Written by a British author, the four books have triggered an unprecedented global publishing hysteria. Slamming into stores with a groundbreaking 3.8 million copies in America alone, the mediocre Goblet of Fire is not actually difficult to read, and the story has its moments. But hit the pause button right now if you are considering purchasing this tome to give or read aloud to someone under the age of 8. Harry Potter at 14 is deeply enmeshed in the teen dating rituals of Hogwarts and the pressing issue of who will take whom to the Yule Ball. The wee ones won't understand why Harry, Ron and Hermione can't simply go together to the big formal.
Death occurs, as well as bloody self-mutilation with a dagger.
Rowling seems to be getting more like a Gothic Dean Koontz and less like C.S. Lewis with every book. Harry enters in Chapter 2, when he wakes up suddenly with his famous lightning-bolt scar burning with pain. Spending the summer with his mean-spirited aunt and uncle, Harry finds the Dursleys are as dreadful as ever. Fortunately, Harry gets a letter from his best friend's family, the Weasleys, inviting him to attend the Quidditch World Cup match. Rowling does a wonderful job creating set pieces that illuminate her fantastic world in ways both familiar and strange.