Harry is entering a very dark time of his mid-adolescence, and the powers surrounding him don’t make things a bit easy on the lad.

There’s so so much I could rave about in each of these books, but for this one I will highlight my awe at the beautifully narrated struggle of a fourteen year old boy as he faces his own inner demons, the evils of the world, and the flaws of his crumbling mentors.

These stories ring true of the teenage experience at each stage, and as I read them through a second time, the imagery, and the poetic balance of real world and the realm of magic open chasms of possible conversation with young people as they face their own struggles, not unlike those Harry faces. Minus the magic. Maybe.

I’m just over halfway through the series and looking forward to the next, and then looking forward to be able to read them all over again… these don’t get old.

PS: my 11 year old niece and I had a pact to read them again in 2022. She’s already done. What a kid…