I recently finished reading Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. And what a thrill it was, for it kept me gripped on the book, dying to get to the next page. The story starts out comedically, but soon it starts to let you in on the secrets that have been crawling in the background. We all know Harry and his two friends as always are ready for an adventure, and the way many of the characters are fleshed out is great. Their stories are told in a revealing way. Twists and turns make this first story in the series resemble a junior Grisham thriller in which loose ends are expertly tied and more threads become compellingly unraveled. Part of Harry’s appeal is that he could be any ordinary 11-year-old boy, an underdog readers will root for: small and skinny, with unruly hair, plus glasses held together with Scotch tape. But he also is bright and competent, and he discovers he has an aptitude for magic and Quidditch. Though the formula is similar to the first book, this well-written, exciting sequel keeps kids glued to the page. It breaks no new ground in the series, but the plot is a riveting thrill ride filled with giant man-eating spiders, a ghost who lurks in the girls’ bathroom, secret underground vaults, time travel, magical-transformation potions, the near death of several major and minor characters, and a climactic confrontation with the greatest evil wizard of them all, Voldemort. J.K. Rowling excels at twists, turns, and surprises, and many will find the identity of the person who opened the Chamber a complete surprise.
All in all I would give this book:
5/5 Stars
