Book Review: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling (Harry Potter #2)

Stars: 5 out of 5
Pros: Engaging second half; fun, fun, fun

Cons: Characters could be better developed, slow start

The Bottom Line:

Return to magic

And get lost in Harry's world

With this great sequel

"Harry Potter Must Not Go Back to Hogwarts!"

While I had watched the movies, I waited to read these books until the date for the final one was announced in 2007.  I am glad I finally read them because I really enjoyed them, and Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets was no exception. 

In the first book, Harry learned he was a wizard and attended Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. While there, he got caught up in an adventure and learned a little about his past.

This book opens to find Harry spending a dreadful summer stuck with his uncle, aunt, and cousin. They are embarrassed to have another wizard in the family and treat him horribly as a result. Harry is looking forward to the end of summer so he can return to Hogwarts and his friends.

But one night he finds a weird creature in his room. He announces that Harry can't return to school because of the danger Harry would face there. But he won't get into specifics. Harry's attempt to go anyway is met with a road block, and Harry and his friend Ron must sneak there in a flying car.

But things aren't any easier at Hogwarts. Someone is whispering in the walls, and only Harry can hear it. The new defense against the dark arts teacher is a little too full of himself and Harry's friend Hermione is clearly infatuated with him. But worse yet, pupils are turning to stone and the rumor is Harry is doing it. Can he figure out the truth?

My complaint with the first book was the pacing. It took a while setting up Harry's world. While it is important, it also made for a slow start. This book suffers from the same problem, but not as much. The first few chapters do seem a bit slow, but things important to the plot are contained there. Once the main storyline really gets underway, about a third of the way into the book, things pick up. The last third was almost impossible for me to put down. And the ending caught me completely off guard.

The characters were more entertaining this go around. Part of this is because I already knew them. Yet Ms. Rowling does a great job of expanding on their personalities. They can be two dimensional at times, but for the most part these are real characters.

What Ms. Rowling has done exceptionally well is created a magical world and invites the reader to escape there. I really felt while reading this books that Hogwarts is real. Her writing is sharp, making the scenes come to life and making the book a breeze to read.

If, like me and you've been putting off reading the series, act now and discover just how much fun Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets and the rest of these books really are.