Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful! Best Book Ever!
Review: This book shows such amazing growth in Harry as a character -- it reminded me of what it was like to be 15 again, battling with new feelings. Harry for the first time experiences true anger and the beginnings of love and hate. The emotional depth of this book is amazing, and watching the characters learn, struggle, and triumph together despite loss is very moving. Harry learns what it is to have true family, that you love despite mistrust and anger, and how to really trust those near to you.Despite the size of this volume, I couldn't believe that I had reached the end of the story in the short time that I did, and didn't want it to end. I'm more excited than ever for the sixth book, and can't wait to see how both the story and Harry grow together in the new challenges ahead.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome book
Review: An absolutely beautiful book, the best installment yet. Rowling's tightly woven plots are flawless, like tapestries, intricate works of art that every one can enjoy. The development of characters will blow you away, as the author brings more facets of those like Neville, Snape, and even Harry's parents into the limelight. Tyranny reigns in the magical world, prompting heroics unlike any seen before. I couldn't put it down. I read for 8 hours straight in order to finish it. Anyone who's even remotely a fan of the series will be drawn in. 5 stars! Great book!
Rating:
Summary: Harry's growing up
Review: As with prior novels, Rowling has successfully crafted a story reflecting Harry's age: currently, his struggles through adolescence. Rowling reduces the contrast in Harry's perception of his world, forcing him, and the reader, to see it in an ever-increasing range of grays. This is most pronounced in how the relationships mature, leading to some of the most wonderfully dramatic moments yet seen in the series as friendships and loyalties are tested and characters are suddenly seen in new, and often disillusioning, lights. Rowling delivers the reader to several new locales, each beautifully described and wonderfully imaginative, adding some appreciated variety. The book also wastes no time in placing the reader in the action and the lengthy 870 page journey, while perhaps a bit too tidy in the end, seems no longer than it should. Rowling delivers perhaps the most touching and honest volume in the series.
Rating: 
Summary: More exciting all the time
Review: The action begins right away in this one. Other times I felt it dragged, but that's just because the author is putting in so much detail. I will have to re-read, when I'm not racing ahead to find out what happens. There really is a lot of action and suspense. The relationship between Harry and Voldemort becomes clearer in this installment, and leaves you wanting to jump right into year six.
Rating:
Summary: HER BEST YET!!
Review: I am a reader who has read Ms. Rowling's books from the beginning, and I can honestly say that this book is her best yet. She has introduced an entirely new world in her already amazing one, along with a host of new characters. She also captures the changes happening within Harry as he grows up, his conflicting emotions, and new feelings. I am disgusted at those people who talk about the Harry Potter books as simple "Children's books". In my opinion, many older people would do well to read a few more childrens books, as they
compare more than well against some of the stuff in the adult market. I have read many books which people would call "Adult level", so I think that I can honestly say that Harry Potter is as good as any of them. I recommend this book to ANYONE who can read.
Rating:
Summary: Rowling is our queen
Review: After the stunning front page review in the New York Times, I wonder who would care to read my two cents worth here. After a marathon weekend reading I was sad because I did not want the wild ride to end ever. It is absolutely stunning how, novel after novel, JK Rowling has simply not lost her touch to weave this magical world. During a recent weekly business program on CNN an analyst suggested that probably the book has become so hyped because of the marketing muscle of all the big corporations. To which a NY Times journalist responded that people are not buying Harry Potter because Warner Bros or Scholastic cooked it up in their marketing programs but it is because of Rowling's writing prowess. And truer words were never spoken. It is simply amazing that she has simply not given into any commercial pressures and stuck to her vision (I am sure editors must have asked her to reduce the size of the book). Yes Rowling is our queen.
Rating:
Summary: As good as the rest
Review: The fifth book in the Harry Potter series lives up to the standards set by the books before it. It has the same ability to draw in the reader and make them actually care what is happening. My only complaint would be the step back Harry seems to take in maturity and emotionally. He seems very bitter throughout the first half of the book. I guess it makes sense looking at the types of things he had been through recently, just is kind of disapointing watching him act the way he does. This doesn't take away from the book though, and helps in creating a few situations. Overall a very good book. Going to have to read through the series again now though, got alot of time untill the next one comes out.
Rating:
Summary: Harry Potter 5
Review: Very good! Not nearly as scary as the last Harry Potter. A bit tedious at times, but I read it in 2 days. Long, but moves reasonably fast. The perfect sequel to the rest of the potter books. Wild and new.
Rating:
Summary: Worth the wait
Review: Great book! Worth all the hype and wait! Now the wait begins for the 6th book of the series.
Very well written! All the books up to this point are a must have for every library, especially people with kids!
Rating:
Summary: I got my money's worth. When does the next one come out?
Review: At the end of "Harry Potter and the Goblet Fire" Lord Voldemort returned and we thought that finally everybody would accept the fact and get around to doing something about it. But in "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" it becomes painfully clear that the wizarding world is sharply divided between those who believe Voldemort has returned and those who think there is something seriously wrong with Harry Potter. When Dementors, the spectral prison guards that drain the hope and happiness out of every one around them attack Harry on Privet Drive, he uses his Patronus charm to dispel his attackers. But he does so in front of a Muggle, which means an owl arrives from the Ministry of Magic charging our young hero with improper use of magic in violation of the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery which results in his immediate expulsion from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and the imminent arrival of Ministry representatives to destroy his wand. As the most anticipated book of the century (I feel safe going out on that limb) "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" delivers, which is pretty impressive when you consider kids were in bookstores at one minute after midnight to get their copies. The title refers to a secret society of those who are standing guard against Voldemort as Harry returns to Hogwarts for his fifth year, where things continue to go badly for our young hero. For one thing, Hagrid is no where to be seen, Dumbledore refuses to look Harry in the eye any more and the new Defense Against the Dark-Arts Teacher is worse than the other four put together (even if you through Snape into the mix). Things always get darkest before the dawn and while Rowling keeps pouring on the bad news there are memorable moments involving Hermione, Ron, Ginny, George and Fred, and even Neville. Most importantly, in the end Dumbledore will finally tell Harry what the rest of us have already guessed about his ultimate fate. Certainly Rowling comes up with a hook for getting her readers back into the world of Harry Potter. Ultimately what makes "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" so compelling is that there is another villain, who arrives at Hogwarts and quickly assumes a position of increasing power that will have kids climbing the walls as Harry's safe world away at school starts to crumble. The Sorting Hat sings a new song this year which will certainly have serious implications down the road. But this time around it is not just Harry but Hogwarts that is under attack and trying to get to some small victories on the way to the restoration of order. Of course, as we learned in the previous book, victory can come at a terrible price. Meanwhile, back in the real world, the attack on Harry Potter continues in academic and theological circles. Is "Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix" great literature? If you want finally crafted sentences go read Margaret Atwood (No, seriously, you talk great writing nobody is better). But what J.K. Rowling does is tell a great story, where she keeps ahead of her audience every step of the way (stop and think how difficult that is to do). Harry, Ron, Hermione, and the rest of the kids are indeed growing up and the lesson of hoping for the best but expect the worse is well and truly learned. Then there are those who bemoan the books dealing with witchcraft, who quote witches being abominations from "Deuteronomy," and declaring they hate what God hates. But is there not something in the Bible about God not being happy with stupid people? Millions of kids around the world are reading the same book at the same time. That would be a good thing.
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