Sequel even better... (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - J. K. Rowling)

Member Name: tairrie

Product:	Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - J. K. Rowling
Date:	14/12/00 (13 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: exciting, great story, fascinating characters and events

Disadvantages: probably scary for younger children?

If you have no idea as to what Harry Potter is all about, you should read the comments on the first volume ("Philosophers Stone") first, I don't want to repeat myself here.

The sequel is even better and well worth the fuss that's being made about Harry Potter. I think you COULD read it if you haven't read the first one because bits and pieces of information are strewn in to help you understand if you don't know what happened before. (A bit tedious though if you already know everything...) :-)

Harry spends the holidays at the Dursleys', his aunt Petunia's family and of course he's having a very bad time again. And what is worse, no news from his Hogwarts friends either although Ron had invited him to stay with his family. Of course it wouldn't be Harry Potter if no strange things happened around him causing the Dursley's to lock Harry up in his room.

He escapes when the Weasley brothers appear in a flying car and Harry gets to spend the rest of the holidays at their house.

This time Harry and his friend don't go to Hogwarts the usual way, on the Hogwarts Express but make a rather spectacular entry. (Or as my favourite character Snape puts it: "So, the train isn't good enough for the famous Harry Potter and this faithful sidekick Weasley? Wanted to arrive with a bang, did we boys?" )

And again strange things happen at Hogwarts, somebody or something attacks the students - the heir of Slytherin. Mysterious messages appear on the walls when somebody is attacked connecting it all to the legendary "Chamber of Secrets". Harry is suspected and with his friends tries to unravel the secret.

Parts of the book might be rather scary for younger children but then as it all has a happy ending this is probably not so bad.

The story is fascinating and full of suspense and the characters and events are brilliantly outlined, it's great fun to
read. I especially liked the character of the new Defense against the Dark Arts teacher (don't want to give away too much already), the ghost haunting the girls' toilet and the Whomping Willow.


No Harry Potter without Quidditch matches, so if you have become a "fan" of that sport after reading volume one, there's more this time.

And guess who Harry has to face in the end.....

A definite must-read not only for children!!

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