Thinking of holidays and gift-giving? One of our favorite collections ~ the Harry Potter series. Reviews of the books, including some spin-offs and collections, and to discover more about the series and how it changed the children's publishing industry, read more here: "Once Upon a Time Harry Potter Became its Own Genre."

The epic finale of Harry Potter lives up to the hype, and readers will be satisfied. I consider the Harry Potter Books to be one of the best book series of all time, and this book is my favorite of the seven. So in this reviewer's opinion, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is easily one of the best books of all time.

Everyone likes underdogs, and this book certainly has that element. Everything involving the overall plot was very well thought out, and this book answers and explains many mysteries. The book’s flow and pacing is masterful. Rowling managed to put in some light-hearted humor even though her novel’s tone is grim. The dialogue especially shines.

The Harry Potter series has richly developed, novel, characters, the same being true for this book. Harry is one of the best protagonists of all time, Ron and Hermione are the loyal best friends that Harry desperately needs--he couldn’t take on his mission without them. But it is not just the trio who are extremely fleshed-out, extremely believable, and realistic. Voldemort is the most perfectly despicable villain. Side characters become integral to the overall story arc, and they have surprising but welcome times when different characters shine. Including Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore, who bestowed upon Harry Potter the seemingly impossible task of finding and destroying Voldemort’s five remaining Horcruxes, so Harry, Ron, and Hermione begin their quest to hunt down the Horcruxes.

J. K. Rowling once said that the theme of Harry Potter is death. The theme of death is shown in this book perhaps more than the rest in the series. The suspense is intense, and intense because of the conflict: find and destroy the Horcruxes. Once one starts reading, time flies by.

As with the other Harry Potter books, one struggles to put this book down. And as with the others, this book has some slow moments, but after spending six books with Harry, Ron, Hermione and the others, this finale is epic is scope, as this magical journey comes to a close. (HC): 9780545010221 (SC): 9781338299205 Illustrated Edition: Upcoming

All titles in Harry Potter books one-seven: Scholastic, Ages 8+

Genre/BISAC: Fiction, fantasy adventure, middle-grade, young-adult, new-adult, adult interest, Harry Potter, magic, witches, warlocks, good vs. evil, Coming-of-age

2007 Andre Norton Award Winner

2007 Nebula Award Winners

2008 Children’s Choice Book Award Winners

Author of the Year

Barnes&Noble.com Best Kids’ Books of 2007

Los Angeles Times Favorite Children’s Books of 2007

New York Times Notable Children’s Books of 2007

New York Times Notable Fiction, New York Times Notable Fiction and Poetry

Publishers Weekly’s Best Children’s Fiction of 2007

Time Magazine’s Top 10 Fiction Books of 2007

USA Today’s Best Books of 2007

Washington Post Best Books for Young People of 2007

Washington Post Best Fantasy and Horror of 2007

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Book One), by J.K. Rowling

The one where Harry discovers he's a wizard, discovers his nemesis Voldemort, and has his first battle over the infamous Sorcerer's Stone, hidden somewhere in Hogwarts. (HC): 9781408855898 (SC): 9781408894620 (Illustrated): 9780545790352​

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Book Two), by J.K. Rowling

The one where we meet Dobbie, a three-headed dog, Myrtle the ghost that haunts the bathroom, and Harry and team battle a basilisk ... (HC): 9781408865408 (SC): 9781338878936 (Illustrated): 9780545791328

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Book Three), by J.K. Rowling

The one where Harry flies on a hippogriff, we meet Sirius Black, and Harry almost gets to escape the Dursley's ... (HC): 9781408855898 (SC): 9781408894620 (Illustrated): 9780545791342

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Book Four), by J.K. Rowling

The one with lots of quidditch, Victor Krum, a shape-shifting reporter, and the tri-wizard tournament. Love this book, lots left out of the movie, but this movie is one of my favorites of the movies based on this series.

(HC): 9780439139595 (SC): 978138878956 (Illustrated): 9780545791427

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Book Five), by J.K. Rowling

The one with the arrival of Professor Umbridge, loads of humor but painful to read as everyone turns against Harry and Dumbledore, Malfoy gets even worse, and Fred and George flee Hogwarts in one of the most magnificent scenes of the entire series--totally different than what happens in the movie ... (HC): 9780439358064 (SC): 978138878967 (Illustrated): 9780545791427

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Book Six), by J.K. Rowling

The one where death eaters enter the nonmagical world, we learn more about Dumbledore, Voldemort's past, and Harry and Ginny share their first kiss--so so different from how they show in the movie, which makes me want to gag. Of all the movie adaptations, number four and six do not include a lot from the books, and I highly suggest reading especially these titles because much information is left out, and both books are really good. (HC): 9780439784542 (SC): 9781338878974 Illustrated Edition: Upcoming

Harry Potter Collections and Spinoffs

Harry Potter, the illustrated editions, full original text now fully illustrated. Currently collecting, and book six is releasing next. These are the books I foresee reading to my grandchildren. For Harry Potter die-hard fans, the price is worth every penny. 

Harry Potter Complete Book Series Special Edition Boxed Set Paperback – Special Edition, by J.K. Rowling, illustrated by Kazu Kibuishi, Arthur A. Levine Special Ed., Aug. 2013, 9780545596275

The really cool box set where the bindings together show an image of Hogwarts castle. Love my set!

Harry Potter 1- 7 Audio Collection, by J.K. Rowling, narrated by Jim Dale, Sept. 2007

Provides hours of brilliant entertainment listening to the story aloud combined with the award-winning voice talent of Jim Dale. Read my interview with Jim Dale on narrating the books, "Jim Dale: A Fly on the Wall." Listening Library; Unabridged ed., Ages 9+, Sept. 2007, 9780739352243

The Hogwarts Library, by J.K. Rowling

Three classic books from the series found in the great library at Hogwarts: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Quidditch Through the Ages and The Tales of Beedle the Bard. From every sale, Scholastic donates 20% to two charities: Lumos, a charity founded by J.K. Rowling which works to end the institutionalization of children (wearelumos.org), and Comic Relief, a UK-based charity that strives to create a just world free from poverty (www.comicrelief.com). Arthur A. Levine Books, Ages 8-12, Mar. 2017, 9781338132328

Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle and Sticker Book, By Running Press (RP Minis), Ages 8+, Oct. 2018, 9780762464401Lights Up! Includes mini paperback sticker book. One of the best birthday gifts I've received!

Harry Potter Magical Film Projections: Creatures, by Insight Editions (Candlewick), Ages 7-10, April 2017, 9780763695859; Harry Potter Magical Film Projections: Patronus Charm, 9780763695866

Both books are a blast! Black line illustrations highlight text about various Harry Potter creatures and wizarding world delights, but the genius (and serious fun factor) come from using the books to project scenes at home on a wall or screen with a flashlight. Great for sleepovers and guaranteed hits as gifts for any Harry Potter fan.

J.K. Rowlings Wizarding World Movie Magic: Curious Creatures, Amazing Artifacts, and Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore: Movie Magic, by Jody Revensen

These interactive books show art and talent involved with the making of the Fantastic Beasts and Harry Potter films. Great gift books for fans of the movies especially, pop-ups, life-the-flaps, removable posters, and more on the creations of the props, makeup, and artists involved in creation of the beasts and fascinating devices and features used in the movies.

Harry Potter Coloring Book, Part of Harry Potter Coloring Books series of eight, by Insight Editions

(Candlewick), Ages 4+, Sept. 2021, 9781647224585

Thirty years in publishing, Kim Childress is an award-winning editor, author, speaker, and reviewer who built her career while raising a personal focus group of four children. More.

Jared Salomon is a senior at Taylor University with a degree in Professional Publishing. A freelance writer with a specialty in proofreading and copy editing, Jared interned for two semesters at Childress Ink before officially joining the team as a book seller, book reviewer and associate product developer in publishing. An avid reader, Jared's reviews and publications can be found on LinkedIn, Ink-a-Dink, Childress Ink and The Echo. Also a lover of all things Chik-fil-A.