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Harry Potter & National Book Month
October is National Book Month. Librarians will tell students and anyone else that will listen, "Embark on the journey of a lifetime, travel to exotic places and mythical lands, and experience adventure beyond imagination. Or escape to another era altogether. You can do all this without luggage, tickets, a passport or leaving home. All you need is an open mind. And an open book." (National Book Foundation)
When the current generation of students looks back on the first decade of the 21st century, it's possible that the name it will most readily recall will be... Harry Potter. Never before have a series of books and their film versions proved so fabulously profitable and internationally popular.
However, these books and films have also caused significant controversy. Many claim that Christians hate the Harry Potter books. Just look at the media reports about how Christian parents around the country are trying to get the book banned from libraries and schools. Many Christian parents feel the books promote interest in the occult and have called for their removal from classrooms and school libraries.
On the other hand, One of the most quoted supporters of the Potter books is Christianity Today columnist Charles Colson, who noted that Harry and his friends "develop courage, loyalty, and a willingness to sacrifice for one another--even at the risk of their lives. Not bad lessons in a self-centered world." Colson dismisses the magic and sorcery in the books as "purely mechanical, as opposed to occultic. That is, Harry and his friends cast spells, read crystal balls, and turn themselves into animals--but they don't make contact with a supernatural world... [It's not] the kind of real-life witchcraft the Bible condemns."
Activity: How do your students feel about the Harry Potter books and their impact on student beliefs and values? How can they address such essential questions for critical thinking through a research activity and report?
- How does the witchcraft theme of Harry Potter books affect your religious beliefs--why, why not?
- Is there anything evil or satanic about the books as so many people claim--why or why not?
- How do critics and the literary world react to J. K. Rowling as an author?
- Is there any danger to students from reading the books or seeing the movies--why, why not?
- Should the school library provide or deny Harry Potter books to students--why, why not?
- How would you compare the movie version of a Harry Potter story to reading the book?
- What is your favorite Harry Potter book and why?
- What other classic book series would you compare to Harry Potter, and in what ways?
Pathfinder 1: Type "Harry Potter" in the Subject Heading search > Potter, Harry (Fictitious character)
Pathfinder 2: Type "J. K. Rowling" in the Quick Search Key Word Search box
Assign students to answer at least three of the essential questions above (you can add others) in a written report of at least 200 words, citing at least three resources. You can choose to assign oral or PowerPoint reports of at least two- to three-minutes minutes as an option.
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