My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Voldemort is back. And Harry Potter is getting angry. Angry that he saw Voldemort, he fought him and witness him kill a good man. Yet, the Wizarding World refuses to acknowledges any of Harry's story. And this alone sets Harry onto a path of pure justified rage. Rage against his friends who have had no contact with him the whole summer, the Ministry of Magic who refuse to accept that Voldemort has returned, toward the Dursleys who are worse than ever and even toward his godfather who he desperately needs.
Then something happens that always happens to Harry to get him going again. He gets into trouble. His trouble leads him to a secret association known as The Order of the Phoenix. The Order was set in place when Voldemort came to power in the 70s and a select few witches and wizards (including Harry's parents) came together to challenge his power when others ran and hid. Now the Order has come back together, believing Harry and working out how to get ahead of Voldemort and his plans.
Through all this Harry finally returns to his beloved Hogwarts, but like with each term, there are more changes. A psychotic Defense Against the Dark Arts professor sent by the ministry to keep order, Harry's own friends turning against him and Dumbledore completely neglecting him. Soon, Hogwarts becomes more of a prison than a school.
With Ron and Hermione's encouragement, Harry, no longer able to take what the ministry is doing to his home, starts his own secret organization. He begins to train other students in basic wizarding defense skills, knowing full well that they could be attacked at any moment. Titled Dumbledore's Army, Harry and his faithful few challenge the authority of the Ministry, defend Hogwarts, protect their beloved headmaster and find themselves face to face with the evil that they have been training so long to fight against.
The Order of the Phoenix is where Harry is at his absolute lowest and darkest point. His confrontation with Voldemort in Goblet of Fire has him frightened beyond all reason and he's desperate for someone to understand him. One thing Harry can do very well is lead. When he's put in a leadership position, he thrives. By creating Dumbledore's Army and teaching others not to be afraid, Harry's own fears turn into absolute courage. Courage strong enough to go against Voldemort and carry the sorrows that should never have been his.
I still think the first 3 books in the series are the bests ones but now I'm rethinking that. I may have to re-read the last 4 books to see if I still feel the same.
ReplyDeleteI really like Dumbledore's army and I like seeing the students actually learning magic and having fun. Harry deserves some fun. The order of the phoenix is where one of my favorite side character dies which is just so sad. At least Harry have Ron and Hermione and a few others to help him, give him some comforts.
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It's hard to have a favorite book. The first three was the introduction to Harry Potter and the Wizarding World, the fourth was the turning point and the last three was Harry's journey into adulthood.
DeleteHarry's emotions were all over the place in this one and Dumbledore's Army became a positive focal point for him.