Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – Audio CD

Rowling, J. K. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Listening Library, 1999. ISBN 0807281956

Plot

Baby Harry's parents are killed by Lord Voldemort, but Harry is mysteriously spared. He not only repelled the attack by the evil wizard, he also drove Voldemort into hiding. Because he is orphaned, he is placed in the care of the Dursleys, his Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon. They have a doted upon son named Dudley who gets everything he wants and has two bedrooms to hold all his things. Harry sleeps in a cupboard under the stairs. When Harry is old enough to go away to school, letters mysteriously arrive addressed to him and his cupboard. The Dursleys are worried enough about their own appearance as Harry's guardians to move him to Dudley's spare bedroom. Despite Uncle Vernon's best efforts to stop the letters, they keep arriving. Finally Uncle Vernon takes the family away to an isolated island. Even so, on the stroke of midnight on Harry's eleventh birthday, Hagrid arrives to take Harry off to school at Hogwarts. Harry learns of his wizarding heritage and his reputation during a shopping trip with Hagrid in Diagon Alley. Outfitted for school, Harry returns to the Dursley's briefly before his trip to Hogwarts. On the train he meets Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. They will all be sorted into the same house, Gryffindor, and become friends at school. Enemies are also on the horizon. Draco Malfoy, another student, makes clear his disapproval of Harry's fame. Professor Snape also appears to hate Harry. The strange Professor Quirrell teaches Defense Against the Dark Arts and seems ill at ease around Harry. Harry and his friends learn to play quidditch, fight a troll, elude Filch, and find out what the three-headed dog in the forbidden corridor is guarding. All the while, it becomes clearer to Harry that he is destined to do something important in his young life. All is in good fun, and we all know how it ends.

Critical Evaluation

The author has created a simply marvelous and complete reality for Harry and his friends to inhabit. The reader can slip easily into pure delight and wonder as they wend their way into Harry's life and world. The narrator, Jim Dale, pulls out all the acting stops to create all the characters in the book with just his voice.

Annotations

Young Harry Potter learns of his past and his destiny as he goes away to school at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He is put to the test when he faces Voldemort for the second time in his young life.

Author

J. K. Rowling has written a series of seven novels about Harry Potter.

Genre

Fiction -- fantasy

Curriculum Ties

Language Arts

Booktalk Ideas

Discuss the beginning of Harry's story and ask listeners to contribute their favorite details without revealing the ending of the book.

Listening Level/Interest Age

Grade 3 (age 8) and up.

Challenge Issues and Defense

There has been religious controversy over the use of magic portrayed in a positive light.

Why is it here?

Jim Dale is awesome to hear read this book.