Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter, Book 3) (3)

Prisoner of Azkaban is the third book in the original group of Harry Potter novels, thus it is set in the student's third year at Hogwarts. The book introduces several new characters, including the new defense against the dark arts professor, Professor Lupin, the titular prisoner of Azkaban (which is the wizard prison), Sirius Black, who is out to find Harry, and the Dementors, the guards at Azkaban who are trying to track down Black but also have a huge effect on Harry any time they come near him. This book is significantly longer than the first two, and as such, it has more content cut out for the movie adaptation than the first two books did. For example, the book has two additional Qiddich matches that were not shown in the movie, and there was more to the Buckbeak storyline than was shown in the movie. Also, some events played out differently in the book than they did in the movie, such as when Hermione decks Draco, Harry facing the Boggart for the first time, the circumstances of Harry getting his new broom, and the climax of the book when all is revealed has a lot more detail than was shown in the movie. And, some characters that were introduced in this book did not show up on film until the Goblet of Fire movie. Overall, the book is very well written, and done in a similar (yet a bit darker) tone than the first two. As most know, Rowling anticipated that kids reading the books would age as they were released so she made them darker and more "adult-like" as each book was released. So, there is a lot more talk of death in this one and we learn more details of the night that Harry's parents died than in the first two books. While it is technically a book for kids, in the 10-13-year-old range, adults can easily enjoy it. Even people like me who were older than the target reader group when the books were originally published. I had seen almost all the movies before I ever read the books for the first time and I think I enjoy the books more having already seen the movies. Even though the book is longer than the first two (435 pages), it is still a fairly quick read, depending, of course, how fast you read and how much time you have to read. If you are a fan of the movies or the first two books, it is definitely a must-read.

I’m slowly building my Harry Potter collection, and Prisoner of Azkaban is definitely one of my favorites so far. This edition is absolutely beautiful — I love how each book has its own colored page ends, and this one looks amazing on the shelf. I’m on book four now, and the series just keeps getting better, but Azkaban really stands out. The story is so good, the pacing is great, and it’s one of those books you can read over and over without getting bored. Between the quality of the book itself and the story inside, it’s an easy 5 stars.

Now thirteen, Harry Potter heads into his third year at Hogwarts. Third year is a big step for Harry and friends; they get to choose electives, learn harder magic, and best of all, get to go to Hogsmeade on field trip weekends. As usual though, Harry's horrible Muggle aunt and uncle won't sign his permission form or even acknowledge his wizarding background; they tell people he's been sent to a reform school for dangerous criminal boys. Ha--if they only knew Harry's real school will be more dangerous and exciting than ever this year! J.K. Rowling has, what can I say, outdone herself. Prisoner of Azkaban gets off to a bang of a start, with Harry learning a convicted killer named Sirius Black is after him, having escaped from the notorious Azkaban. To his credit though, Harry isn't about to let a little thing like a serial killer ruin his big third year. He's got plans, such as winning the Quidditch Cup for Gryffindor for the first time in years. But J.K. goes beyond the simple "avoid the crazed killer" plot. She adds well-timed and delicious details and subplots, such as Hagrid finally getting to teach Care of Magical Creatures, a secret that could land Hermione in the hospital wing all year (at minimum), and Harry's discovery of the Marauder's Map. Most authors would drop their Quaffles somewhere, but J.K. manages to keep all her plot threads tight and making sense. Harry Potter and friends, as well as some new characters, get some superb development here. As another reviewer noted, the Hogwarts kids are growing up, and it's obvious in the problems they face and how they respond to each other, as well as the people in their lives. Harry faces some traumatic truths about what happened to his mom and dad; Ron continues growing into his place at Hogwarts; and Hermione pulls off one of the most breath-stopping climaxes in the series so far. (I tend to agree with a fan who says every book should be called Harry Potter and the Time Hermione Did Absolutely Everything). Even the bad guys get a little more sympathetic. For example, I still hate Snape, but I had to admit he had a point when he complained about Harry getting special treatment and doing as he pleased. Maybe it's the adult/former teacher/Muggle in me, but I couldn't help feeling Snape got a bad deal--until the end, that is, when he turned right back into a first-class jerk. If I hate Snape, I have to say I love Lupin. He made Defense Against the Dark Arts fascinating for me and his students; I wanted to go to one of his classes. He's the kind of teacher I always wanted to be. I also identified with him based on his secrets and standing as an outcast. There are rumors floating around that J.K. wrote Lupin's affliction to stand in for HIV/AIDS. If she did, that's brilliant--it points us to the stigma faced by people with illnesses and disabilities, and encourages us to treat them with respect in a non-preachy way. Speaking of Lupin, I absolutely loved the subplot with him, his friends, and the Marauder's Map. The scene where the Map insults Snape is downright hilarious. Other favorite parts of note: As a cat-lover, I cheered for Hermione adopting a cat. The subplot with Hagrid and Buckbeak is heartwarming, heartbreaking, and triumphant--not an easy mix to pull off. I'm not into sports, but that Quidditch final had me loathe to put the book away. GO, GRYFFINDORS! And I do wonder what's going to happen between Harry and Cho Chang...kudos for picking a Ravenclaw girl, Harry. We're the best of the lot. :) Read it--you'll love it!

What can I say?? Harry Potter is awesome & will always be magical. Replaced this in my collection for one that was never returned.

Got this one for my child's mother as well really nice good story

In broad outline HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN follows the pattern of the previous two books: a magical adventure yarn about the young eponymous wizard told within the framework of another year at the English wizarding boarding school Hogwarts, the beginning and ending of the story in the company of Harry's insufferable muggle (regular people) relatives, the Dursleys. Book Number Three is, in the richness of its plot and its psychological depth, more intriguing than its predecessors. That it's not very nuanced reminds you that this is a children's tale, but it comes very close to standing on its own as an adult book as well. It's a dark story: more than ever before Harry has to face the murder of his parents--even hearing time and again the screams of his mother--and though this is unsettling, J.K. Rowling so deftly writes these scenes with children in mind that, for most pre-teen readers, it will not be unbearable. This is, perhaps, in part because Harry has by now become a beloved and trusted friend to young readers: they're willing to stand by him, as with Harry's bosom friends Hermione and Ron, through the many trials and occasional triumphs of Harry's life. The main thrust of the story follows the (previously unheard of) escape of a prisoner from the dreaded dungeon Azkaban. This escapee, a wizard and erstwhile best friend of the Potters named Sirius Black, is being hunted down by both muggle and wizarding worlds as a murderer. Indeed, it is widely believed in the latter sphere that not only had Sirius betrayed his friends, Harry's parents, to die, he is looking to murder Harry as well. Though containing interrelated subplots including involving a condemned hippogriff, a new power that Hermione is given, and, of course, the game of quidditch, this novel is principally concerned with the stalking of Harry Potter. Meanwhile, Harry continues to feel the cold venom of the Hogwarts Potions Professor Snape, and is newly befriended and aided by the latest Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Lupin. J.K. Rowling seems to have her material well in hand with this entry in the Harry Potter saga. The previous two books, though charming and thoroughly likeable, seemed at times just a bit wooden. The writing in this volume is punchier; the story moves along swiftly. Just swiftly enough, in fact, to keep up, most of the time, the reader's necessary suspension of disbelief--only once in a while does the story give the reader pause to wonder, if only Sirius had been a somewhat better communicator, wouldn't a lot of the novel's problems have been avoided? Then again, that's life. All round, a decently written story that'll enthrall young readers and captivate adults as well.

I loved this book when I read it. Out of the whole series my favourite.

“I solemnly sear that I am up to no good.” (ch. 10 pg. 192) Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is the third book in the Harry Potter series. It follows Harry and his friends through the excitement that is their third year at Hogwarts. In the start of the book, we find Harry doing his homework by flashlight under his bed sheets- as any proof of his time at that wizarding school is forbidden by the Drusley’s. It’s Harry’s birthday and for the first time in his life, he receives birthday cards and presents from his friends Hermione, Ron, and Hagrid. During a visit from Aunt Marge, Vernon and Harry make a deal, if he can keep Hogwarts a secret, Vernon will sign Harry’s permission slip to visit Hogsmead on the weekends. Unfortunately that goes out the window when Marge insults Harry’s family and he accidentally inflates her, whoops. The Knight Bus then picks up Harry after he leaves the house suddenly, but not after seeing something peculiar in the bushes… The main conflict of this novel is the fact that escaped prisoner Sirius Black is on the loose and dangerous. Dementors have made Hogwarts their home for the year and even made a little pit stop on the Hogwarts Express to make sure Sirius Black wasn’t aboard. While they didn’t find the prisoner on the train, they did find Harry, because of the sorrow and death he has already witnessed the dementors were drawn to him. The mysterious person (who we find out to be the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher) is at the ready to produce a Patronus charm, which is used to ward of dementors with a happy memory. The school year starts and the dementors are not respecting the boundaries that Dumbledore has put into place. They even disrupt a Quidditch match and send Harry flying off of his broom and his Nimbus 2000 into the Whomping Willow. Harry get used to his new classes and the frequent disappearance and reappearance of Hermione as she seems to be taking more class than any average witch or wizard can handle. Third year is when students start taking Divination and it’s not Harry’s favorite subject to say the least. Professor Trelawney often tells Harry he is in grave danger after finding the Grim in his cup, and she becomes overcome with a prophecy when they are alone in the classroom. "It will happen tonight. The Dark Lord lies alone and friendless, abandoned by his followers. His servant has been chained these twelve years. Tonight, before midnight, the servant will break free and set out to rejoin his master. The Dark Lord will rise again with his servant's aid, greater and more terrible than ever before. Tonight... before midnight... the servant... will set out... to rejoin... his master..." (ch.16 pg.324) The story concludes with Harry, Ron and Hermione using Hermione’s Time Turner to not only save Hagrid’s friend Buckbeak, but also Harry’s innocent godfather Sirius Black, who has spent the last 12 years in Azkaban for a crime he did not commit. With the help of their new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher (who is also a werewolf!) Remus Lupin; Harry finds out more about his parents past and how their secret keeper and friend Peter Pettigrew betrayed them. This is easily my favorite Harry Potter book out of the seven. I’d give it ten out of five stars if I could. It introduced me to my favorite character of the series (Remus Lupin) and helped to continue the story of Harry Potter and helped Harry find out more about his parents before they died. He also was reconnected with his godfather and James’ best friend Sirius Black. “Mischief Managed” (Ch, 10 pg, 194)