From: Leah Langby <langby_at_ifls.lib.wi.us>
Date: Wed, 06 Jul 2011 14:29:15 -0500

One of my best community-of-reader Harry Potter memories occurred while I was reading the last book. We were on a vacation with another family, and my daughter and her friend had raced through the final book before we left (my daughter keeping a sad tally on the refrigerator door of all the people that were killed). They were both especially heart-broken when a certain character died, but they didn't tell me, since I wanted to keep some suspense for myself (is it okay to say who? Look at the end of the message if you want to know).

As I came closer and closer to the fateful part, they started hovering around me, asking me how I was doing, what was happening now, etc. Neither of them felt it was right to leave me alone to deal with the grief of that scene by myself! The interruptions were irritating (I finally snapped at them to leave me alone, I'm not proud to admit it), but the sentiment was very endearing and beautiful.

(Dobby's was the death that particularly affected them both)
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Leah Langby Library Development and Youth Services Coordinator Indianhead Federated Library System 1538 Truax Boulevard Eau Claire, WI 54703-1569 phone: 715-839-5082 ext.114 fax: 715-839-5151 email: langby_at_ifls.lib.wi.us www.ifls.lib.wi.us


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----- Original Message -----

From: Megan Schliesman To: ccbc-net, Subscribers of Sent: Wednesday, July 06, 2011 1:52 PM Subject:
 Harry Potter and the Final Farewell.

Thank you to Nell and Pam for launching our July discussion, "Harry Potter and the Final Farewell."

Their posts speak to both the books' influence on publishing for children and how how the books helped shaped and influence generation (or more?) of readers. They also created connections between children and adults as the books (and then the movies) became a shared, intergenerational experience.

I remember when the book "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" was going to be released my daughter, who was seven at the time, wanted to go to a release party to get the book at midnight. I was reluctant to let her stay up so late. It was KT Horning who convinced me to take her, saying this level of excitement across generations over a book release was probably a once-in-a-lifetime experience. KT was right, and I'm so glad we went as a family and experienced that event. .

About two months ago my daughter asked if she could go to the midnight opening of the final HP movie. Again, I was reluctant when she asked if she could go (midnight wasn't my concern-- staying up until 3 a.m. or so was). And again, KT pointed out how singular and special this opportunity was. So guess where my daughter will be at 12:01 a.m. on July 15?

It's also interesting when I think of the first book's release in 1998 and the shared journey that has taken place among so many readers across those years. And the Harry Potter books also came of age as all of us were also discovering the possibilities that technology presented to connect and extend the experience and community of reading--another avenue I think it's fascinating to consider in terms of the Harry Potter books.

Megan

Megan Schliesman, Librarian Cooperative Children's Book Center School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison 600 N. Park Street, Room 4290 Madison, WI 53706

608/262-9503 schliesman_at_education.wisc.edu

www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/

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Received on Wed 06 Jul 2011 02:29:15 PM CDT