Book Review: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling

Hello, Fellow Book Worms and Book Dragons!

  I am one of the few in the universe that have not read all of the Harry Potter novels. Before you shake an accusatory finger at me, let me preface by saying that I have read and reviewed The Sorcerer's Stone and Chamber of Secrets. My goal in 2019 is read the remaining books in the series, as well as the play. This will be done in conjunction with my career as a Medical Assistant, as I will be reading to a patient of mine with Alzheimer's. I believe that continuing to read is important to all stages of Alzheimer's, by keeping the brain active and creating a calming environment.   

 Now hurry. Find your spell books, pack your robes, and get ready for a trip on the Knight Bus as Harry Potter and company head into a mystery that will change Harry's life forever.

  Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is J.K. Rowling's third book in her young adult fantasy series, which placed number three in the Great American Read Top 100 Books. In this installment Harry is at his wit's end at Privet Drive. His relatives have locked away all of his Hogwarts school books and have prohibited him to even utter the word wizard. When Uncle Vernon's sister arrives and constantly berates Harry and his parents, the young wizard lets loose with a spell that inflates the woman and she floats high above the dinner table. Fearing that he is in trouble for using magic outside of school and from the Dursleys, Harry flees Privet Drive with his belongings. Soon he is wandering the streets and ends up face to face with an enormous black dog. Before he can illuminate the creature with his wand a large purple bus screeches around a corner and stops in front of Harry. The Knight Bus, a designated transport for witches and wizards, scoops up Harry and he is off to Diagon Alley.

  Staying at an inn, he prepares himself for his next semester at Hogwarts. While at the inn he hears more news on escaped-wizard-gone-bad, Sirius Black. After leaving Azkaban it is believed that he is after Harry to finish what Lord Voldemort had tried to do those many years ago... kill Harry Potter. Under the protection and watchful eyes of the Hogwarts staff, Harry enters into his third year of Wizarding School. Along the way he encounters the terrifying guards of Azkaban, the Dementors. Surrounding Hogwarts, these macabre creatures await the arrival of Sirius Black. New teachers Professor Lupin and Professor Trelawney add a new feel to Hogwarts. As the specter of the enormous dog seems to follows Harry, Professor Trelawney warns of teh Omen of the Grim. Meanwhile friends Hermione and Ron are dealing with their own issues. Hermione is taking too many classes. And Ron is dealing with his pet rat seemingly wasting away as it tries escaping Hermione's cat, Crookshanks. 

  Soon the veil of mystery begins to lift and it is apparent that Sirius Black can enter Hogwarts unseen. Harry is in danger and he needs a plan before the will of Lord Voldemort is met. Can Harry defeat Sirius Black? He will have to be clever if he is to face the prisoner of Azkaban.

  This installment of the Harry Potter series was filled with as many goodies as Honeydukes Candy Shop. From the thrilling visit to Hogsmeade to the terrifying Shrieking Shack, this volume in the series is thrilling and loaded with fun. Many of the series more famous magical objects are revealed for the first time here, including the Firebolt Broom and the Marauder's Map, as Rowling beefs up her story's mythology. The character development and world building is spectacular, giving the Prisoner of Azkaban a depth the previous stories did not have. The friendship of Harry, Hermione, and Ron are put to the test this time around. This gives the trio a chance to shine as each character is given obstacles related to the main story to overcome. Favorites like Haggrid and Dumbledore gave me nostalgia for the first books. And new teachers Lupin and Trelawney give new skill lessons to Harry that help him greatly in the finale. And what an amazing finale we get! I was exhilarated when I finished this book and felt that I was given a massive gift wrapped up with a bow.

  I utilized the amazing audio book with narration by Jim Dale to read most of this book. His voices and accents give the illusion that he is not the only one reading. I loved his Professor Trelawney, with her weird and over-excited voice. And Haggrid's parts were read in a big and booming voice that was like a warm cup of cocoa on a cozy night. All the emotion of a Harry Potter fan is conveyed in Dale's voice work. Brilliant work.

  Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is a delightful and thrill-filled book. It brings back all your favorite characters and introduces fantastic new players. Five stars later I have to say that this is my favorite of the series so far. It is packed with so many twists and turns, and even writing this review barely covered all of the wonderful new editions to the Potterverse mythology. This beloved series continues to become more and more dear to my heart. I look forward to book four, the Goblet of Fire. I hope that you are enjoying your journey through this series.   
  
  Visit the Alzheimer's Association at: https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-alzheimers

 Reading to someone with Alzheimer's can be of comfort to one struggling. Being kind takes no effort at all.

 Have fun reading this week. Let me know in the comments below what you are reading this week.

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