Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling
MG Fantasy. 341 Pages. 3 Stars
Synopsis:
Ever since Harry Potter had come home for the summer, the Dursleys had been so mean and hideous that all Harry wanted was to get back to the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. But just as he’s packing his bags, Harry receives a warning from a strange impish creature who says that if Harry returns to Hogwarts, disaster will strike.
And strike it does. For in Harry’s second year at Hogwarts, fresh torments and horrors arise, including an outrageously stuck-up new professor and a spirit who haunts the girls’ bathroom. But then the real trouble begins – someone is turning Hogwarts students to stone. Could it be Draco Malfoy, a more poisonous rival than ever? Could it possible be Hagrid, whose mysterious past is finally told? Or could it be the one everyone at Hogwarts most suspects… Harry Potter himself!
My Review:
Okay! Here we go! After re-reading this one (okay, listening to the epic audiobook!), I still didn’t love it either. I can’t decide if I liked it better than book one, or the other way around.
I did like the whole journal/diary plotline. That was neat and creative. And the suspense of the chamber was much more fun the first time around, but I enjoy a good mystery. I think part of me just wanted to get through the end of the book because it felt like it was taking forever to get to the climax. It was like a slow mystery/adventure with a lot of different stops along the way. My friend thinks I just wanted to read the next one because I knew it would be new, which is possible.
I do still like the characters in these books. They’re distinct and easy to tell apart. I like the obvious creativity of the world and how it’s developed even further here in this books. And the unique writing style is fun, too. Again, the narrator is fantabulous!
It’s an easy read, but still not been my favorite read. I’m hoping they get better and better as we go! I hear the next book is many people’s favorites.
MG with no romance, some mild violence, and no foul language. There’s clearly the context of wizards and witches and magic and such, so if that’s something you’re uncomfortable with, don’t read these. Otherwise, I’d say it would be fine for a preteen.
More:
Book 1 in the Harry Potter series is Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (3 Stars)
Book 3 is Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (4 Stars)
Book 4 is Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (4 Stars)
Book 5 is Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Book 6 is Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Book 7 is Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
I’m currently reading the series, so they haven’t all been rated or reviewed on Goodreads yet But I am updating as I read through the series, so stay tuned!
The series should be read in order.
On GraceBought
If you missed it, you can find my thoughts on the first book here! And stay tuned next week for my review of the next book in the series.