Wizardry is big business. The latest boy-wizard Harry
Potter book is assured of best-seller status before it even hits
the bookstores July 8. If you haven't heard of Harry
Potter, you will. The series is immensely popular, with the first
three books selling seven million copies before the Christmas rush last
year. They also topped the New York Times best-seller
lists.
An initial print-run of over 5,000 copies
is considered respectable, but Joanne K. Rowling's latest offering
will start with 1.5 million copies! Amazon.com predicts that
Rowling's fourth book in a promised series of seven will be "the biggest
online best-seller ever." Not surprisingly, the market for Harry
Potter memorabilia is mushrooming as well. Can a movie be far behind?
The main character is an unusual 11-year-old
boy. Raised by abusive foster-parents (relatives), he discovers that
he has "special powers" and enrolls in "the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft
and Wizardry." Once he masters the magic arts, he is able to confront
his parents' murderer.
Rowling ages Harry one year with each new
book, bringing in issues and interests that are age-pertinent. She
promises to introduce a girl in the fourth book.
Presented as "good magic" that pursues
and overcomes "bad magic," the theme of the books is controversial.
Because they are entertaining and easy reading, attracting even young
people who are not prone to read books at all, many teachers have introduced
the Harry Potter books in the classroom.
Challenges to allowing, much less encouraging,
their reading in classrooms have been launched in at least eight U.S.
states. Passions of Harry Potter's defenders are equal to those who
want Harry and his Hogwarts banned from schools.
