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Rowling, J. K.
HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE
New York : A. A. Levine Books, 1998
IL 5-8  RL 5.3
ISBN 0590353403

(7 booktalks)

Click on the book to read Amazon reviews
Booktalk #1

Harry Potter lives a miserable life with his aunt and uncle in England. Orphaned as an infant, Harry was taken in by his relatives but they make it clear that they don't want him. As a matter of fact, they dote on their own son Dudley who is a spoiled brat. Dudley gets anything he wants and Harry gets nothing -- not even a birthday card. All this changes when his 11th birthday rolls around. Harry receives a letter but his uncle won't let him see it. The next day he receives two letters but again he is not allowed to see them. Each day goes by and he receives more and more letters. In desparation, Uncle Vernon takes the family out to a remote island. Even that can't stop the letters. You see, the letters inform Harry that he has been accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It turns out that Harry's parents were famous wizards and he is to follow in their footsteps. He knows nothing of spells and dragons or even how to play Quidditch. How can a child who has been raised in the Muggle world compete with children who have been raised to be wizards? What does all this have to do with the scar on his head? Why is everyone at Hogwarts in awe of the famous Harry Potter when Harry himself feels so out of place? Follow Harry in his first year at Hogwarts to find out.

Booktalk #2

This enchanting book is about Harry Potter, a miserable 11 year old boy living in a tiny closet at the bottom of the stairs in his aunt and uncle's house. His stuck up Aunt Petunia, his selfish Uncle Vernon, and, worst of all, his greedy, fat cousin Dudley are the only family he knows of. They treat him horribly. They make him clean the house. They deprive him of his youth and he hasn't celebrated his birthday for eleven years. Every time he has a birthday, all he receives is a pair of Dudley's old socks or a toothpick. But what he doesn't know is that this is all about to change suddenly. He receives thousand of anonymous letters delivered by an owl, and Uncle Vernon is determined not to let him see them. His family knows a secret that they are not planning on telling him anytime soon. If only he could find out what this mysterious secret is. To find out, read HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE. (Shawna M., 8th grade student, Rundlett Middle School, Concord, New Hampshire)

Booktalk #3

This book is a great book for people of all ages.  Because of Harry's amazing ability to capture the interest of the reader, the series has been one, two and three on the New York Times best seller's list for weeks.  Read about how Harry escapes from his wicked aunt and uncle and joins his fellow wizards at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.  Join Harry as he fights off his arch enemy, Lord Voldemort, the evil villain who killed Harry's parents and is now after him.  Marvel at Harry's ability to fly a broom stick and laugh at his misfortunes in the class room.  Will Harry survive his endeavors with Voldemort or will he parish just like his parents did?  Find out in HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE.  (Mike B., 8th grade student, Rundlett Middle School, Concord, New Hampshire)

Booktalk #4

Harry Potter has been treated horribly by his aunt and uncle and uncle Dursley, not only have they lied about the tragic death of his which and wizard parents, but also has made him that of a slave. By doing long hours of labor, sleeping in a spider infested cupboard under the stairs, and even making him wear old nasty hand-me-down clothes from his obnoxious slang of a cousin’ Dudley. How has Harry put up with this outrageous family for 11 years? Maybe there’s hope.  (Danielle Marie Dziuba, Mansfield High school student)

Booktalk #5

Harry Potter is an orphan who is mistreated by family members that took him in.  He comes to find out on his birthday that he is in fact a wizard.  This book tells about how Harry's life changes in the blink of an eye.  He meets new friends and goes away to a new school to learn magic.  It is a great book that transports the reader to a different time and place.  (Shannon Cyrus, student of ACTC)

Booktalk #6

Harry Potter and the sorcerer’s stone is a great book in my opinion. I would recommend this book to anybody who likes wizardry, action, suspense, action, and mystery. The book is really fun to read.
The book starts out talking about The Dursley’s who are Harry Potter’s aunt and uncle. The Dursley’s are Muggles (Non magical Humans,) and how there life is. When Voldermont (called You-Know-Who in the book,) killed Harry Potter’s parents he couldn't kill Harry for a reason nobody knows. Garry was dropped off at the front Porch of his aunt and Uncle’s house. His aunt and uncle hate him and his mom. When gharry was older the Dursley’s sun kept bullying Harry with himself and his Gang. On Harry Potter’s 11th birthday the Giant from Hogwarts tells him he is a wizard and has just been accepted to Hogwarts School of witchcraft and Wizardry. When Harry arrives at Hogwarts he is made a Gryffindor the top class with his new friend Ron. When harry got his wand it was very weird because he got the brother wand of the wand Voldermont (You-Know-Who) killed Harry Potter’s parent’s with and made Harry’s lightning bolt scar with.  (Georgio, K-12 student)

Booktalk #7

Hello boys and girls!
I want you to close your eyes

And I want you to imagine what it would be like to be raised by a family who treats you poorly

To have your bed be in the broom closet under the stairs,

And to feel everyday like you just don't fit it in.

Now I want you to imagine what it would be like to
one day receive a letter informing that you are invited to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the finest school of magic in the world.

I want you to imagine that you just found out that your mum was a witch and your dad was a wizard.
And that you are famous among all people in the Wizarding world.

I invite you Boys and Girls to enter the Magical World of Harry Potter.

Begin your journey into his world by reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by JK Rowling.

By the end of Chapter 1, you'll find yourself hooked into the story & eager to discover what's to come next.

Boys and Girls,
Don’t be intimidated by the 300 pages of this book
Because you will be so hooked into the story that you will be finished reading the entire book before you can even pronounce the spell: Wingardium Leviosa!

JK Rowling has written 6 other books that continue exciting Modern Fantasy Adventure of Harry Potter

Pick up a copy today.
(Kim Stickelmaier, ka-stickelmaier@wiu.edu, college student)

SUBJECTS:     Potter, Harry (Fictitious character) -- Fiction.
                        Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (Imaginary place) -- Fiction.
                        Wizards -- Fiction.
                        Magic -- Fiction.
                        Schools -- Fiction.
                        England -- Fiction.

© 

Permission is granted for the noncommercial duplication and use of this resource, provided it is substantially unchanged from its present form and appropriate credit is given.