Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Book 3)
by J.K. Rowling
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Book Summary Information
Author: J.K. RowlingBrand: Listening Library (Audio)
Illustrator: Mary GrandPré
Edition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1999-09
ISBN: 0439136350
Number of pages: 435
Publisher: Scholastic
Product features:
- ISBN13: 9780439136358
- Condition: New
- Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
Book Reviews of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Book 3)
Book Review: Harry Potter: Well-Baked?
Summary: 5 Stars
To the children of today, life is usually not as good as they would like it to be. The world they are growing into and coming to know is dull, demanding, and disappointing. They never get what they want from their parents, and are always hoping that they are, in reality, special people. Therefore, Harry Potter is the realization of their every dream. And according to the New York Times bestsellers list as of September 19, 1999, there may be more "children" out there than expected. As Book Three of Joanne K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, was released that week, Book One, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, was at number one, and Book Two, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, was at number three. The third book of Rowling's seven-book series shows, just as well as each of the first two, why Harry Potter's adventures have been able to attract millions of readers worldwide. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban takes place mostly within the premises of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, with a few visits to the nearby wizard community, Hogsmeade. Hogwarts is an excellent setting because of the freedom its students are given. This adds to the effect of the countless ways in which young readers can relate to Harry. Harry has gone from a restrictive family environment, which many children and youths today would eagerly acknowledge to being in, into a place where he can spend his free time in any way he wants, which children and youths are yearning for. In the wizard world, there exists a whole new set of vocabulary in addition to the one used in the ordinary world. Terms such as "Muggles" (ordinary people), "Quidditch" (the popular wizard sport in which teams compete on flying brooms), and "every flavour beans" (a candy that can taste like everything from chocolate to earwax) add to the readers' sense of being a part of Harry's world. The diction in this story not only adds to the friendliness of the book, but also introduces new words to the vocabulary of its younger readers. Words such as "marauder", "clairvoyant", "purveyor", and "abysmally" may even embellish the vocabulary of older readers. Unfortunately, parents and guardians may need to note that there is one word, occurring two or three times in this story, which may add an undesirable flavour to a child's speech: "damn". This is definitely one word even the Muggle world, let alone the wizard world, can do without. The biggest contribution of the setting to the story's overall effect is to the atmosphere. Rowling has been able to recognise the importance of setting consistent routines and standards. Only when these are in place can certain events be considered special and cause excitement. They also instil a sense of belonging, especially in those who have read the previous books in the series. The simplicity of characters in this story facilitates readers' accurate identification of the characters and therefore the readers would experience the emotions that Rowling plans for them at each stage of the story. Since the roles represent typical stereotypes, it is as if the readers already have an idea of the characters before they have even read the book. This adds to the familiarity that is achieved between the readers and the characters in the story. The most obvious and, at first glance, dominant theme running throughout Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is good versus evil. However, permeating the whole story, even more so than the theme of good versus evil, is the theme of appearance versus reality. Often times readers are led to believe one version of a situation, but end up being surprised at what has really happened, or does happen. This is the most evident and significant as the truth about a situation is revealed at the climax of the story. The ability of Rowling to suggest a most likely possibility about the situation, while maintaining consistency with the truth such that the acute reader would notice something amiss, makes her "deceit" the highlight of the story's many assets. As the perfect book can only be achieved within the subjective mind of a reader, so can there be pinpointed a few blemishes in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. The idea of placing Harry in an oppressive family may allow some young readers to relate. That, in itself, is a sound literary strategy. However, Rowling goes on to depict rebellious behaviour displayed by none other than the story's hero, Harry. Not only does Harry feel justified in his actions; he is also not punished, but rewarded for them as the plot develops. In the second chapter, a series of events lead to Harry's unwarranted departure from home. This is how Harry's adventure begins in this story. Within that short sequence of events, a child reader learns that it is all right to break rules and attack others when provoked, as long as there is justification. Also learned is that running away from home would be the start of a great adventure; and there will not be punishment for breaking the rules, as one is special. Children may see the way Harry handles his situations and the outcomes as ideal, and this may have a disastrous effect as they try to apply their Harry Potter knowledge in real life. On the whole, the good aspects outweigh the bad aspects in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. It is a heart-warming tale that is comparable to the reputable Disney productions. It gives its readers, adults and children alike, a sense of place and hope, in this world where people are ever trying to redefine good and evil. This book satisfies the child as well as the child within, as it builds upon a naïve perspective of good and evil a story about a boy who succeeds in his endeavours against adversaries with flying colours, despite many trials and hardship. Although this exciting and fun-packed epic of Harry may leave your head spinning, just remember to keep your moral senses alert and don't let it play the Potter.
Summary of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Book 3)
During his third year at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry, Harry Potter must confront the devious and dangerous wizard responsible for his parents' deaths.For most children, summer vacation is something to look forward to. But not for our 13-year-old hero, who's forced to spend his summers with an aunt, uncle, and cousin who detest him. The third book in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series catapults into action when the young wizard "accidentally" causes the Dursleys' dreadful visitor Aunt Marge to inflate like a monstrous balloon and drift up to the ceiling. Fearing punishment from Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon (and from officials at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry who strictly forbid students to cast spells in the nonmagic world of Muggles), Harry lunges out into the darkness with his heavy trunk and his owl Hedwig.
As it turns out, Harry isn't punished at all for his errant wizardry. Instead he is mysteriously rescued from his Muggle neighborhood and whisked off in a triple-decker, violently purple bus to spend the remaining weeks of summer in a friendly inn called the Leaky Cauldron. What Harry has to face as he begins his third year at Hogwarts explains why the officials let him off easily. It seems that Sirius Black--an escaped convict from the prison of Azkaban--is on the loose. Not only that, but he's after Harry Potter. But why? And why do the Dementors, the guards hired to protect him, chill Harry's very heart when others are unaffected? Once again, Rowling has created a mystery that will have children and adults cheering, not to mention standing in line for her next book. Fortunately, there are four more in the works. (Ages 9 and older) --Karin Snelson
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