I love Harry Potter. J.K. Rowling’s writing is interesting, accessible, and will have you laughing, and especially crying, with the characters as you read through the series. I’ve noticed that while looking through Stone Soup’s book reviews, all the reviews relating to Harry Potter are either of the first book or the whole series (or perhaps of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child). I realize that this is the easier angle to take, however, I would like to write a review discussing one of the middle books from a more stand-alone-like perspective. Obviously, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, The Chamber of Secrets, and The Prisoner of Azkaban, books one, two, and three of the series, should be read first. Some things would be very confusing if you didn’t. But, forgetting the end of the book for now, which sort of ends with a tremendous cliff-hanger (I won’t say any more than that), Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is a very good book in and of itself. It opens with a mystery of Harry’s scar hurting, and a strange dream. But this is nearly forgotten in the fun of reuniting with Ron and Hermione for the Quidditch World Cup, and Harry is having the time of his life. Then something terrible happens. As a reader, you are just as confused as Harry by the whole situation. Then, once at Hogwarts, Harry’s name is drawn out of the Goblet of Fire to compete in the triwizard tournament; even though he’s not seventeen. This puts people, his closest friends included, against him, but soon the strangeness of it is forgotten in the intensity of the tournament itself. The appearance of a house elf at the Quidditch World Cup sets Hermione off in an effort to get fair treatment for house elves. This is a refreshing side-plot during the story, as it brings out a side of Hermione that readers have not yet really seen and takes everyone’s mind off of the triwizard tournament for brief stretches of time. This sounds like too much is going on; there are too many loose ends. And if you are not familiar with J.K. Rowling’s writing, you may wonder how in the world is she going to manage to tie it all up? But she does. Another thing that I enjoyed in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was the ending. I am unable to say much, or I will spoil the whole book. But the end of the book, the climax of it all, is Harry’s alone. In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry, Ron, and Hermione all help in the end. In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, it is Harry and Ron. In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, it is Harry and Hermione, as Ron is in the hospital with a broken leg. But, in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the readers get something that they have not really gotten before: how Harry reacts to an extremely dangerous situation when he is all alone. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love Ron and Hermione. Hermione might be my favorite character, because she reminds me largely of myself. However, Harry is the protagonist of the whole series. He needed a fight for himself, and this happens in the fourth book. I appreciate that. I strongly recommend the Harry Potter series. The books tie wonderfully into each other. But remember, try to think about the book itself, and not just how it fits into the series. It lends a new perspective to the reading. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling. Arthur A. Levine Books, 2000. Buy the book here and support Stone Soup in the process!
Book Reviews
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, Reviewed by Kathleen, 10
The book The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy, is a book about friendship, love, and accepting each other. There really is not much of a story line, but you do learn so much about all of these characters. “One of our greatest freedoms is how we react to things.” (Excerpt from when the mole is talking to the boy.) The horse just wants to be accepted for who he is. The boy thinks he is ordinary but loves love. The mole loves cake …and cake. And, the fox just thinks he has nothing interesting to say. Together, they learn that love can bring them together and that friendship can show love. And, they find out how friendship can bring them together. They teach the readers all about it, as well. The characters teach how friendship can show love and how love is friendship. The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse is a very positive book and it’s a quick read. This book is for all ages, no matter how young or how old you are. The story radiates positivity and would make you happy any old day. As well as being positive, it also has a good motto: Even if you do think that you’re ordinary, you do not need to change. Being ordinary or strange in a certain way can be good. This book has a lot of pictures. The art is so much fun to interpret as you read into its unique style of pictures and text. The text in the book is kind of like cursive but sort of looks like someone hand wrote it? Maybe someone did! Lastly, I think this is a great book for anyone to pass around friend to friend as I received it from my neighbor yesterday (wrapped in a sterile bag to protect my grandfather, parents and I in case of any transmission of Covid-19.) Now I am going to try to draw a cat and dog in Mr. Mackesy style! The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy. HarperOne, 2019. Buy the book here and support Stone Soup in the process!
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, Reviewed by Samson, 12
My fingers rub against the bottom corner of the book, waiting to turn the page. I reach the last word and turn it frantically. “What’s going to happen?” I cry out. “Is Connor okay?” After the page has been turned my eyes land back on the words without a moment’s hesitation. I am so wrapped up in the book that when Mom comes into my room I jump. “What the-” She puts her hand on my shoulder gently. “Time for bed, sweetie.” I groan but get ready for bed. Lying in bed, I wonder what could happen to Connor. I glance up at the clock. 11:00. “If I were to turn on the light…” I mutter quietly. “And read A Monster Calls, would I get in trouble?” Shrugging, I turn on the light and grab my book. “Worth the risk.” The story of Connor wraps me into it immediately. It twists and turns without ever feeling like the author just wanted to mix it up a bit. You could never know what was going to happen next in the intricate web of the story. It was amazing. BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! I look up, surprised, my alarm is going off like crazy. I rub my eyes. I had been up from 11:00 to 1:00 a.m. just reading A Monster Calls. I let out a quiet laugh and get ready for school. Sitting in front of the door, I take out my book yet again. I’m ready for school, but there’s still at least half an hour until everyone else is ready. The second I open the book, I am in Connor’s world. I can see the monster standing in front of me, and I feel Connor’s fear. Or the lack of it. I feel the hard cement under my body as Harry pushes Connor down the steps. I can taste the blood in my mouth that Patrick Ness describes. I can feel what it feels like without it getting too gory, and I am glad we don’t have bullies at my school. Instead of thinking poor Connor, I think OW! This hurts. Oh no! Grandma! It is as if Connor is me and I am Connor. I finish the last page and let out a cry. “NOOOO!” I scream, devastated. “NOOO! It can’t be over!” But it is. I shake my head and reach for another book, but I don’t know yet that I will turn to this book many times. As of now, I have read it at least three times, and I listen to the audiobook every time I have nothing to do. Folding laundry – put on A Monster Calls. Waiting for inspiration to strike? Put on A Monster Calls. Have nothing to do and are just staring at the walls in your room? Put on A Monster Calls. It is the best book I have ever read and I love it so much. It covers some heavy concepts such as when Connor’s mom is really sick, but I would recommend it to anyone and everyone. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness. Candlewick Press, 2013. Buy the book here and support Stone Soup in the process!
