It's Harry Potter's thirteenth birthday and before he returns to the wizard school, Hogwarts, the news is on the television about an escaped convict. He is a murderous wizard but deemed so dangerous that even people from the non-magical world are at risk.
This is the third book in the Harry Potter series and it is here that the overarching story becomes solidly evident. The prisoner and the new Dark Arts teacher are both integral to Harry's fate and the battle with the Dark Lord. The series themes of good and evil, love, loyalty and family continue and are further emphasised. The main focus of this book is injustice, mainly centring around the escaped prisoner and people's views on his alleged crime and his character. Other examples are the new Dark Arts teacher, a magical creature called a hippogriff, a pet cat and a pet rat, all of whom are misjudged in some way and are not what they seem. Another theme in this book is time. The timing of several events, both past and present, is critical to the outcomes and managing time is a significant feature. How does Harry's friend cope with all the lessons she is taking, some starting at the same time? Effective time management in a magical world! However, this device is only apparent in this one book, fortunately, otherwise the story would be bogged down and confusing. Phew. There is definitely a darker feel to this book, particularly with the introduction of the Dementors, which are shadowy wraithlike guards that have the power to suck out a person's soul. If they can't reach your soul they have the ability to suck out all the joy from you. Nice. If you know astronomy and mythology, it is easy to work out the new characters' identities: Sirius Black and Remus Lupin, for example. This is something Rowling does throughout her books and it is part of the appeal of the Harry Potter books for me. Once again, wonderful imagination with wit, emotion and as action-packed as ever.
Published by Bloomsbury on 8 July 1999. Further publications include Pottermore Publishing on 8 December 2015, as well as anniversary editions.
Winner of The Whitbread Book of the Year
Winner of the Booklist Editors' Choice Award Winner of the Bram Stoker Award for Young Readers Winner of the FCBG Children's Book Award Winner of the Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel Winner of the Booklist Editors' Choice Award Winner of the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize Gold Medal for children aged 9–11
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