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Waiting for Harry
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From: Megan Schliesman <Schliesman>
Date: Wed, 04 Jun 2003 11:42:59 -0500
As we begin our discussion of the Harry Potter books this month, one of the questions that I have as we await the release of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix on June 21 is whether original child fans of the first Harry Potter book are still eagerly awaiting the story's continuation. Children who were 9 and 10 when Harry first appeared on the scene are firmly established as teenagers now. Is your experience that many of them have outgrown Harry (even if they are the ones who have most kept pace with his age), or are they still excited by the promise of a new book? Does peer pressure regarding what is and isn't cool come into play? Do you think some teen fans become secret admirers rather than openly admitting the story's continued appeal to them, or does Harry have the power to transcend this type of social concern?
As an adult reader, I know I am eager to read the continuation of Harry's story in Book V. And certainly many elementary-age children feel the same, which raises another interesting issue. Harry will be 15 in Book V. Will Harry's story and events in his life lead to content too complex, or even mature, for his youngest fans?
What are your thoughts on these issues? And what questions are you asking as June 21 approaches?
Megan
Megan Schliesman, Librarian Cooperative Children's Book Center School of Education, UW-Madison 600 N. Park St., Room 4290 Madison, Wi 53706 608&2?03 schliesman at education.wisc.edu
Received on Wed 04 Jun 2003 11:42:59 AM CDT
Date: Wed, 04 Jun 2003 11:42:59 -0500
As we begin our discussion of the Harry Potter books this month, one of the questions that I have as we await the release of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix on June 21 is whether original child fans of the first Harry Potter book are still eagerly awaiting the story's continuation. Children who were 9 and 10 when Harry first appeared on the scene are firmly established as teenagers now. Is your experience that many of them have outgrown Harry (even if they are the ones who have most kept pace with his age), or are they still excited by the promise of a new book? Does peer pressure regarding what is and isn't cool come into play? Do you think some teen fans become secret admirers rather than openly admitting the story's continued appeal to them, or does Harry have the power to transcend this type of social concern?
As an adult reader, I know I am eager to read the continuation of Harry's story in Book V. And certainly many elementary-age children feel the same, which raises another interesting issue. Harry will be 15 in Book V. Will Harry's story and events in his life lead to content too complex, or even mature, for his youngest fans?
What are your thoughts on these issues? And what questions are you asking as June 21 approaches?
Megan
Megan Schliesman, Librarian Cooperative Children's Book Center School of Education, UW-Madison 600 N. Park St., Room 4290 Madison, Wi 53706 608&2?03 schliesman at education.wisc.edu
Received on Wed 04 Jun 2003 11:42:59 AM CDT
