KidsTeensAbout

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows has been the most hyped book in history. The climax with twists is not for the faint hearted. With battles, betrayals and revelations, Potter fans are not disappointed one bit.

My ex-colleague got me hooked on Harry Potter. She was raving about the Azkaban book and I got curious to know more about “The Boy Who Lived” with an address of “The Cupboard Under the Stairs”. And boy I was captivated by J.K. Rowling’s sheer magical world.

With the release date of the seventh Harry Potter nearing, I too was interested in buying the book, first day and read it from page one till end at one go. But, alas it never happened for reasons best left unsaid; I managed to grab a copy on Saturday that went by and read it through the day with interruptions in form of food and nature’s call.

Well, the book is about Harry’s journey from boy to man, his quest for Horcruxes, deaths of few loved ones, truth about Dumbledore, Snape and threat of Death Eaters and ‘You Know Who”. Filled with events both, tragic and triumphant, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is a spectacular finish to the phenomenal Harry Potter series.

The book starts with Harry, Ron and Hermonie going in search for Horcruxes, a mission left to Harry by Dumbledore. Horcruxes are the hidden pieces of Lord Voldermort’s soul that must be destroyed to ensure his final defeat. While on the run, help comes from most unexpected quarters and old friends. While searching for the truth about Hogwarts heroic headmaster’s past, Harry also come across the legend of the Deathly Hallows, three magical objects that have the power to overcome death. The plot ties up all loose ends, if any, involving clues and characters from all the previous books. The long-awaited final struggle between Harry Potter and his allies, and the ever-more-powerful and influential Voldermort and his allies, the Death Eaters prove Rowling’s skills as the finest storyteller.

The message about the power of truth, love and redemption gives depth to the series as a whole. Potter fans (count me in) will definitely be left hoping for more tales from this fantastic world and brilliant author.

Share This

The other day when I was cleaning my cupboard full of magazines and books I had collected over years, I came across an old copy of Five On a Treasure Island of Enid Blyton’s Famous Five. My folks had bought this for my 11th birthday. I had forgotten all about this book. Though I would have loved to keep it for my lil girl, but it was in a bad shape, so I threw it out.

While surfing the Net later, I came across Enid Blyton’s Famous Five Books on Amazon. Curious than ever, I searched for an online version of Five on a Treasure Island. And I did come across one.

Looking back, Famous Five was popular with kids and adults. Four children and their dog, who live on Kirrin Island run in to adventures and mysteries most kids would just dream of.

Julian, 12, eldest of all kids, tall, bossy, acts like a grown up. Dick, 11, preferred taking a backseat early on in the series, though he was more active in the later books. Anne, 10, cannot help being pulled into adventures, though she loves being homemaker. George or Georgina, 11, feisty, stubborn, brave girl, who behaves more like a boy is head over heels in love with her dog Timmy. She hates anyone who calls her “girl” or “Georgina”. Timmy, pet to George, is loyal, strong and big, does much more than just rescue people.

All five meet for the first time (Julian, Dick & Anne are cousins of George) in this book. They go for a picnic on the far side of Kirrin Island and come across old shipwreck with no treasure. Later they discover a wooden box lined with tin housing something inside. The rest of the story deals with discovery of its box and content, almost selling of the Kirrin Island by George’s father and the bad guys who come hunting for the treasure. At the end of the adventure, gold is found; Kirrins suddenly become rich and Island remains with family.

All in all, an excellent read and enjoyable trip down memory lane.

Share This

I developed the habit of reading books when I was a fifth grader. As a rule, we had to devote 30 minutes daily to read few pages of book assigned to us from the school library.

While browsing, I came across a series of Nancy Drew books. One of my classmates had read one before, so she goaded me to read a book about a young girl who is a detective. Girl detective sounded so interesting. So I picked up my first Nancy Drew book and got addicted from page one.

Nancy Drew created in 1930 by Edward Stratemeyer & Carolyn Keene, is a highly skilled amateur detective staying with her lawyer father at River Heights. She is brave, bold independent, yet gentle and well-mannered girl who could solve any mysteries with her sheer grit, determination and sharp wits. She would fight villains, face white water rapids while skiing and whip up full course meal for her father and friends.

She loves tinkering with the automobiles as well as cooking, horseback riding, dancing, sewing and athletics. Her companions in solving the whodunits were her steady boyfriend Ned, her best gal pals George and Bess with their respective male friends. The police and her father Carson Drew were ever ready to help with her cases. Despite having the best of everything, she remained unspoiled, polite and caring. She was given full respect by all kinds of readers.

I still remember the very first book I read. It was “The Secret of the Old Clock”. A chance meeting with a little Judy and her aunts leads Nancy to investigate other relatives who are waiting to possess Josiah Crowley’s fortune. A missing antique clock has a clue to the location of the genuine will. Nancy ends up in places where she could get caught and hurt. Through the exciting twists and turns, Nancy tries to find out the original will and who will get the money.

My little one who is just over a year old currently enjoys her first pictures, colors books. When she is old enough I plan to introduce her to Nancy Drew and various other genres of books. Meanwhile I will go to the library, pick up a Nancy Drew and join her in her adventure.

Share This