Rating: 
Summary: Darker, Deeper, and More Disturbing.
Review: I love Harry Potter, and Rowling's latest episode has a lot of the same elements many of us have grown to love-the magic, wit and adventure-that permeated the first four books. But she takes a big turn in Book Five. She told us she would. We were warned.OtP starts off shortly after Book Four leaves off. (Don't worry, no spoilers here!) The action strikes right at the beginning and the twists and turns kept my stomach churning until the end. No long, slow buildup like the other books. She wrote Book Five for the big screen, the chases and the special effects that we know are coming are still whizzing in my head. And at 870 pages, it still seems to have gone all too fast. But unlike the other books, everything goes nightmarishly wrong. And, almost gothiclly, it keeps on going wrong. Harry feels it, as does Hermione, Ron, and nearly everyone else. The book is also full of adolescent angst and sarcasm. Harry and friends also start to question authority and each other. That makes them-to non-adolescents at least-a bit less enjoyable to be around. They snap at each other (and their elders) like never before, and we begin to wonder whether the sun will come out and change everyone's mood. It does, in little doses. Fred and George Weasley are up to their old pranks like never before. This is their finest hour. They turn their jokes into a kind of heroism in one of the most memorable scenes in the series. We also get to see a lot more of other characters that played bit parts before, like Ginny and Neville. They help round out the universe along with a few more additions. Rowling not only expands her magical universe geographically-we do see a lot of a magical place we haven't seen before--but also through characters, who are either new or develop more. With hormones raging in their veins, there is more romance than Book Four. The who-is-seeing-who game Potter fans have been playing for three years since GoF is played out in the story as well. Our friends have turned fifteen, and the romance roulette has begun. While a lot occurs off-camera, Rowling will leave a lot of hearts pounding, albeit in (thankfully) PG fashion. Rowling also litters her story with some verbal zingers, usually in the mouth of Hermione aimed straight at Ron. There is not a lot of them, but they are well worth the wait. Just one more reason to love them and Rowling. The characters have grown and Rowling writes as if her audience has as well. Not only is the book longer, but the book's narration has matured as well. It still reads like a conversation, but little ones are going to have more trouble keeping up. With more mature themes, they are less likely to be able to relate anyway. This is a big departure from the first four books. The most important change is that now that Harry is getting older, he learns that knowing the magical world in an adult way is a heavy burden. A constant theme in the book is that Harry wants to know what is going on. But the deeper secrets he learns aren't easy. And while the adults around him still try to protect him, he becomes painfully aware of how limited their power is. As he grows more powerful, he also learns how vulnerable he is and those who around him are. He faces death once again. Its more painful now because its not just a memory from long ago, but its someone he knows and loves...and feels responsible for. Order of the Phoenix is darker and more powerful than any of the other four books. But the adventure is more emotionally draining and less emotionally satisfying as well. (That might not be all fair, since I zoomed through the book, we'll see). Potter fans used to fairly happy endings might not like the bittersweet conclusion. But OtP does end with an action-packed whollop. Rowling ties up all the ends by the last page, but OtP leaves us with a sense of looming danger. Despite the gloom it is still a world we love, and when we've left it we miss Harry, Ron and Hermione. Many of us miss them like friends, which is the lingering power of Rowling's storytelling. I just hope its not three years until Book Six.
Rating: 
Summary: Order of the Pheonix, Love it or hate it?
Review: As I have just finished reading the book a few hours ago, I have been thinking about what has happened. This book was not my favourite out of all 5 so far, but I did enjoy this one. Although, I think that it could have been better. For some reason I believe that. I am a huge fan of the books and have been reading them over and over since the first one has come out, to right now when the fith one has come out. I will keep reading the Harry Potter series until I cannot read anymore. I adore the books and the work of J.K. Rowling. The book was very well written and thought through. I believe that I was dissapointed a bit beacuse of somethings that I though we were sopposed to find out about, we did not hear about them. I read on a website that we were to find out something HUGE about Lily Potter, but we only heard about her in Snape's memory and in the fire place chat with Sirius. I was also dissapointed when Dumbledore said that he was going to tell Harry what he should have told him 5 years ago, but I did not get very much of that conversation with him and Harry. (Right now I am re-reading the book. It was very late when I was reading that part of the book so I might have missed something) Over all, this is a good book an would reccomend it to anyone who liked the other Harry Potter books. I cannot wait for what J.K. has in store for us in the next installment of the 7 part series of Harry Potter.
Rating:
Summary: Great, but not Spectacular.
Review: Harrys fifth year at hogwarts seems as worse as it could get, OWLs , a new "friend" , and You-Know-Who on the loose. There is a new defense against the dark arts teacher who is worse than the rest, and never ceases to give Harry a bad time. Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix is truly different from the other books with Harry and many other characters experiencing a whole new adventure, and many new and exciting secrets are uncovored. There are plenty suprises, and as I do not want to destroy them for you, I would certainly suggest picking up the book. 4 and a half stars :)
Rating:
Summary: Amazing Creation Once Again!!
Review: J.K Rowling has come out with another amazing book: Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix. It is the 5th book in the Harry Potter Series and just like the other 4 books, has a lot of drama and magical enchantment. You will never expect what happens, so I wont tell you yet. He starts off in the Dursleys house as always but with an early visit by the Dementors, Harry never knows what he'll run into next. He olso meets up with old friends and professors and when you start reading the book, every page opens up to a new adventure. I would reccommend this book to all age levels whether it be a child at 8 or an adult at 55; Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix will release the imagination in everyone.
Rating: 
Summary: Three stars may be too generous......
Review: I have just finished reading the order of the phoenix and I am quite unimpressed. First let me say that I am one of those people who stood in line at midnight for the release of the fourth book and preordered this book from amazon months ago. However, I found this book to be rather monotonous. Rowling needs to realize that there is more than one way to end a book(Oh yes, this one follows in the same pattern of the first four books: Harry fights Voldemort, Dumbledore saves him and then takes him back to his office to explain things and then Harry and his friends are awarded house points for their heoric deeds). This book also has the added bonus of a dismal attempt at romance between Harry and Cho. Rowling should have left that part out. It wasn't even worth the space on the pages and it had nothing to do with the overall plot. I would have rather seen more about the romance she is hinting at between Ron and Hermione. Overall, I found nothing unpredictable in this book. While I am glad that kids are reading these books, I was really hoping Rowling would show some new plot twists. I also, daresay, that it did not need to be as long as it was. I often found myself skimming paragraphs to see if there was any point in reading it. I really hope the next two books are much better than this. But I doubt I will be standing in line at midnight or even preodering the next one.
Rating:
Summary: Fabulous Follow-up
Review: We've all waited a long time for this book to come out, but it was worth it. Thebook is filled with emotion. As Harry has grown into a young man, he cannot seem to control his temper. I, myself, could hardly control my temper after reading what Professor Umbridge did to Harry in detention! Even though the book is a hefty 870 pages, it is an easy read. There are intricate twists in the plot and in the character development that kept me turning pages. I highly recommend this book!
Rating:
Summary: A Masterpiece!
Review: This book was hands down my FAVORITE in the series.
I do have to admit, it started a little slow but was still interesting.
By the end it was with no doubt the best Harry Potter book imaginable.
I loved every new character.
Umbridge was vicious, but was a great character andalways fun to read.
Luna was interesting, even if the Quibbler tales of her father seemed unrealistic.
Mrs. Figg was wonderful, I thought she was going to be a witch not a SQUIB!
Bellatrix was horrid, but her Death Eater friends made the story come alive on Voldemort's behalf.
Kreacher was wonderful and mischivious, a perfect follow-up to Peeves the Poltergiest.
The dark undergrowth of the story made it my favorite, especially the new characters and events that were talking place in the Magical World.
The whole ordeal with the Ministry and a part of the magical world believing Harry Potter and Dumbledore against the Ministry with Voldemort's return was told in a very intriguing way.
Harry's anger in this book was highly recognizable and made his character come alive. He and Cho were good at first but the way Rowling made them split up was a way to add to that anger and frustrations.
And of course, Harry's visions of the corridor and of the Dark Lord were highly described and added to that dark undergrowth of the story.
Overall, action-packed and gripping, and all Potter fans will have to agree, the best Harry Potter ever imaginable. A TERRIFIC read!
Absoulutly Wonderful!
Rating:
Summary: Darker, Longer, and Better
Review: I read this book, (all 870 glorious pages of it,) in two sittings. I just couldn't put it down. From almost page 1, the action and suspense just keep building and building. THe new Defense against the Dark Arts teacher, Umbridge, is the most loathsome D.A.D.A. teacher yet. Children (and adults too!) will recognize Umbridge's wheedling nature in people they know. This book is definitely darker, and its clear that Harry is growing up. Relationships, and life, get more serious when you turn 15. There are romantic developments (and unravelings,)and things just seem to be complicated. Harry has become more angry, moody, and sullen. He resents being ignored for the summer and "not being told anything." Ron seems even more hopelessly awkward than usual, and his and Hermione's flirtatious bickering builds but does not explode. Hermione is as charmingly brilliant as usual...she knows everything, and isn't afraid to tell Ron and Hermione! She even begins to dole out a little love advice! Even more than the dramatic climax (I won't tell!) my favorite part of the book came soon after, in a conversation between Dumbledore and Harry. When you get to it you'll know what I'm talking about! All in all, there's lots of Snape (yea!,) much less Hagrid (boo!,) the return of Moody, Lupin, Sirius, and the rest of the crew plus a few new faces (Tonks) Enjoy...and don't stay up too late finishing it!
Rating:
Summary: Very good
Review: reminded me again why i loved this series of books. book is the truest one yet, showing how harry (and real kids) stumble through adolescence. the plot manages to thicken even more, if at all that seems possible after the end of the 4th one. i will not devlve into many details seeing that i would be very upset if anything was spoiled to me in this book. comes out at 870 pages but you can have it done in 2 days if you like sleep, and one if you can do with out.
Rating:
Summary: Not Action Packed But Rowling Fills in Holes...
Review: The fifth book in the Harry Potter series is no where near as action packed or mystery filled as the previous installments have been, nevertheless, it does to a very good job of making sure the reader knows exactly what's going on. The book has no solid, outlineable plot, but rather is more concerned with filling you in on what exactly has been happening with the characters since the story left off. Though the book is mostly information, Rowling of course could not leave us without her characteristic showdown at the end, which results in the tragicly foretold death everyone has been talking about. Though it might be disappointing to some Potter fans who expected some epic battle of good and evil, the book is very well written and fabulous overall. Not to mention the fact that it gives you information that will undoubtedly be crucial in future installments and leads nicely into book six. Well done...
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