Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J. K. Rowling is a fantasy story for 11 year olds about a boy whose family has been keeping magic a secret from him.

What happens

Harry sleeps in a cupboard while his cousin Dudley has two bedrooms. He's used to being blamed for things. What he can't explain is why some very strange things really do happen when he's around.

Then a letter arrives with his name on it. Someone even knows exactly where he sleeps. Uncle Vernon is VERY keen to make sure Harry never gets to read it.

For a child who loves the idea of finding a hidden world, that's a lovely invitation into the story. Harry has spent years thinking there's nobody out there for him. Now there might be someone who knows more about him than he does.

There are odd little things to notice before Harry gets any answers. A cat seems to be reading a map. Owls turn up when they shouldn't and strangers are celebrating something the Dursleys don't want mentioned.

You get to enjoy Uncle Vernon trying to explain it all away. He's so determined that everything should be normal that even a perfectly ordinary letter can cause a huge fuss. Harry has some very good replies of his own (although saying them out loud doesn't always help).

The excitement sits alongside some upsetting treatment of Harry. His relatives shut him away and withhold meals. Dudley and his friends bully him, and the death of Harry's parents is part of the opening backstory.

That's worth knowing if your reader finds cruel families or bereavement difficult. If they enjoy rooting for a child who's been treated unfairly, there's already plenty here to make them want things to change for Harry.

This is the beginning of his story, so your reader can discover the strange goings-on alongside him. There's no need to know the answers before opening the book. Wondering who sent that letter is a very good place to start!

What to read next

Harry's story continues in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, which is also in the library. He's desperate to return to Hogwarts, but a house-elf called Dobby arrives with a warning about the year ahead.