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Originally posted by twistedsister
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http://www.scholastic.com/harrypotter/home.asp
I just spent an hour at this site! It's really amazing how kids respond to positive books and their teachings. I just wanted to post some quotes from a few kids who won as essay contest entitled "How the Harry Potter Books Changed My Life". There are so wonderful I thought it'd be nice to share.
"In Book One, Harry discovers a mirror in which he sees his deceased parents. He is spellbound, and comes back every night to look. One night, Professor Dumbledore is waiting for Harry. He explains that the Mirror of Erised is actually the mirror of desire. It will give him neither knowledge nor truth. Dumbledore tells Harry, "It does not do to dwell on your desires and not to live." When my own life is hard, I think about Dumbledore's advice. Don't sit around wishing for your heart's desire. Do something — live."
~Laura S., age 13,
"One day my dad and I were listening to a local talk show. They were discussing the Harry Potter books and how they were supposedly evil and anti-Christian. This made me very angry and I wanted to tell him that the books were not evil or anti-Christian. My dad urged me to call, so I did. I called Mr. Berg (the talk show host) and told him magic is not evil and one of our greatest Christian writers, C.S. Lewis, wrote books with a lot of magic in them. Later that week people started calling and writing to him agreeing with me. Finally, he said he would actually read the book before he badmouthed it. It made me very happy that I had helped changed someone's opinion. That is how the Harry Potter books have changed my life."
~ Millie T., age 11
" I'm J.K. Rowling's biggest fan. I really like to read her books.
As much as I would like to win the contest for myself I would love for my 4th grade teacher Mr. Jake Nash (known to us as Dumbledore) to have the honor to meet J.K. Rowling. He purchased a book for every student in his class and encouraged us to enjoy reading it. Of course we all did.
Harry Potter changed all of us. It brought us together and gave us a common link. I have learned that being determined can help you achieve the benefit on the other side of an obstacle or challenge. If more people read Harry Potter more people could have the courage and strength to help other people and stand up for what they think is right."
~ Nick D., age 10
"The books have taught me that I will find my own special powers. I can't do magic, but I can believe in myself. I can't fly on a broomstick or become invisible, but I will stop saying "I can't". Harry learned that with help from people who cared about him he could make impossible things happen. I hope that the books will help my cousin Joe [who lost both his parents in the same year] find his own special powers and know that life can be wonderful again even after terrible things have happened."
~ Rachel J., age 9
"Before I started reading Harry Potter, I thought the only way to have an adventure was simply to read about it, but now I know you can have an adventure in everyday life, like at Hogwarts [Harry's school of magic], there is always magic, fun and disaster.
Harry Potter has also changed my views on relationships with other people. After reading these enchanting books, I am wiser on how to deal with, and not deal with, difficult people. People like Professor Snape who torments Harry in potions class, and people like the Slytherins who always find ways to laugh and jeer at Harry, Ron and Hermione.
I also learned not to judge people by their looks, or financial difficulties. For instance Malfoy, who teases Ron about being poor, and calls Hermione a "mudblood." [nasty word for a person who is only part magic] Instead, it is better get to know each person. Chances are hasty judgements could lose you a best friend."
~Sarah B., age 11