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Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

(1999, Fiction - Fantasy, Written by J. K. Rowling, Illustrated by Mary Grandpré)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 8, age appropriate for kids over 9; suggested age 9.

  • Is it any good?

    5.0

  • Common Sense says

    3rd Potter is darker, more complex, and fantastic.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 9 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Harry continues to break rules. Conquering fear is a huge theme here. Friendship, love, bravery, and loyalty are always major themes in the series. So is the idea of making good choices. Strong female characters, but all major characters are white.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Harry believes he is marked for death and stalked by a murderer most of the school year. Children are in peril, often at the hands of magical creatures: Dementors (black-robed floating beings that suck the happiness out of people) attack Harry and others, making Harry hear the sound of his mother dying as he passes out; they almost administer "the kiss of death," extracting a character's soul through his mouth. A hippogriff (eagle-horse mix) is provoked and strikes a student; the same creature is executed by a hatchet. A Boggart in a class demonstration changes shape to match what students are most afraid of (and kids learn to fight their fears with laughter). A large dog breaks Ron's leg. Adult characters threaten to kill another. A werewolf chases Harry and Hermione.

  • Sex:

    Some mild flirtations between Ron and Hermione.

  • Language:

    Not an issue.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Hagrid gets drunk. Butterbeer is introduced (a magical-world drink with a pinch of alcohol) and the kids go to a pub in Hogsmeade.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Parents need to know that J.K. Rowling continues her great plotting and pacing, but this book's edgier themes will appeal more to older kids. For most of the school year, Harry believes he is marked for death and stalked by an escaped prisoner. He also battles a creature of kids' worst nightmares: the Dementors are black-robed floating beings that suck out happiness and feed on your worst fears, which is why Harry hears the sound of his mother's last scream when he sees them. While this can be tough for young and sensitive readers, the bright spot is the Boggart lesson in Defense Against the Dark Arts. Boggarts can turn into what a person fears most, but the kids learn to yell "Ridiculous!" and turn it into something to laugh at.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about conquering fears and why some fears are easier to face than others. What can you learn from the way Harry and his friends learned to defeat the Boggarts? The Dementors? If you had a map of your school with everyone on it, what would you do with it? What is the significance of Harry's relationship to Sirius? And did you see all the plot twists coming, or were they a complete surprise?
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Our Members Say

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See all 31 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Myles Orr
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 4.0

    I think its a good book for kids from ages 10-14 because they are kinda fun to read and imagine and my favorite one as you can see is the prisoner of askaban

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  2. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    FantasyFiend12
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 5.0

    I loved this book. One of the best of the series.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
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  3. Parent Reviewer
    love2
    I rate this title off for age 9 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    good book

    this book sertantly is darker and more scary then the rest that's for sure. the whole book focuses on a man who is beilieved to have murdered 10 people and betrayed harry potter's parents. and there is plenty of vilonce but still a great book.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  4. Kid Reviewer Age 9
    benpotter100
    I rate this title on for age 9 and give it 5.0

    Flag as inappropriate
  5. Parent Reviewer
    love2
    I rate this title on for age 9 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    just ok

    just an ok book nothing exstrodinary about it.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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