The fifth book in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series follows the darkest year yet for our young wizard, who finds himself knocked down a peg or three after the events of last year. Somehow, over the summer, gossip (usually traced back to the magic world's newspaper, the Daily Prophet) has turned Harry's tragic and heroic encounter with Voldemort at the Triwizard Tournament into an excuse to ridicule and discount the teen. Even Professor Dumbledore, headmaster of the school, has come under scrutiny by the Ministry of Magic, which refuses to officially acknowledge the terrifying truth that Voldemort is back. Enter a particularly loathsome new character: the toadlike and simpering ("hem, hem") Dolores Umbridge, senior undersecretary to the Minister of Magic, who takes over the vacant position of Defense Against Dark Arts teacher--and in no time manages to become the High Inquisitor of Hogwarts, as well. Life isn't getting any easier for Harry Potter. With an overwhelming course load as the fifth years prepare for their Ordinary Wizarding Levels examinations (O.W.Ls), devastating changes in the Gryffindor Quidditch team lineup, vivid dreams about long hallways and closed doors, and increasing pain in his lightning-shaped scar, Harry's resilience is sorely tested.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, more than any of the four previous novels in the series, is a coming-of-age story. Harry faces the thorny transition into adulthood, when adult heroes are revealed to be fallible, and matters that seemed black-and-white suddenly come out in shades of gray. Gone is the wide-eyed innocent, the whiz kid of Sorcerer's Stone. Here we have an adolescent who's sometimes sullen, often confused (especially about girls), and always self-questioning. Confronting death again, as well as a startling prophecy, Harry ends his year at Hogwarts exhausted and pensive. Readers, on the other hand, will be energized as they enter yet again the long waiting period for the next title in the marvelous, magical series. (Ages 9 and older) --Emilie Coulter

  Customer Reviews  

The Order of the Phoenix rises...
Rating: 5
After reading the fourth book in the series I thought it could just not get any better... boy was I wrong! Harry staves off an attack by Dementors, saves his cousin's life, and has to face a trial at the Ministry of Magic, all before the school year even begins.

With Voldemort back, Dumbledore has recalled the Order of the Phoenix, a group of Wizards and Witches that fought against You-Know-Who the last time. Harry is hidden away for a short period of time at the secret head quarters of the Order, while awaiting his trail at the Ministry of Magic for 'Under Age Use of Magic away from School'. It soon becomes evident that the Minister of Magic is not only determined to not believe that Voldemort has returned, but has even started a compaign to discredit both Harry and Dumbledore to try and prevent people from believing them.

During the School year Harry and the other fifth years have increasingly large piles of school work to complete, and to perpare for their OWLs, which come at the end of their fifth year. Meanwhile the students, and teachers, have a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher to deal with, who has been appointed by the Ministry of Magic! Things at Hogwarts go from bad to worse, as this new teacher is given a wide range of powers over the other teachers via a stream of Ministry 'Educational Decrees'. Meanwhile Harry is plagued by troubling dreams, of traveling down a darkened hallway to a mysterious door, which leaves his scar burning more and more intensely. Perhaps even more puzzling, and disturbing, to Harry is the fact that Dumbledore seems to be going to lengths to ignore him.

Anyone who has enjoyed the past books in this series will love 'The Order of the Phoenix. This book takes the mystical fantasy elements of the earlier books, and ties them into an increasingly darkening plot line, pitting Harry and his friends against even worse dangers around every corner.

RD Williams, author of 'The Lost Gate'.