Author: J.K. Rowling
Synopsis: The seven-book series follows the adventures of Harry Potter, and orphaned boy who finds out on his eleventh birthday that he is a wizard. Soon after, he leaves for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where, over the course of the next seven years, he makes friends, learns how to harness his magical powers, and fights against the growing threat of the darkest wizard of all time, Lord Voldemort.
Challenges: According to the Education World web site, the most frequent challenges to the Harry Potter series come from parents concerned with a child's ability to distinguish fantasy from reality. In particular, Christian groups have protested the series' focus on magic, automatically assuming that these books must have an anti-God bias.
Opponents of the Harry Potter series believe that anything that mentions a witch or a magic spell is equated with evil, West said. "They don't see it as fantasy," he said. "They see it as real. A small group of Americans can't accept fantasy that way. They really do care [about the book's impact], so they go against others' legal rights." (Source: Education World)
My Thoughts: I've mentioned in recent posts that I'm currently re-reading this series of books. It's at least the fourth, maybe fifth time I've read through them, and every time, I can't imagine how anyone could think these books are dangerous for children.
For one thing, it's silly to argue that children can't tell the difference between fantasy and reality. Children everywhere have very active imaginations--just look to their imaginary friends, the stories they make up while playing, and the way they treat special toys as though they are real babies, real puppies, real anything.
It reeks of laziness and ignorance to ban a fantasy series because you worry that your children will believe it's real. Children are savvy; they get it. And reading this series with them, rather than banning it outright and making it seem even more desirable as a result, gives the parent and opportunity to actually talk to their children about their beliefs, about imagination versus reality.
I suppose I'm assuming that all parents actually talk to their children openly and honestly.
Aside from underestimating the imagination and intelligence of the next generation, all of this Muggle ranting against "witchcraft" is missing one very big point: the Harry Potter series carries throughout a strong theme of good versus evil (guess which one wins?). Under that, themes like friendship, courage, and standing up for what is right, come in a close second. I can't find anything dangerous in that.
2 comments:
Oh dear, now I want to get on my soap box and start preaching to the choir!! LOL!
I've read every HP, too. Heck the first time I heard about HP was when one of my Sunday School students was so excited she brought in "The Sorcerer's Stone." I read the first chapter after class and was hooked. Agreed, the themes are ones we want our kids to read about.
HEAR, HEAR!!
I have been reading backwards after a long absence from yuo blog and have loved your "banned books week". I think there is a need and indeed a requirement for the individual to decide for themselves.
I appreciated and concur with your views, Meg!! Let's have more of it!!!
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