Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is written by J. K. Rowlings and was published in 1999. This is the third of the popular book series about the adventures of Harry Potter, a young wizard. This book will be difficult to understand without reading the first two books in the series. The first book is Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. and the second is Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. I have made it through the first four books of the series so far and was pleased to find this third edition to be the most magical and exciting of the bunch so far.

Plot Information
When the book kicks off its summer again, and Harry is back at the home of his horrible relatives the Dursley’s waiting eagerly to return to Hogwart’s School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. While still in the Muggle world, Harry receives the news of the escape of Sirius Black, a dangerous murderer and follower of Voldemort, from the prisoner of Azbakan. This news rocks the wizard community and has major implications when Harry arrives back at Hogwart’s.

In the previous two books, readers have been introduced to an interesting variety of students and professors at Hogwart’s including Harry’s two best friends, Ron and Hermoine. This school year introduces a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, (a position the school just can’t seem to keep filled) Remus Lupin. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban offers a more complex and spooky plot than its predecessors, and also answers some important questions surrounding the death of Harry’s parents.

What I Liked
This is a really, really good book! The first two are page turners as well but Prisoner of Azkaban offers a new level of intensity. Several times I found myself tensed up and holding my breath as I read the book, and I even knew what was going to happen because I saw the movie first! Rowling scatters clues unobtrusively throughout the story which means that although it is unlikely the reader will guess what will happen, the outcome always makes perfect sense. The story leads your brain in all different directions but everything fits together in the end. You have to think a little while you’re reading this one which makes it much more enjoyable for adults.

Lots of exciting new characters and places make an appearance in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Third year students are allowed to take day trips to the magical village of Hogsmeade, which provides a new place for students and teachers to interact. It was nice to read about adventures somewhere besides the school or the Dursley's house. I thought the book’s length was just about perfect too. My copy had 433 pages. The first couple books fly by too quickly, and the later books get very lengthy. This one was just the right length to introduce the new conflicts and characters and tie up the ends logically while still leaving some issues for the next book.

What I Didn’t
I have very little to complain about with this book. However, I will say I’ve become a little bit tired of the way each story starts out with Harry living with the Dursley’s. It’s become predictable and formulaic the way he lives there, is mistreated for a while, pulls a magic trick that upsets them, and then hurries back to school. Why can’t he just stay at school for the summer? It’s a minor complaint, but I am a little tired of every story starting with the dreadful Dursleys.

This isn’t a complaint for me personally, but this book is scarier than the first two and might be too much for some children.

Overall…
This book really got me excited to dig into the rest of the series. There are sad, happy, and scary moments and I became even more attached to Harry. If you liked the first two books I think you will enjoy this one even more.

*Check out my reviews on the books...
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets


Recommended: Yes