Reylari and Amil, interesting thoughts about the book. You both wanted the book to stay with the more happy, minor dangers abound adventures of the first two books. If I am reading this correctly, you do not like the increase in the level of violence or the intensity of the books.

I think your right, this book was not for younger kids. Then again neither was book 4. In the interviews I read, JK has stated that she does not think this book is for little kids, precisly because the series is getting more serious and the level of danger is increasing.

The very reason that you seem to be turned off by the latest installment is the very reason I am excited by it. Harry is growing up and so the personal problems he faces should become more serious. In the first book he was 11 years old and unhappy living with his Aunt and Uncle. There is a case to be made that Harry has lived in an abusive household his entire life, which is serious in and of it self, but the way it was written most people over looked that. He could not face off against a really strong character, he did not know enough, so he faces a weakened Voldemort after negotiating a maze full of traps. It was good reading but not the most dangerous scneario, applicable to children of all ages.

As the books progress, Harry grows older. He is learning more magic, faced with more personal problems. At home he is growing less accepting of his treatment and speaking and acting out against his Aunt and Uncle. At school he is getting tired of people looking at him only because he survived Voldemort's initial attack when he was a baby. This only getrs worse when he learns that he lived because his Mothers death to protect him was a powerful form of raw magic that Voldemort could not defeat.

By book 4, Harry is a true teenager, feeling ackward around girls, rebeling when he can, and wanting to be anyone but himself. He and Ron are fighting because Ron is jealous of Harry and Voldemort is trying to kill him, yet again.

In book 5, Harry is faced with a new teacher who is making his life hell, he knows that Voldemort is back and at full strength, and he is really feed up with being the boy who survived. The only adults he really looks up to are either not able to visit with him or ignoring him.All the pressures of the past four years are mounting, on the quidditch field, in the classroom, socially, and Voldemort, and Harry pretty much snaps. He cannot control his anger, at the current state of events and the path his life has taken in general, he his yellng at his friends and he is hitting full rebellion stage. Personally, I like this. I get tired of books where the protagonist is such a good person that the overwhelming situations are simply brushed off. I want them to get pissed off and yell, scream, shout, lose composure. It shows me that they are still human and react like I probably would. (OK if I was in their shows I would probably go and find some place to hide but that is not the point...)

In terms of the violence, Voldemort is evil. The level of evil has been explained since day one. He allowed Muggles to be tortured for fun. He killed anyone who got in his way. He loves the Dark Arts. Now he is back, there is no way to avoid the violence. This is war, the light against the dark. People are going to die. Is it disturbing? Yes. Is it accurate? Yes.

I give JK credit for being willing to allow Harry to react to this situation like a normal teenager and not pulling away from the violence. Anything else would have been weak and not authentic. Maybe a 10 year should not be reading it (then again I know 10 year olds who read Tolkein and he is much worse then JK has been so far) but that is ok. Take a good look at the Chronicles of Narnia, lots of violence and death in those books and we think it is ok for kids to read them. Tell the kid to wait until he is a bit older or rea dit with him. That way you can discuss what is happening. Tie the violence into what is happening in the real world, discuss the war in Iraq or the Civil War in Liberia.

I respect your position, you enjoyed the more light hearted nature of the first books and are concerned that the more recent editions are too heavy for some kids. I would agree with you that these books are not for young kids. Parents should determine if a child is ready for it. As for the other, too each their own. I like the more serious story line and the mounting danger, but that is my own personal taste.