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 review
The Extraordinary Colors of Auden Dare by Zillah Bethell, Reviewed by Abhi Sukhdial
The Extraordinary Colors of Auden Dare (TECAD) is one of the best books I’ve read in quite a long time. Unlike books like Wonder, it doesn’t just depict the life of a disabled kid who’s initially bullied but then later becomes accepted by society. Instead, it tells an action-packed love story (although it is one between a boy and his robot!) in only 300 pages without ever feeling like any part of it is unnecessary. The book creatively incorporates many different genres, and that makes it very unique. TECAD tells the story of Auden Dare, a boy who is color-blind. He lives during a time when people (including his dad) are fighting over water, the precious liquid we’ve used for so long. When he is forced to move with his mom to a house called Unicorn Cottage (the place where his uncle used to live before his recent death), he, as you may have guessed, is not too happy. At the cottage though, he soon discovers a lot of secrets about his uncle’s past. (Remember the uncle! He is going to be very important later on). Auden visits Trinity College, where his uncle used to work, and notices that his uncle’s room is completely unorganized and messy, making him question if his uncle really did die from a “small heart attack”. At his new school, Auden meets a girl named Vivi, who becomes his best friend in just a few weeks. They soon hang out with each other and have sleepovers! But what they also discover together is that both of them know Auden’s uncle, and used to play with him. It seems Auden has some company! Auden tells Vivi about a file he discovered in his uncle’s office called “Project Rainbow” (PR). After searching and scavenging, trying to find out what PR is, they soon discover something mind-boggling—a robot hidden underground named Paragon, who has no memory of himself. Auden and Vivi both know their uncle made it, but why? As their experiences with the robot grow and grow, they themselves go through many emotions, including feelings of surprise, anger, love, and hatred during the simple process of learning just who this robot is. The reason TECAD is so exciting is that the book is always leaving you hanging at every part, making you want to read it nonstop. Who is this robot? What is Project Rainbow? What is happening to Auden’s dad in the Water Wars? All these little pieces of suspense lead up to one of the best finales in a book I’ve ever read, with so many twists and turns that you think it’s an Agatha Christie book! Another reason I like the book is because Auden is a unique character. Unlike other books about kids with disabilities, this one doesn’t focus on his color-blind vision. Instead of focusing on it as a problem, and then showing later how the problem doesn’t matter, and that he is unique and special (yes, Wonder I’m talking to you!), it focuses on the disability as a perspective on the world. Auden always feels the whole world is black for him, not literally, but also metaphorically. The book tells of looking at the world differently. This not only makes the book more exciting but also much more emotional. Why did I find it emotional? Because I’m a kid with no disabilities. So instead of focusing on a disability I can’t relate to, the book focuses on a perspective everyone can relate to. When we feel there’s no hope in this world. When we think everything is lost. This idea of showing how having a disability shapes the way one sees or perceives the world is in my opinion much more creative than just talking about the disability. The friendship between Auden, Vivi, and the robot is also fantastic. Sure, there’s some cheesy dialogue and embarrassing scenes, but it’s suitable for the most part. Mainly because Auden never likes the robot at first. It takes him almost the whole book to truly love the robot. That’s what a good relationship is in my opinion. One where it doesn’t start off well at first, but then later turns out to be one of the most surprising and emotional relationships of all time! TECAD is one of my favorite books not only because the writing is descriptive, and the dialogue is pitch-perfect, but also because the very idea behind the story makes for an emotional, suspenseful, surprising novel that is exciting from start to finish. It’s a book I recommend everyone should read, especially during this quarantine. The Extraordinary Colors of Auden Dare by Zillah Bethell. Feiwel & Friends, 2018. Buy the book here and support Stone Soup in the process!
Oliver Twist, Reviewed by Enni, 13
“Please, sir… I want some more.” These words have become a catchphrase through the countless adaptations of Charles Dickens’s novel Oliver Twist. What makes this phrase so powerful is how it signifies the inner suffering and desperation of Oliver’s childhood. Written in 1837, Oliver Twist is a tale of crime, misfortune, love, and hope. Dickens brings dozens of characters to life in order to reveal the suffering of the poor and portray the reality of everyday life in Victorian England. From the start, Oliver’s childhood is full of misfortune. As an orphan, he is transported to a workhouse at the age of nine. There, he toils for hours, stopping his work only to be given a stingy portion of gruel. Oliver is selected by the other starving boys to implore for more food. Infuriated, the workhouse officials sell him to a funeral director. As an apprentice, Oliver is abused and flees to London. In London, Oliver meets a boy known as Jack Dawkins, or the Artful Dodger. Dawkins introduces Oliver to Fagin, an old man who houses a band of young pickpockets. Fagin welcomes Oliver, but a few days later Oliver is falsely arrested, declared innocent, and taken in by a wealthy old gentleman. Meanwhile, Fagin is upset to find Oliver missing and decides to kidnap him with the aid of his accomplice, Bill Sykes. Thus begins an endless clash over possession of Oliver. The incredible thing about Oliver is that despite being tormented, bullied, and abused, he continues to see people positively and treats everyone with respect. Oliver is like a ray of hope in a land of sorrow. He possesses the innocence and compassion which others lack. Although I admire Oliver’s courage and kindness, I find his calm acceptance slightly irritating. I often wish he would retaliate, rather than await rescue. Additionally, Oliver tends to be oblivious to the suffering of others because he is so wrapped up in his own. Due to this, Oliver is not a character that resonates with me.Despite his faults, the Artful Dodger has always been my favorite character. Unlike Oliver, Dodger makes light of his situation and aims for a better life. Dodger and Oliver share common misfortunes, but where calamities weaken Oliver, they only sharpen the Dodger’s wits. Another character frequently overlooked is Fagin. Although Fagin is a criminal, I believe he is compassionate on the inside because he looks after the orphans. He is actually teaching them a way to survive in training them to pickpocket, because there weren’t many ways for orphans to make a living back then. Fagin, Dodger, and Oliver each represent timeless aspects of society. Oliver represents hope and innocence. On the other hand, Fagin represents greed but also compassion. Lastly, the Artful Dodger represents the poor, working class youth striving for a better future. The Artful Dodger has resilience and persistence, yet Oliver tends to be luckier. Perhaps this is because Dickens was promoting kindness, compassion, and honesty. Dawkins lacks honesty, which is why he doesn’t achieve happiness. Meanwhile, Oliver Twist has all of these values, and is eventually cared for and loved. This story is also an example of karma. Oliver is unique because he treats everyone respectfully. In the end, what comes around goes around to everyone. It’s difficult to establish characters as righteous or evil because real people are more complex. The characters are what bring this story to life and make it seem so real to us. Oliver Twist is a touching tale that has remained a timeless classic over the centuries, and I would recommend it to anyone. Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens. Penguin Books, 1838. Buy the book here and support Stone Soup in the process!
