Rating: 
Summary: Thoroughly engrossing, I loved it!
Review: Back for the fifth time, we are told of the adventures of young wizard Harry Potter. It is this fifth edition however, that takes a massive turn from the previous books, continuing the gloomy trend of it's predeccessor, The Goblet of Fire. We are treated to Harry undergoing one of life's basic changes: puberty. Full of anger, Harry seems to be having an outburst every few pages. It is a new kind of Potter, one we are not used too. We are also treated to a new enemy, the magical government itself. In a different pace than previous editions, Voldemort is forgotten for awhile as we see just how corrupt the government is, leaving you with alarmed at their senseless and authoritarian attitude. A wonderfully written book, I could not put it down as I was hungry to find out what would happen next. Many lingering questions about the series are finally answered and many surprise twists are thrown in, including the death of a popular character. I believe all fans of the series will enjoy this book to the highest degree. The 3 year wait was worth it, although I hope we are not subjected to another one for book 6.
Rating: 
Summary: Lord Voldemort's Return
Review: Lord Voldemort is back: this greatly changes the plot and feeling of the fifth book in the Harry Potter series. The book is longer because new events and circumstances must be explained. Fudge, refusing to believe that Voldemort has returned and mistrustful of Dumbledore, brings in his intolerable assistant, Umbridge, to keep an eye on the headmaster and his school. Voldemort is both a physical and psychological menace.
This volume is also much harder than its predecessors. The feelings are stronger, darker, and more angry; the tone is more serious, less light-hearted. Harry, Ron, and Hermione do not enjoy their year at Hogwarts as much because Voldemort has the gift of creating discord among friends and colleagues. They have much more to worry about, especially with the appearance of Umbridge, who tortures students and the reader alike. These changes are necessary to explain and justify new situations, but they do make the book less enjoyable. That said, Harry Potter is a great story and The Order of the Phoenix is a compelling read.
Rating:
Summary: Best in the series (so far!)
Review: With Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, J.K. Rowling has outdone herself. I got the book Saturday, and finished it this afternoon (Monday). I had been a bit disappointed with the fourth book in the series, feeling it was longer than it needed to be, and slower-moving than the first three. But with "Order of the Phoenix", the author has hit her stride again. The book is packed with the action, humor, and mystery that has made the series just as enjoyable for adults to read as for children. I won't go into plot details because I don't want to spoil it for anyone. I'll just say - If you haven't read it, read it. If you can afford it, buy it - buy the whole series. These are books you AND your children will want to read over and over again.
Rating:
Summary: Best yet!
Review: We've all been waiting breathlessly for this, and luckily the book lives up to expectations. Harry is a year older, a year wiser and like teen-agers everywhere, confused....not only about the his place in the world of magic, but about his relationships with his friends and particularly with girls. Rowling has done a wonderful job of showing us Harry and his friends as real people.
Rowling has also introduced a fabulously annoying new villian. I slammed my book down in disgust several times when Prof. Umbrage was on the scene.
Thr book is much darker in tone than the previous 4 and might be disturbing to younger children as things are not so neatly divided into good/bad as they have been in the past. If you are reading the book aloud I would suggest reading ahead so that you can discuss potentially disturbing events.
Rating:
Summary: Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix
Review: This was by far the best of the Harry Potter books of the series. Who says the sequels can't be better than the originals? This book, by far the longest book in the series (870 pages) is also definately the best. I got this book June 21 and could not put it down, finishing it the following day (June 22). This book, similar to Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire takes the time to go into detail of events on Harry's summer, and not just at Hogwarts. Harry Potter will finally learn why Lord Voldemort came after him in the first place, and readers will learn of a startling prophecy made by someone you would not expect. This book has layers upon layers, yet can be understood on a simple level by young readers. J.K. Rowling has taken the wizarding world and added yet another wonderful addition to our favorite collection of books. [...]
Rating:
Summary: Harry series gets more detailed
Review: A bit of a departure from the other books. No more straight formula of Harry leavs for school, meets old friends, has Draco issues, and defeats He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. The world broadens that he lives in, and some characters reveal grey rather than black or white personalities. Harry is growing up and must rely more on himself and his own judgement. Excellent read, stayed up until dawn to finish it.
Rating: 
Summary: Drawn out, but good.
Review: After 870 long pages. This new book left you hanging just like the last. The time line of this book was very drawn out, but many points had to be told. The character from the Ministry of Magic Proffessor Umbrige had me fussier than a cat in water. There were many times I wanted to toss the book accross the room. The ending left me as ticked off just like Harry. [...]
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic once again
Review: J.K. Rowling has not let us down. "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix", or OotP, is simply further proof that some things just get better and better. Rowling's excellent writing skills are even more obvious in the fifth installation of the seven-part Harry Potter series, and the book grips its reader until the very last page. It includes innumerable new plotlines full of adventure, drama, and even more sides of the multi-faceted magical world, and introduces enough new characters to make one's head spin. Harry Potter is entering his fifth year at Hogwarts School. In the course of the story, he encounters his usual adventures with friends, positive and negative experiences with Hogwarts teachers, and brushes with death. Harry is fifteen now, and Rowling does a notably fine job of further developing not only Harry's maturing personality, but those of the people around him. Relatively minor but likeable characters, such as Neville Longbottom and Ginny Weasley, are more prominent in this story, and many characters are re-introduced from the first four books. Plus, there are plenty of new people, good and bad, to keep readers' attention even more. This book is different from its four predecessors. The first three Harry Potter books were in and of themselves tightly-woven stories. The fourth book (The Goblet of Fire) seemed to be more of an introduction of things to come, and OotP continues smoothly with that storyline. But, as Rowling has admitted, the story is getting darker and more complicated as it goes along. However, there are no scenes that contain violence not seen in PG-rated movies. Also, true to the fact that Harry and his friends are growing up, the book includes some "adolescent" situations. But even in those, Rowling successfully keeps the story at a level suitable for children. In short, the Potter fans of all ages that enjoyed the first four books should have no problems continuing with OotP. The only weaknesses I could see in this book were not enough to bring down the experience for me at all. One of the major complaints I have seen is that this story is a lot bleaker than its predecessors. My answer to that is that since Harry is delving deeper into the world around him, it is expected that he will not always find sugar and spice and everything nice. Such is life. I agree that Rowling could have left Harry and his readers a bit more hope at the end of the book; however, there are still two more installments in which things could change dramatically for our hero, as everyone should know by now. I did not find anything else major enough to complain about. Frankly, this book was so good I never wanted it to end. In conclusion, Rowling has woven yet another fabulous, original Harry Potter story that will leave its readers wanting even more. Easily 5 stars. Go out and buy this book!
Rating:
Summary: The Long Wait is Over
Review: Finally, after about a three year wait, the next installment in the Harry Potter 'Series' has arrived. If you have come to love and read these books attentively, you will notice that each book is very different than the rest. You can sum up the series as in saying the first three books were somewhat playful, still delving into the world of witches and wizards, but as we see in the end of 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire', this series has taken a dark turn, revealing the cowardice and bravery in peoples who were never usually turned to, kids. This book turns away from the usual formula of Rowling's writing, there are nearly one-hundred-fifty pages that don't even mention Hogwarts, but of course, Ms. Rowling knows what she's doing. After a long exposition, which introduces us to the 'Order of the Phoenix' -- a society who fights against
Voldemort -- we finally return to Hogwarts, where all hell eventually breaks loose. Hogwarts has fallen under the control of the inept Ministry of Magic. And as the 'Daily Prophet' keeps throwing pot-shots at Harry and Dumbledore, calling them crazy for saying that Voldemort has returned, it seems as though the Misistry of Magic knows what has happened and is trying to keep it secret. And the Ministry doesn't fall into good taste with the students when it is clear that they favor Slytherin over any other Hogwart's House As the story continues, Harry discovers an un-natural bond between him and Voldemort. And the focus of Harry turns from school, to girls. Cho Chang, whom I am convinced, is a full-fledged sociopath, finally confronts Harry about their mounting romantic tension. This is by far, my most favorite book in the series, just beating 'Goblet of Fire'. This book reveals the strength of children when they band together, who eventually set the Ministry of Magic straight. This book, agian, has great description, narrative words, setting, mood and of course, characters. You just can't help being enchanted by these books, they are magical and appealing to all 'Muggles', adult and child. If you have never read a Harry Potter book in your life, i suggesst going out and buying every single one in hard-cover, I have, because these books are special to me, and I'm sure they are (or should be) to you also.
Rating:
Summary: Oh yeah! This book does not disappoint!
Review: I bought this book on the first day it came out, started reading it right away, and I can barely put it down! Compared to the other books, I was surprised to find that this had a slightly darker tone to it. In the beginnings of the previous four books, Harry was awaiting the start of school at Hogwarts, and had to deal with the annoying Dursleys. In the fifth book however, things start happening all at once, from the very beginning. Most of the old characters are there, and in this book, we are introduced to some new ones as well. If you don't have this, buy it- I think it's totally worth it!!
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