Author: J.K. Rowling
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Copyright Date: 1999
Genre: Fantasy
About the Author:
J.K. Rowling began writing stories when she was six years old. She started working on the Harry Potter sequence in 1990, when, she says, "the idea.... simply fell into my head." The first book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, was published in the United Kingdom in 1997 and the United States in 1998. Since then, books in the Harry Potter series have been honored with many prizes, including the Anthony Award, the Hugo Award, the Bram Stoker Award, the Whitbread Children's Book Award, the Nestle Smarties Book Prize and the British Book Awards Children's Book of the Year, as well as New York Times Notable Children's Book, and ALA Best Book for Young Adults citations. Ms. Rowling has been named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. She lives in Scotland with her family.
Rowling, J.K. (1999). Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. United States of America:
Scholastic Inc.
Curriculum Ties:
- Analyze how complex characters (e.g., those with multiple or conflicting motivations) develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme.
- Analyze a particular point of view or cultural experience reflected in a work of literature from outside the United States, drawing on a wide reading of world literature.
- Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone (e.g., how the language evokes a sense of time and place; how it sets a formal or informal tone).
Plot Summary:
In this third book of the seven part series of Harry Potter, Harry begins by accidentally inflating his horrible aunt, which puts him briefly on the run, until the authorities assure him that the situation is not serious. While he is out, he finds out that a dangerous criminal has escaped from prison, the titular Azkaban, and is planning to kill Harry. Harry is escorted to school with his two best friends, Ron and Hermione, and soon meet a new defense against the dark arts teacher, Professor Lupin, and the new security guards around the school, dark creatures who feed off of happy emotions, called dementors. It soon become clear that the school has become more dangerous, and more complicated, with Hermoine mysteriously disappearing at times, and the divination teacher giving ominous predictions. During the school year, Harry learns more about the criminal out to kill him, Professor Lupin’s connection to his past, and the history of the school itself.
Critical Evaluation:
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban has a similar tone as the previous books. They are somewhat lighter, going over events in the course of the school year and addressing the more entertaining aspects of it, like the trips to Hogsmeades. However, overlaying this lighter tone is a clear threat, which continually comes to the forefront of Harry’s mind, namely, the dementors and the threat of Sirius Black. The plot is largely character driven, discussing Harry’s learning of Sirius Black’s role in Harry’s parents murders, Lupin’s budding friendship with Harry, and the interactions between Ron, Harry, and Hermoine. This format ensures that the supporting characters are well fleshed out, with each one getting plenty of time to show their natures and reference their history, like Lupin’s kindness to Neville when dealing with the Boggart. The book is the third in the series, which does mean that characters introduced previously have less background explained, but the book does assume prior knowledge of this which is understandable.
Readers Annotation:
Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts to find that things have changed. A wanted criminal is hunting him, dark creatures are being used to guard the castle, and a new teacher seems to have a special interest in him. With these problems, Harry will have to find answers to why he is being pursued and about his own past.
Book Talk Ideas:
- Give a Background to the book with summaries of the previous books. Discuss what Harry has learned so far.
- Talk about Harry's friends and how they help him. Also, talk about the adults in Harry's life, and what they do for him.
Reading Level/ Interest Age: 8-13/8-18
Challenge Issues:
- Extensive witchcraft throughout the book.
- Frightening and intense moments in the book.
Defense Collection:
- Gr 4-8-Isn't it reassuring that some things just get better and better? Harry is back and in fine form in the third installment of his adventures at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. His summer with the hideous Dursley family is cut short when, during a fit of quite understandable rage, he turns his Aunt Marge into an enormous balloon and then runs away. Soon, it becomes quite apparent that someone is trying to kill him; even after Harry is ensconed in the safety of fall term at Hogwarts, the attacks continue. Myriad subplots involving a new teacher with a secret, Hermione's strangely heavy class schedule, and enmity between Ron's old rat, Scabbers, and Hermione's new cat, Crookshanks, all mesh to create a stunning climax. The pace is nonstop, with thrilling games of Quidditch, terrifying Omens of Death, some skillful time travel, and lots of slimy Slytherins sneaking about causing trouble. This is a fabulously entertaining read that will have Harry Potter fans cheering for more.-Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.
- Gr. 4-8. Rowling follows basically the same formula in each Harry Potter book , all the while maintaining the same high levels of freshness and quality. Here Harry, along with his sidekicks Ron and Hermione, once again faces great danger. It's become known that the infamous murderer Sirus Black has broken out of the supposedly escape-proof Azkaban fortress and is after Harry. Hence, Harry finds himself restricted to the Hogwarts campus, where everyone can keep an eye on him. Not one to let things like this stand in his way, Harry, with the help of his Invisibility Cape, manages to get into town and into trouble. Harry also finds himself beset by his usual school nemeses, Malfoy and his cronies, as well as Professor Snape, who seems to hate Harry even more than before. Rowling stirs all this together and leavens it with the now-expected generous helping of humor. Add to this the dementors, who "are among the foulest creatures that walk this earth," draining peace, hope, and happiness out of humans; a werewolf, who teaches Defense Against the Dark Arts; a magical map; and a bit of time travel. What results once again is a good story well told, one that is not only a cut above most fantasies for the age group but is also attractive to readers from beyond both ends of the spectrum. The Harry Potter books have the same sense of continuity found in Brian Jacques' popular Redwall saga--with villains, heroes, schemers, and innocents all firmly in their places, the seemingly impossible solved, and good triumphing over evil. And we wait impatiently for the next episode. ((Booklist reviewed September 1, 1999)) -- Sally Estes
- Awards:
- ALA Notable Children's Books: 2000
- BILBY - Books I Love Best Yearly (Australia) : Older Reader
- Booklist Editors' Choice - Books for Youth - Middle Readers Category: 1999
- Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award
- Costa Book Awards (formerly the Whitbread Book Award): Children's Book Award
- Golden Archer Awards (Wisconsin): Intermediate
- Indian Paintbrush Book Award (Wyoming)
- Locus Awards: Fantasy Novel
- Maine Student Book Award
- Nestle Children's Book Prize - Nine to Eleven Year Olds: Gold Award Winners
- Soaring Eagle Book Award (Wyoming)
- YALSA Best Books for Young Adults: 2000
- Freedom to Read Statement
- ALA Library Bill of Rights
- Springville Public Library Collection Development Policy
- The Library Director and designated staff actively evaluate and select materials. The Springville Public Library Board, acting under the authority given to it by Title 4, Chapter 6 of the Springville Municipal Code and Title 09 of the Utah State Code, has the ultimate responsibility for the determination of the policies for selection and acquisition of materials.
- Library materials are selected based on the following (not necessarily in order of priority):
- Local public demand and usage potential
- Popularity
- Subject coverage
- Relevance
- Accuracy and currency
- Presentation, readability and format
- Point of view (all sides)
- Cost
- Local connection
- Social values
- Collection balance
- To assess the item based on the above criteria, staff utilize:
- Nationally recognized and relevant pre-publication reviews
- Staff expertise
- Bestseller lists
- Patron recommendations and requests
- Reliable social media reviews
Purpose in the Collection:
The Harry Potter series represents an important cultural phenomenon. It is incredibly popular, and highly awarded. As such, it is important to have in a collection for all ages, because it will be checked out and used.
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