A reporter asked us if we thought Harry Potter books had changed the reading habits of kids. Recently a TV news report said no, a study of kids who read for fun in 1999 compared to 2005 was unchanged. Maybe so, but Harry Potter has reenergized readers—how does one account for the 325 million Harry Potter books in print in the world or the 12 million copies published of the new Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows book? J.K. Rowling’s books have energized a generation of new readers—and built up their muscles because they carry the 700 plus page books around with them!
For those in withdrawal after they have finished the series, some have told me they are going to reread the whole series and some have chosen to read the British editions to pick up nuances not in the American versions. ( Why publishers chose to do an American edition still raises my hackles, as if kids in the US can’t figure out what a “bonnet” or a “windscreen” is in British English. )
But what to read? I find the Brits have always had the edge in that sort of tale—Alan Garner’s Weirdstone of Brisingamen and its sequel, The Moon of Gomrath are great reads. The summary for Weirdstone reads, “A young girl and her brother are catapulted into a battle between good and evil for possession of a magical stone of great power that is contained in her bracelet.” And of course on the lists of recommended reads are J. R. Tolkein’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings and C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, depending on the reader’s age. Other suggestions? Of course, ask a librarian, your human search engine.
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