Excuse you?: In which I tear apart a review of Harry Potter from an educational resource
This is a rant about this article: http://www.eagerreaders.com/harrypotter.php
You do not start an article that you hope to be taken seriously with "They are basically junk". Especially when that's an opinion, not fact.
"The writing style is choppy." It's written in the vernacular to my mind. The way people would speak. Or think. You can relate to it, and read it easily, so you don't have to stumble over odious words but can enjoy the story. It's a book for children, let's remember.
"The characters are two-dimensional, without depth or complexity." HAVE YOU MET PROFESSOR SNAPE????? Or Draco?? DID YOU EVEN READ ALL OF THE BOOKS OR JUST THE FIRST 1 OR 2??
"They are good examples of literature that talks down to kids in its choppy style, and by including elements, like the few "gross" parts, that the author thinks will appeal to an immature audience. We like books that respect children's minds, and challenge them with style and content, rather than giving them images of some of the "lowest common denominators" of our culture: very negative family relationships (much like what is found in Roald Dahl's "Matilda," a book I disliked very much), "gross" behavior, petty bickering and revenge in a school setting, and lying with impunity. We never recommend literature in which lying is portrayed as OK (another reflection of our culture)." It doesn't talk down to kids, it talks TO kids, the way they talk and think. as far as your "lowest common denominators: THOSE ARE REALITY. Just because you lived a jaded, protected life doesn't mean everyone did. Kids bicker about petty things, get revenge, have to decide when lying might be the better option and when it is absolutely not okay. These are issues so many adolescents have to face as they grow up, especially in today's society with so many non-traditional families. And you say these aren't concepts that should be in young adult literature???? SERIOUSLY??
"Maybe the great popularity of the Harry Potter books comes from the fact that it is fantasy, and appeals to children who have not read a good fantasy. This is mediocre fantasy, at best, with shallow, undeveloped characters, some gigantic plot holes, and at least one glaringly direct Tolkien rip-off." I've read some of the BEST fantasy of our time: Tolkien, Lewis, Martin, Jordan...we'll throw in Goodkind, Salvatore, Brooks, and countless others just for good measure. And I would rank Harry Potter right up there with most of them, if not HIGHER than Goodkind. And definitely way better than Collins, Paolini, and Meyer. ALSO: ALL of the best fantasy has at least one rip off from Tolkien. They respect the amazing world he created and want to pay homage to it in their work. Get over it.
"In fantasy, the good characters, even if flawed, usually aspire to an ideal, striving for some higher good. In the case of Harry Potter, the good and bad kids don't seem very different from each other; the "good" kids don't show a great deal of integrity or other admirable character traits. Harry seems to be fighting mainly for his own survival, not for some higher cause or principle." The fact that the good and bad kids are so similar is PART OF THE POINT that you clearly missed. The point that our choices and actions are what define us. Neville definitely never showed any integrity. Or Harry. Ever. He just waltzed around doing what he wants. He didn't DIE to save everyone or anything. And even if he did, sacrifice for the greater good isn't an higher ideal we want our kids to know about or anything. And none of them were likable or admirable at all. Except THEY WERE. Who didn't admire Lupin? Or Snape for everything he had been through and suffered, despite being the cause of so much? I could clearly go on for hours, so moving on...
"Many parents are disturbed by the aspects of the occult and black magic contained in the books; however, we ourselves do not automatically exclude books just because they have such elements. Wizards, magic, and the presence of evil are typical themes in fantasy. Tolkien's books contain all of these things, and I would put them on my very short list of "greatest books ever written." For me, the key is that good must be shown as good, and evil must be portrayed as evil. When these labels get mixed-up, our culture is in trouble. With Harry Potter, as I noted above, the "good" aren't that good. But the occult issue is one you'll have to judge for yourself by reading the books." Ok, for once I agree with you that just because magic is used in a book it doesn't make it "evil" or whatever. But showing good as good and evil as evil? That's not reality. That's showing kids a world they will never see. It's important for them to realize there are shades of grey, and not everyone is as they seem. You have to be able to decide for yourself how "evil" or "good" someone is. And some actions may seem one way or the other, but actually not be. Our world isn't black and white, and neither should our literature.
"If you are really concerned about this, just say no to your kids if they want to read these books. They won't be missing anything, except being part of a fad, because they aren't very good, not even as page-turners." NOT EVEN AS A PAGE TURNER??? Now I know they didn't actually read these books. Rowling created characters you cared about. There are few series that made me cry as often as these (maybe the Black Jewels Saga by Anne Bishop?) because I was so invested in the characters and what happened to them. Tolkien never made me cry. Jordan did a few times. I don't think Martin has made me cry, just veryVERY angry multiple times.
"Hand your child one of the hundreds of truly great children's books to read instead. Not only will he enjoy it, but it will nourish his mind with ideas, and feed his imagination with images of virtue and beauty. He will learn a great deal about lives and times different from, yet connected to, his own. Reading a good book will provide your child with a background of experiences, a perspective through which he can look at his own life, culture, and experience. He will not get this from Harry Potter." Harry Potter won't teach kids about lives different from, yet connected to their own? It won't teach them about bravery and courage, friendship, betrayal, loss, love, heartbreak, wisdom? A reader can't see their own adolescent experiences with high school bullies in Harry's interactions with Draco? They can't see the awkwardness of a first love between Harry and Cho? Or the jealousy of a friend when Harry and Ron fight? "He" (notice they assume your child who you're struggling to get to read is male...way to be neutral) will not get this from Harry Potter?? No. You're wrong. You missed it all. Go back and reread it, dear EagerReaders writer, because you're so wrong on ALL OF THESE levels plus a few more.
WRONG.