is significant, and as everyone says, darker. Because Harry now finds himself landed not just navigating Hogwarts, but the outer wizarding world - who along with Long Voldemort, seek to see him silenced. The sides are drawing up. Harry sees that his darkness threatens everyone around him, even as he tries to navigate the social world, like dating a cute whiny girl. Dumbledore is distant, Arthur is attacked - Sirius and Lupin are far away. The Evil Delores Umbridge arrives makes Harry's and everyone's life miserable! And in a dazzling flourish, Fred and George leave Hogwarts. His scar hurts and he sees Lord Voldemort's evil sinister hatred and quest and thirst for power. Losses are everywhere. He is bereft and alone.

But, there are young kids who believe in him and are ready to learn to fight. There is the girl, there is friendship and love, there are adults who stand for him, Hagrid, McGonagle, even Peeves, and Dumbledore reveals what we have all suspected all along. The nature of the prophecy that connects Harry and Voldemort, and that he has loved Harry and tried to protect him, and keep him happy. And that Harry is protected by that fierce love of everyone's - and stands by it. My kids laugh at the Waterworks at the end, but I also know they are moved.

Review from 2019:

Who doesn't love Harry Potter. Just finished Book Five with my middle child, and body does he have questions? So many things he wants to know. And I can't tell him the answers because the answers are contained in the next two books. What a pleasure this series is. I think he really loved the revelation of the prophecy - and of course, so did I.