Harry Potter enchants readers of all ages

MEGHAN MONTGOMERY / senior photographer College-aged Harry Potter fans fall victim to the young hero's wizardly charm.

His small dark eyes blink thoughtfully behind wire-rimmed glasses, unruly black hair shading a faint jagged scar across his forehead — an unlikely hero. Much to the contrary, Harry Potter is currently one of the most adored fictional characters. And elementary schoolgirls aren't the only ones who fall victim to the boy-wizard's charm. The Harry Potter series is something more than a mere children's story. It is a cross-generational phenomenon.

Harry Potter first appeared in 1997 when author J.K. Rowling published "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." "Sorcerer's Stone" introduces 11-year-old Harry living in England with his aunt, uncle and cousin. His parents were mysteriously killed when he was just a baby. More than anything, Harry just wants to be special, and his chance arrives when he gets an invitation to enroll at the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. Joined by a host of magical friends, he learns the art of wizardry, allowing him to take revenge on the evil Voldemort, who is revealed to be responsible for his parents' death.

"Sorcerer's Stone" documents Harry's first year at Hogwarts and the three following novels track him year by year. The fifth book in the series is set to be released in 2002. Harry's journey is supposed to end with the seventh book when he graduates from Hogwarts.

"I love the books. I've read the series twice and I can't wait to see the movie," freshman Carrie Stevens said. "Rowling is so good at creating another world. Everyone likes a good 'who done it' and 'Harry Potter' is definitely good at that because you always think you have it figured out and then Rowling flips it around." Stevens' sentiments help explain the power behind Harry Potter — Rowling's unique writing style appeals to a range of readers.

According to Rowling, Harry Potter does not read like a normal children's book. "People have said that the humor is very adult, but I do think they underestimate children," she said in an interview on CNN.com. "Certainly, some of the kids I've met have got every joke, and even if they haven't, it doesn't actually matter. It annoys me that people think you have to dumb down for children."

The Harry Potter series has the rare ability to appeal across generations. Due to the novels' subject matter, many parents have skimmed the books to make sure they are OK for their children to read. But Rowling's writing also has hooked parents and adults.

"The adults who read 'Sorcerer's Stone' are reading to see if they will let their children read it," children's librarian at Massanutten Regional Library Carol Smith said. As of Monday, the library's 13 copies of "The Sorcerer's Stone," were checked out, as were the two copies at Carrier Library.

"The adults are buying the books (for themselves) and then for their children they are getting the accessories such as calendars [and] coloring books," said Jennifer Hannah, assistant manager at B. Dalton Bookstore in the Valley Mall.

Harry Potter has a tightly woven plot, as every chapter ends in a cliffhanger. The heroes are appealing, the villains appropriately evil, the imaginary world transporting, the ending sufficiently surprising. In addition, the book also has all the ingredients of a classic fantasy novel. Harry is an endearing young hero who, with the help of a disparate band of loyal friends, calls upon courage and smarts to confront fears, overcome adversity and challenge evil.

"I think the novels appeal to adults because they feature many of the same qualities I look for in a novel: interesting characters, scary villains, an ordinary protagonist who turns out to be extraordinary, a few mysteries and lots of great plot twists," assistant professor of SMAD Dolores Flamiano said. "And although the hero is male, he is a sensitive person with whom girls and women can identify.

"The writing is accessible for kids, but it also has enough wit — and in the fourth volume, enough coming-of-age humor about girl-boy relations — to keep adults interested," Flamiano said.

The Potter phenomenon will be tested as the film version of the first novel opens tomorrow in theaters nationwide. Will the film have the power to draw in viewers like the book's drew in readers? As of Monday night, the Regal Cinema 14 in Harrisonburg reported it had sold more than 200 tickets in advance for the 7:30 p.m. showing of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" on Friday.

The film premiered in Great Britain last week and conjured up a record-breaking $5 million in limited previews Saturday, according to the Daily Variety. It's the highest single-day grossing in Britain's history, surpassing "Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace"'s record in 1999 which grossed nearly 2.9 million.

The young wizard-in-training follows in the tradition of several other successful print works to venture onto the silver screen in hopes of maintaining the magic.