false http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171673414m/113270.jpg 113270 3 Since the 1997 release of J.K. Rowling's first novel--HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE--no series of children's books has been more incredibly popular or widely influential. How do we explain the enormous appeal of these stories to children? Should parents welcome this new interest in reading among their kids or worry, along with the critics, that the books encourage either moral complacency or a perverse interest in witchcraft and the occult? <P>In this original interpretation of the Harry Potter sensation, Edmund M. Kern argues that the attraction of these stories to children comes not only from the fantastical elements embedded in the plots, but also from their underlying moral messages. Children genuinely desire to follow Harry as he confronts a host of challenges in an uncertain world, because of his desire to do the right thing. Harry's coherent yet flexible approach to dealing with evil reflects an updated form of Stoicism, says Kern. He argues that Rowling's great accomplishment in these books is to have combined imaginative fun with moral seriousness. <P>Kern's comprehensive evaluation of the Harry Potter stories in terms of ethical questions reveals the importance of uncertainty and ambiguity in Rowling's imaginative world and highlightrs her call to meet them with virtues such as constancy, endurance, perseverance, self-discipline, reason, solidarity, empathy, and sacrifice. Chidren comprehend that growing up entails some perplexity and pain, that they cannot entirely avoid problems, and that they can remain constant in circumstances beyond their control. In essence, Harry shows them how to work through their problems, rather than seek ways around them. Despite the fantastical settings and events of Harry's adventures, children are quick to realize that they are just a fictional reflection of the confusing and disturbing circumstances found in the real world. <P>Kern also shows adults how much they can gain by discussing with children the moral conundrums faced by Harry and other characters. The author outlines the central morals of each book; considers the common critiques of the books; discusses Rowling's skillful blend of history, legend, and myth; and raises important questions for guiding children through Harry's adventures. <P>This fresh, instructive, and upbeat guide to Harry Potter gives parents a wealth of useful and educational information for discussing the moral implications of this continuously popular series of books with their children. 109058 9 2003 The Wisdom of Harry Potter: What Our Favorite Hero Teaches Us About Moral Choices total:30|5:8|4:10|3:8|2:3|1:1| 30 111 48 5 2 0 false false Sun Sep 02 17:04:46 -0700 2007 Fri Jan 11 23:50:02 -0800 2008 more...]]> 4 0 false false Tue Mar 31 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Tue Mar 31 07:25:59 -0700 2009 Tue Mar 31 07:29:36 -0700 2009 more...]]> 3 0 false false Thu Jan 08 22:57:14 -0800 2009 Thu Jan 08 23:00:47 -0800 2009 more...]]> 1 0 false false Sun Oct 04 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Thu Sep 10 14:31:47 -0700 2009 Sun Oct 04 00:15:07 -0700 2009 3 0 false false Thu Oct 29 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Wed Jul 29 07:36:59 -0700 2009 Wed Oct 28 22:28:29 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Tue Oct 27 18:59:42 -0700 2009 Tue Oct 27 18:59:42 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Sun Oct 18 19:54:22 -0700 2009 Sun Oct 18 19:54:22 -0700 2009 4 0 false false Tue Oct 13 03:03:47 -0700 2009 Tue Oct 13 03:03:47 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Mon Sep 21 13:01:39 -0700 2009 Mon Sep 21 13:01:39 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Thu Jul 23 14:50:12 -0700 2009 Thu Jul 23 14:50:12 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Mon Jul 06 16:30:51 -0700 2009 Mon Jul 06 16:30:51 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Sun Jul 05 14:16:33 -0700 2009 Sun Jul 05 14:16:33 -0700 2009 5 0 false false Fri Jun 26 14:26:32 -0700 2009 Fri Jun 26 14:26:32 -0700 2009 4 0 false false Sat May 23 16:08:31 -0700 2009 Sat May 23 16:08:31 -0700 2009 4 0 false false Sun Apr 12 22:09:02 -0700 2009 Sun Apr 12 22:09:02 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Sat Mar 21 06:47:51 -0700 2009 Sat Mar 21 06:47:51 -0700 2009 3 0 false false Thu Mar 19 21:44:32 -0700 2009 Thu Mar 19 21:44:32 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Tue Feb 17 15:07:52 -0800 2009 Tue Feb 17 15:07:52 -0800 2009 4 0 false false Sun Nov 29 13:34:25 -0800 2009 Fri Jan 16 16:37:35 -0800 2009 Sun Nov 29 13:35:16 -0800 2009 5 0 false false Fri Jan 09 07:29:15 -0800 2009 Fri Jan 09 07:29:15 -0800 2009 http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=113270