Only my second time actually reading this book. Eager to read and find new details I never noticed before!

Read: Jun. 23 – Jun. 25, 2025

Genre: Fantasy, Mystery
Audience: Children, Middle-grade
Book contains: child abuse, peril, bullying, death, attempted murder

Purchase a copy from Indigo.ca

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A Well-Done Continuation of the Series

Harry Potter, young wizard, has just had the most wonderful but dangerous first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and he’s ready for year two. Unfortunately, none of his new friends have been writing to him all summer, and he gets a birthday visit from a mysterious House Elf warning him not to go back to school, lest he be put in mortal danger. Does Harry heed the warning, or does he risk going back to Hogwarts?

In general, the Harry Potter books are written in a very simple manner, easy for young readers to digest. The wizarding world is messy, but that’s part of its charm. The second book follows the first in a clever way; the plot of book two logically follows the plot of book one in which Voldemort is defeated. As for the writing itself, I especially liked how Rowling uses snake-themed syntax in this book.

Once again, we follow Harry Potter as the focal character of a third-person perspective. Unlike in book one, the focus never shifts away from Harry, even during the Quidditch games. The book is told in chronological order, encompassing the summer and then Harry’s full year at school, with generous gaps between chapters as time just passes normally.

I once again listened along to Stoic Johnson on YouTube. His reading is so entertaining and fun! Unfortunately, he hasn’t gotten to book 3 yet as of writing this review, so I’ll have to find someone else for the rest of the series.

Harry, our main character, is kind of sassy, kind of quick to anger, but is overall a gentle, noble boy. He’s generally selfless, having never grown up in an environment in which he could become selfish. Scenes such as Harry sharing his vegetable soup with his owl Hedwig, despite being starved, shows his true nature. There are times he acts without thinking clearly, but most of the trouble he gets into is either by listening to Ron or by trying to help others (like Hagrid or Hermione). Ron is the best friend Harry could have, Hermione a close second, with the twins and Ginny and Percy all as peripheral support. Neville and the other boys in Harry and Ron’s dorm don’t really come into this book.

I love how Harry spends so much more time with the Weasleys in this book—they’re quickly becoming his second family. He’s finally learning what its like to be loved by the people who live with him, which makes it so much more important to him that those people are on his side. Even with the rest of the school turned against him, Harry doesn’t really care, so long as Ron and Hermione believe in him. Secondarily, Harry’s relationship with his fame is truly put to the test here, especially with Professor Gilderoy Lockhart teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts. Harry definitely takes the right stance in his character growth.

The Harry Potter worldbuilding is famously shallow. Sure, the world is fun and entertaining to immerse oneself in, but when you look just a bit closer, it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. Dates, in particular, are something that Rowling struggles with. In this book particularly, she includes school on February 14, which, in the real world, is a Sunday. Nonetheless, the writing is good for middle-grade as well as nostalgic readers, and the plot is engaging.

With the plot as engaging as it is and no unnecessary scenes, this book moves swiftly. Every scene contains two or more clues or hints; none are included for a single-use purpose. The big whodunnit nature of this book also keeps readers engaged as they try to figure out who’s responsible for the attacks.

I highly recommend continuing this series! So much nostalgia, deep messages, and lighthearted magic with just enough danger to be heart-racing.

Related Reviews:

Harry Potter Book 1: The Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter Book 2: The Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter Book 3: The Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter Book 4: The Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter Book 5: The Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter Book 6: The Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter Book 7: The Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
Fantastic Beasts Book 1: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by J.K. Rowling
*The Shadow Atlas Book 1: Initiate by Jenny Sandiford