Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

In which our hero, persecuted by the vile Dursleys, discovers that he is a wizard whose parents were murdered by Voldemort. Sent to Hogwarts, run by the wise, kindly Dumbledore, he is befriended by the irrepressible Ron Weasley and the bossy Hermione and makes an enemy of Malfoy. But why won’t Dumbledore let him look into a mirror that shows him his heart’s desire? What is Fluffy guarding? And who is killing unicorns?

Verdict A magical Olde Englishe Boarding School, a sinister undertow and an ebullient sense of humour make this Roald Dahl crossed with A Wizard of Earthsea. It plays to Rowling’s strengths, while not overstretching her prose style. 4/5

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

In which Harry is warned by Dobby not to return to Hogwarts, and is rescued from the Dursleys by Ron in Mr Weasley’s flying car. Harry is attacked by an enchanted Quidditch ball, and attacks on students begin. Why does Harry hear a hissing voice in the walls? Hagrid is sent to prison, suspected of harbouring the monster that attacks students, but the Forbidden Forest reveals new clues.

Verdict One of the most successful plots, this has a genuinely terrifying climax, in which Harry has to fight a Basilisk. The jokes are lovely, with the conceited new teacher Lockhart; Moaning Myrtle haunting the girls’ lavatories; and the wizarding world’s shopping mall, Diagon Alley. 4/5

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

In which our hero is warned that his parents’ former best friend – and betrayer – Sirius Black has escaped from Azkaban prison. Attacked by Dementors, who suck the happiness out of you, Harry gets his first good Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher in Lupin, though he, too, hides a terrible secret. What is in the drink Snape gives Lupin? Why does everyone want to stop Harry from meeting Sirius, and what is going on in the Shrieking Shack?

Verdict By far the best of the series, this blends comedy, thriller and emotional depth. The only book in which Voldemort does not appear, but the wizarding world is drawn with real brio. 5/5

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

In which Hogwarts hosts the Triwizard Tournament. Contestants must be over 16, so who put Harry’s name in the goblet of fire? Forced to compete against top students from Beauxbatons, Durmstrang and his own rival in love, Cedric, Harry’s life is complicated by his first row with Ron. What is so important about the goblet? Why does Harry get blinding headaches and visions of Voldemort?

Verdict Still a strong plot, but the series here shows signs of gigantism. Chapters are wasted on Hermione’s tedious campaign for house-elf liberation, and the wonderfully mortifying school dance and Rita Skeeter, a vile journalist-witch, don’t make up for the padding. 3/5

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

In which only Dumbledore and his closest friends believe Voldemort is back. Almost expelled after defending himself and Dudley from Dementors, Harry meets the Order of the Phoenix. A new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Dolores Umbrage, refuses to teach serious spells, so Harry instructs students himself. He gets his first kiss, with Cho Chang, and gets to know his godfather Sirius better. A prophecy is revealed: either Harry or Voldemort must die.

Verdict The worst of the series. Good bits – Harry forced to write lines on his own arm, the Weasley twins’ rebellion, mild political satire – swamped in unnecessary details and back-story. 2/5

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

In which Harry does suspiciously well in Snape’s Potions class and learns more about Voldemort’s unhappy childhood. Dumbledore reveals why Voldemort can’t be killed: he has split his lifeforce and placed it inside five Horcruxes. The struggle to obtain the first weakens Dumbledore before a fatal fight with the Death Eaters. Harry’s liking for Ginny blossoms into true love, as does Ron’s feeling for Hermione, but Harry knows that he must not return to Hogwarts.

Verdict Once again, too much back-story slows down the terrific action scenes and a horrifying climax in which Dumbledore dies. Ends on a great cliffhanger. 3/5

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