As his fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry approaches, 15-year-old Harry Potter is in full-blown adolescence, complete with regular outbursts of rage, a nearly debilitating crush, and the blooming of a powerful sense of rebellion. It's been yet another infuriating and boring summer with the despicable Dursleys, this time with minimal contact from our hero's non-Muggle friends from school. Harry is feeling especially edgy at the lack of news from the magic world, wondering when the freshly revived evil Lord Voldemort will strike. Returning to Hogwarts will be a relief... or will it?

The fifth book in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series follows the darkest year yet for our young wizard, who finds himself knocked down a peg or three after the events of last year. Somehow, over the summer, gossip (usually traced back to the magic world's newspaper, the Daily Prophet) has turned Harry's tragic and heroic encounter with Voldemort at the Triwizard Tournament into an excuse to ridicule and discount the teen. Even Professor Dumbledore, headmaster of the school, has come under scrutiny by the Ministry of Magic, which refuses to officially acknowledge the terrifying truth that Voldemort is back. Enter a particularly loathsome new character: the toadlike and simpering ("hem, hem") Dolores Umbridge, senior undersecretary to the Minister of Magic, who takes over the vacant position of Defense Against Dark Arts teacher--and in no time manages to become the High Inquisitor of Hogwarts, as well. Life isn't getting any easier for Harry Potter. With an overwhelming course load as the fifth years prepare for their Ordinary Wizarding Levels examinations (O.W.Ls), devastating changes in the Gryffindor Quidditch team lineup, vivid dreams about long hallways and closed doors, and increasing pain in his lightning-shaped scar, Harry's resilience is sorely tested.

On Harry Potter Scales, Bad!

If I were to rate Harry Potter 5 out of all the books, 5 being the worst, this is 5!

There was really no main theme in this book like the other ones in the series. The "order of the phoenix" didn't really lead to a thrilling ending like the rest of the books.

Going from Harry Potter 4 to 5 was a HUGE difference. For me, The 4th book was the absolute best, but the transition from the two books was just awful.

If you're a Harry Potter fan, read this just to say you did, but you won't get much out of it! I personally hope the 6th one will be a lot better!

Great Book!

JK Rowling does it again! This was a great 5th book in the series, and I think that anyone that says differently is just plain wrong. The length isn't bad because these books don't come out very often, so it's not like you are in a rush to get to the next one. The plot is great, and I can't wait until the next book comes out!

a vanilla fifth scoop

The fifth installment in the Harry Potter series has a lot to live up to, and as Ms Rowling is probably aware, has a chance to break out of the fascinating adolescent adventure series into something deeper, more meaningful, and a with greater lasting impact on the millions of readers. In fact, it would almost be a crime to waste this opportunity to raise reflective questions in the minds of the several millions of young minds who not only enjoy the stories, but also look to Harry, Ron and Hermione for inspiration and unconsciously mimic their heroes' actions.

So has ms Rowling grabbed at this chance to introduce hitherto unseen grey areas? Has she mirrored difficult social issues we face our society in her literally magical world? Has she forced us to appreciate how difficult responsibilities and burdens can be for a child forced to handle adult issues?

Sadly I can't give the resounding yes I so want to for the sake of the millions mentioned above. Yes the story is more complex, with more twists and turns than the others. Yes, Harry is something more than a wide eyed doe, adopting a trendier angry misunderstood teenager stereotype, and we understand the relationships between the key characters better. Yes, the plot is appropriately timed with key events occurring at holidays and feasts, and a gigantic all revealing (if slightly cheesy) climax at the end of school year. Voldemort may have dropped his Hogwarts name, but not the Hogwarts school year time table.

I do not want to convey an hp bashing message here. This book is just as good as the others, in the same vein, and delivers as an excellent children's fiction C.S Lewis style adventure that adults can find equally engrossing. But with no real complexity or sophistication, save an improbable plot straining to prevent water falling through the cracks, I questioned myself whether it was just the elaborate magic that enchanted readers into this phenomenon. If so, we have had 5 scoops with hot fudge and nuts - hopefully Ms. Rowling will provide us with something that doesn't feel like eating to see if anything's changed.