An American reading the British editions: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

(SPOILER ALERT: I’m sharing details of the Harry Potter series in this post, and in every post on the last Sunday of the month for the next five months. Just so you know!)

I’m just an American girl reading the Harry Potter British editions in my spare time, then posting about it here! If you missed the first post about Philosopher’s Stone, check it out here!

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

First Line: "Not for the first time, an argument had broken out over breakfast at number four, Privet Drive."

British vs. American English: I’ve been overseas, so there are some things that I read and don’t even recognize as different. Like jumper vs. sweater or pitch vs. field. But here are a few differences that popped out to me. 

(British edition word/phrase = interpretation)

completely at sea = completely confused

Father Christmas = Santa Claus

up at cock-crow = up at dawn

matron = nurse

jump-jets = fighter jets / military planes

to grass on = to tattle on

 

Laugh-Worthy Moment:

“Harry came round, rain falling on his face, still lying on the pitch, with someone leaning over him. He saw a glitter of teeth.

       ‘Oh no, not you,’ he moaned.

       ‘Doesn’t know what he’s saying,’ said Lockhart loudly, to the anxious crowd of Gryffindors pressing around them. ‘Not to worry, Harry. I’m about to fix your arm.’” (page 129-130).

Cry-Worthy Moment: Even though Harry is lying to Professor McGonagall about missing class to visit Hermione in the hospital wing (when Harry and Ron were really trying to question Moaning Myrtle), it’s a heartfelt moment. McGonagall gets emotional, and Harry and Ron visit Hermione because they don’t want to have lied to McGonagall.

Notable Quote:  “It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” –Professor Dumbledore (page 245)

 

Last Line:  "And together they walked back through the gateway to the Muggle world."

 

Thoughts:

In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry has been a part of the wizarding world for a year. He’s learning the basics of magic and is about to return to Hogwarts for his second year, though not if a particular house elf gets his way.

JK Rowling ties her plot together nicely, like a bow. Everything’s mentioned, explained or foreshadowed so when something happens, however small, it makes sense as the reader already has previous knowledge of it. For example: Fawkes. Harry visits Dumbledore’s office (because he’s in trouble, so for good reason) but he sees Fawkes burn and be reborn. He knows Fawkes is Dumbledore’s phoenix and Dumbledore tells him that phoenixes are loyal creatures with healing powers. So when Fawkes turns up in the Chamber of Secrets after Harry shows loyalty to Dumbledore, it makes sense. And when Fawkes’ tears heal Harry after he’s stabbed with a basilisk fang, it’s not an unforeseen surprise.

I have to admit it’s a stretch that any 12 year-old could defeat a giant snake and the 16 year-old diary version of Lord Voldemort, but of course Harry isn’t just any 12 year-old. He’s brave and quick-witted and he had loads of help. Rowling didn’t make Harry a master swordsman when he pulled Gryffindor’s sword from the sorting hat (as that wouldn't have been believable). Harry acts on his instincts regularly (with both good and bad outcomes) so it’s plausible that he knew to impale the diary with the fang. Even though I’m only on the second book in the series, I’ve already seen Harry’s growth and expect it to continue (as his actions will be based more in knowledge and skill as the books continue and less on chance). And luckily as he grows, he will be less susceptible to things like being fooled by a diary that thinks for itself. Harry and Ginny are both still young and innocent (and Harry relatively new to the wizarding world), so it’s believable that the diary could weasel into their minds. It’s a good balance of what could/would happen to the average 12 year-old and what Harry, an exceptional pre-teen, can accomplish.

I did miss Hermione in the later portion of Chamber of Secrets, since she was lying petrified on a hospital bed. Though, in her absence, I got to know Ron better. I saw his dry sarcasm and learned more about his brand of bravery and the extent of his fears (spiders!). I can’t wait for more Ginny, as in Chamber she’s mostly sad and depressed and rarely talks due to her schoolgirl crush on Harry.

In Chamber of Secrets, the reader learns more about Lord Voldemort (the madman formerly known as Tom Marvolo Riddle), meets new characters such as Dobby, Arthur Weasley, Lucius Malfoy, Gilderoy Lockhart and Cornelius Fudge and has another adventure in the depths of Hogwarts.

Up next month: Prisoner of Azkaban!

 

Six Star Reviews: Prisoner of Night and Fog

The highest rating a book can get on Goodreads is five stars. Five stars means the book was awesome, worthy, well-written, etc. But sometimes I wish I could give six—YES 6—stars. These instances are rare, but there are some books that stand out that extra inch. They are truly unputdownable. They are not just great, but extraordinary. They speak to me, and I love them.

So, I’m starting a new blog series called Six Star Reviews. The posts might be infrequent because I’m only sharing the best of the best. And even though this is the first post, I’d like to mention that this is actually the second time this year I've felt a book deserved six stars. The first time was Marie Rutkoski’s The Winner’s Curse, which I wrote about in this multi-review post earlier this year. Now, onto the main attraction:

Prisoner of Night and Fog—Anne Blankman

In 1930s Munich, danger lurks behind dark corners, and secrets are buried deep within the city. But Gretchen Müller, who grew up in the National Socialist Party under the wing of her uncle Dolf, has been shielded from that side of society ever since her father traded his life for Dolf's, and Gretchen is his favorite, his pet. Uncle Dolf is none other than Adolf Hitler. And Gretchen follows his every command.

Until she meets a fearless and handsome young Jewish reporter named Daniel Cohen. Gretchen should despise Daniel, yet she can't stop herself from listening to his story: that her father, the adored Nazi martyr, was actually murdered by an unknown comrade. As Gretchen investigates the very people she's always considered friends, she must decide where her loyalties lie. Will she choose the safety of her former life as a Nazi darling or will she dare to dig up the truth—even if it could get her and Daniel killed?

I admire Gretchen Müller, the main character of Prisoner of Night and Fog. She’s strong and brave and true. In the beginning, she’s entranced by her Uncle Dolf, following his commands and believing his ideals. But when she’s presented with a contrary opinion, she doesn’t get stuck. She’s open-minded about it, really thinks for herself and doesn’t let her past cloud her possible future.  

(SPOILERS: highlight to read, if you dare).  And when she comes face-to-face with mad, vindictive Hitler, no longer her loving uncle, she doesn’t back down, she doesn’t agree just to agree or shrink back or run away. She looks him straight on and tells him he’s wrong. This scene was so powerful and terrifying and heart-lifting, all at the same time.

In this novel, we see Hitler’s charisma and his madness. We see how they intertwine and how easily people fell victim to his powerful presence. It’s spine-tingling and unsettling because it’s based in truth. Even though this book is set in 1931 Munich, we know what happens over the next 15 years. We know where Hitler goes and what he does, and so to see him as a human character in a fiction novel is both interesting and cringe-worthy.

Prisoner of Night and Fog is well-researched, as proven by the bibliography at the end of the book. (I love historical fiction novels with bibliographies!) It’s based in fact, which makes it that much more thrilling, because even though Gretchen and Daniel are fictional, the danger they're in was very real for many of Hitler’s opponents in 1930s Germany.

This novel reached into my chest and wrapped its pages around my heart and tightened. I flew through the book, somehow both appalled (mostly at Hitler and his Nazis) and intrigued. The story is thought-provoking on so many levels. There’s action and suspense and drama and history and love, all mingled together.

Even though it has yet to be released—the official release date is April 22, just two days away!—I’m already anxious for the sequel (which is mentioned in the Author’s Note.) And just to let you know, I will be buying this book on Tuesday. I can't do this often because it's not within my budget to buy hardcover books regularly, but I’m determined to have a bookshelf adorned with the very best of YA and this novel definitely deserves a spot.

Prisoner of Night and Fog is a 6 out of 5 stars book, and I can’t wait to stroke its spine and smell its pages and wrap it (carefully) in my arms and yeah, I’m a book geek. But I’m a passionate, unapologetic book geek.

My recommendation: READ THIS BOOK. (Especially if you like history and/or star-crossed lovers and/or free thinkers and/or edge-of-your-seat thrillers.)



*Book overview courtesy of BN.com.

MORE Teen Books-to-Movies 2014 & Beyond

So, I may have already written about the major YA books-to-movies coming out in the next six months. In my last books-to-movies post, I covered The Fault in Our Stars, The Giver and If I Stay. And a year ago, I talked about The Maze Runner in this post, whose release date has since changed. Therefore, I decided to do something different with this semi-annual post about YA books-to-movies. I’m going to share some recent movie news about YA films currently in development. The earliest we might see these in theaters is 2015 and it will likely be later as these awesome adaptations are still in the very early stages of the book-to-movie process. 

The 5^th Wave

Cassie has survived the first four waves of an alien invasion that has devastated Earth’s population and forced the remaining civilization back to the Stone Age. As she navigates the 5^th wave of the invasion, she is also searching for her younger brother, who was taken from her months before.

In this recent article, it was announced that the lead role of Cassie will be played by Chloe Grace Moretz. Moretz is also starring in If I Stay (in theaters in August), so she’s no stranger to the YA book-to-movie scene.

Eleanor & Park

Misfit teenagers Eleanor and Park bond over comic books and music on the school bus. But when their friendship extends past their encounters on the bus, they are faced with obstacles to their budding romance.

Dreamworks recently announced that they optioned the film rights to this bestseller, with author Rainbow Rowell signed on to write the screenplay. The current plan is to start filming in 2015.

 

Paper Towns

Paper Towns is a story of two high schoolers, Margo and Quentin, who shared a traumatic childhood experience then reunite to exact revenge on anyone who Margo feels has hurt her. Then Margo disappears and only Quentin has the information to find her.

This announcement means John Green will have another book coming to the big screen soon(ish). The same studio, producers and screenwriters as The Fault in Our Stars movie (in theaters June 6) will bring Paper Towns to life, and even one of the actors will stay on. Nat Wolff, who plays Isaac in TFIOS, will play Quentin in Paper Towns.

EXCITING NEWS! The #TFIOSMovie team is getting the band back together for PAPER TOWNS! http://t.co/PD3GMCu77m
— John Green (@realjohngreen) March 24, 2014

That was a good day on the internet.

I am excited about ALL of these! But I’m trying not to be too excited, because it will be a long wait until any of these projects in development grace the big screen. But still, yay!

My Favorite YA Books from High School

When I was in high school, I remember visiting the local bookstore with its smallish YA section that was overshadowed by children’s books. In the past decade that section has grown and transformed, surpassing my wildest expectations for the genre that I love. When I think back, there are some books from the early 2000s that stick out. They existed in that smallish section and are wonderful and worthy, even though they aren’t on the shelves of most bookstores now. These books existed before vampires sparkled, before Katniss volunteered, before Tris chose Dauntless and before Hazel Grace Lancaster met Augustus Waters.

Here’s my favorite YA books from when I was in high school, over a decade ago.

 

The Princess Diaries series—Meg Cabot

Published starting September 2000

Finding out you’re secretly a princess is every girl’s fantasy, right? The Princess Diaries series mixed every girl’s fantasy with every girl’s normal high school experience. It managed to be relatable—if we weren’t awkward, lanky or bad at math like Mia then we certainly had a friend who was. Plus, Michael?! Pretty sure Mia and Michael were my first ship (closely followed by Ron and Hermione).

 

The Seer and the Sword—Victoria Hanley

Published October 2000

My fascination with fantasy began with this novel. When Princess Torina’s father, the King, returns home from conquering a neighboring kingdom, he gives her the boy who would have been king. Instead of keeping him as a slave, Torina releases Landon, and they grow up together as friends. But when a villain plots to overthrow Torina’s father, the peaceful kingdom is thrown into chaos. This novel was intricately planned and crafted, plus it had assassins, secret identities, a coveted sword and a prophetic crystal. I STILL remember its gasp-worthy reveals and heart-stopping twists.

Violet Eyes—Nicole Luiken

Published January 2001

This novel was dystopian before I knew to call it dystopia. Angel and Michael are in a historical immersion program, so even though it’s year 2098 (and the world is vastly imperfect), they are in a town simulating 1987. Except that Angel’s never been outside the program and everyone else seemingly has. So why is she different? Why was she raised in 1987, when the rest of the world is living in 2098? This was an action-adventure, with powerful connections and cringe-worthy surprises.

 

Circle of Magic series—Tamora Pierce

Published starting July 1997

Four mages-in-training come together in this series, with each Sandry, Briar, Daja and Tris (yes, TRIS) headlining their own book. They are misfits, some with turbulent pasts and all struggling to control their powers. This series was classic high fantasy riddled with different kinds of magic, but what made it special was the strength of the quartet’s friendship, even though they were startlingly different.

I normally don’t have too much time for re-reading, but I need to revisit each of these as soon as readerly possible. Oh, nostalgia.

An American reading the British editions: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

(SPOILER ALERT: I’m sharing details of the Harry Potter series in this post, and in every post on the last Sunday of the month for the next six months. Just so you know!)

It all started in an English bookstore in Brussels, Belgium. I was studying abroad in Fall 2007 and realized I hadn’t brought any books (they are heavy, after all). So I went downtown and picked up a copy of the British edition of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I read it twice before returning to Indiana.

Fast forward to Ireland, 2009. I wanted to add to my collection, so I acquired the British editions of Goblet of Fire, Order of the Phoenix and Half-Blood Prince on a week-long trip to Dublin. The remaining three (Philosopher’s Stone, Chamber of Secrets and Prisoner of Azkaban) arrived as Christmas gifts later that year. My collection was complete!

Pure and colorful beauty.

 

Now here’s my deepest, darkest secret: I’ve only read one of them! (Don't worry, I've read the American editions, which my family owns, multiple times. But I'm still a disgrace to the Potterhead community.) So, I made it a goal for 2014 to read and review and thoroughly enjoy all seven of the Harry Potter British editions. And I'm documenting that journey here!



All aboard the Hogwarts Express!

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

First Line: “Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much.”

British vs. American English: I’ve been overseas, so there are some things that I read and don’t even recognize as different. Like car park vs. parking lot or jumper vs. sweater. But here are a few differences that popped out to me.  

(British edition word = intrepretation)

philosopher = sorcerer

Sellotape = scotch tape

lemon ice lolly = lemon popsicle

jacket potato = baked potato

Hallowe’en = Halloween (Okay, so I know this is the same word, but I thought the use of the apostrophe was interesting.)

revising/revision = studying

Laugh-Worthy Moment: Hagrid being a sappy, apron-wearing mum to Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback, even though he was a fire-breathing, quick-growing dragon.

Cry-Worthy Moment: When Hagrid gives Harry the leather-bound book of photographs of his parents, because he didn’t have any pictures of them.

Notable Quote: “The truth.” Dumbledore sighed. “It is a beautiful and terrible thing, and should therefore be treated with great caution.” (page 216)

Last Line:  “They [the Dursleys] don’t know we’re not allowed to use magic at home. I’m going to have a lot of fun with Dudley this summer…”

Thoughts:

If I knew nothing of books 2-7, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone would appear to be a traditional MG novel. Young and eager protagonist, quirky characters, bonds of friendship and a world of magic. But this is not a stand-alone novel; it’s a brilliant start to a world-changing series. This book hints at the greater themes of the series, including the nature of good versus evil, the prejudice that can fester in any society and the power of a mother’s love.

Rowling shows that she is a great plotter, by seamlessly including scenes with flying on broomsticks, playing chess and showing Hermione’s logic before the trio descends through the trapdoor. Those scenes establish abilities and knowledge so when the trio encountered those obstacles, it was believable that three 11 year-old kids could work through the problems, together. Also, I adore that Rowling crafted her world with so much detail that she was able to foreshadow an event in Half-Blood Prince just over halfway through Philosopher’s Stone. (Though I’m not sure it was intentional foreshadowing, it’d be pretty cool if it was.)

Another great facet of Philosopher’s Stone is friendship. Harry, Ron and Hermione are different, yet they fit well as friends. They each bring something special to the table: bravery, loyalty and intelligence (as well as many other attributes). Their friendship, although easy at the end of PS, did not start as such, which is realistic for middle school kids everywhere. Their initial impressions and misconceptions were overcome by a shared experience.

                “There are some things you can’t share without ending up liking each other, and knocking out a twelve-foot mountain troll is one of them.” (page 132)

Harry and Ron went from being at odds with Hermione, to being best friends. Which is lucky, since her skill and knowledge proved invaluable in the climactic scene.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is a humble beginning to an epic series, but it’s also shows the potential and introduces powerful themes, strong friendships and hints at the ultimate showdown between the evil Voldemort and the young and brave Harry Potter.

 

Talking to My(self) Characters

I’m trying something new. In my monthly writing goals, I’m designating a focus for that month. March is CHARACTER. I’ve buried myself in character profiles and questions and am even working on generic body outlines to fill with physical descriptions. I’ve been answering questions ranging from What’s your style of dress? to Was your childhood happy? to What are your bad habits? for all my characters. Especially my main character, Quinn. Having these in-depth, detailed conversations with my characters has been extraordinarily helpful. Even if it means I’m staring into space for hours, muttering to myself and basically looking like a crazy person. A crazy writer person.

Anyway, there are some questions that have been better getting to the heart of my characters than others. Here are the best, most soul-sucking (in a good way) questions that I've come across:

·         What’s the best thing that has happened to you?

·         What’s the worst thing that has happened to you?

·         Who are you protecting?

·         When was the last time you cried? Why?

·         What are you afraid of? What keeps you up at night?

·         What do you want? What’s standing in your way of getting it?

·         Give an example of a time you lied to protect another.

·         Give an example of a time you lied to protect yourself.

·         Give an example of a situation where you were violent.

·         Give an example of a situation where you were heroic.

·         Tell me something you’ve never told anyone.

·         Tell me the first lie that pops into your head.

Yeah, these aren’t your What’s your job and do you like it? run-of-the-mill questions. These are meant to dive into the soul of characters. They are deep and dark. They are meant to bring something to the surface that will surprise you or make you shiver. Or both! These questions drudge to the depths of what truly defines my characters.

What’s the next step, after filling page after page with answers? Applying them to my novel. Rewrite necessary scenes with relevant answers in mind, considering that the character might react differently or subtly or outrageously. Edit backstory with pertinent answers. But really, once I know the answers to the questions, it will affect my writing without me even thinking about it. The more I know about my characters, the more they will (hopefully) seem like well-rounded, REAL LIVE people in text as I continue editing my draft.

Now, back to conversing with my characters… Okay fine, I’m just talking to myself.

Most Anticipated Teen Books: Spring 2014

Spring has come! (Thank goodness.)This crop of YA releases is heavy on series finales (three!), but otherwise it’s a mix of new and established authors with settings that range from an alternate nineteenth century British Empire to Soviet Russia to modern-day, fantasy-drenched Prague. I can’t wait for each and every one!

 

April 1

Sekret—Lindsay Smith

What it’s about: Yulia's father always taught her to hide her thoughts and control her emotions to survive the harsh realities of Soviet Russia. But when she's captured by the KGB and forced to work as a psychic spy with a mission to undermine the U.S. space program, she's thrust into a world of suspicion, deceit and horrifying power. Yulia quickly realizes she can trust no one and must rely on her own wits and skills to survive in this world where no SEKRET can stay hidden for long.

Why I’m excited: Soviet Russia. KGB. Psychic spy. U.S. space program. From the description (even just those key words) I can tell this has potential to be a great historical and political thriller. Yulia sounds like a strong girl and I’m excited to dive into her unique story.

 

April 8

Dreams of Gods and Monsters—Laini Taylor

What it’s about: In the conclusion to the Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy, Karou is still not ready to forgive Akiva for killing the only family she's ever known. When a brutal angel army trespasses into the human world, Karou and Akiva must ally their enemy armies against the threat--and against larger dangers that loom on the horizon. They begin to hope that it might forge a way forward for their people. And, perhaps, for themselves--maybe even toward love.

Why I’m excited: This series is one of the most imaginative modern-day YA fantasies I’ve read. I’ve been impatiently waiting for the third and final book in the series for over a year, and I can’t wait to revisit Karou and Akiva’s exhilarating yet tortured romance. Plus, angels. And monsters.

 

The Summer I Saved the World… in 65 Days—Michele Weber Hurwitz

What it’s about: It's summertime and thirteen-year-old Nina Ross is feeling lost. Her beloved grandma died last year, her parents work all the time, her brother's busy and her best friend’s into clothes, makeup and boys. Nina doesn't know what "her thing" is yet so she decides to mix things up. Every day this summer, she'll anonymously do one small but remarkable good deed for someone in her neighborhood in an effort to find out: does doing good actually make a difference?

Why I’m excited: Because every now and then I need a feel-good summer tale. Hopefully with a heartfelt, light romance and an abundance of inspiration. This release sounds like it will fit perfectly, so I'm excited to relax a little with Nina's story and breathe in the scent of summer.

 

April 22

The Inventor’s Secret—Andrea Cremer

What it’s about: In an alternate nineteenth-century North America, sixteen-year-old Charlotte and her fellow refugees have scraped out an existence on the edge of Britain’s industrial empire. Though they live by the skin of their teeth, they have their health (when they can find enough food) and each other. When a new exile with no memory of his escape or even his own name seeks shelter in their camp, he brings new dangers with him.

Why I’m excited: Steampunk. By Andrea Cremer. That pretty much sums up my excitement, but the concept is fantastic as well. The setting is an alternate nineteenth-century North America where there was no Revolutionary War and the British Empire is a global force of majestic and horrible machinery. WHOA.

 

She is Not Invisible—Marcus Sedgwick

What it’s about: Laureth Peak's father has taught her to look for recurring events, patterns, and numbers—a skill at which she's remarkably talented. Her secret: She is blind. But when her father goes missing, Laureth and her 7-year-old brother Benjamin are thrust into a mystery that takes them to New York City where surviving will take all her skill at spotting the amazing, shocking, and sometimes dangerous connections in a world full of darkness.

Why I’m excited: Because Sedgwick just won the Printz Award for Midwinterblood (which is on my to-read shortlist), and this is his first release since that honor. The description is vague but intriguing, and I imagine this book will be a mysterious, intelligent read with an interesting perspective.

 

May 6

The One—Kiera Cass

What it’s about: The Selection changed America Singer's life in ways she never could have imagined. Since she entered the competition to become the next princess of Illéa, America has struggled with her feelings for her first love, Aspen—and her growing attraction to Prince Maxon. Now she's made her choice and she's prepared to fight for the future she wants.

Why I’m excited: Because I need to know if America picks Aspen or Maxon! (Sometimes I’m such a fangirl.) Anyway, this series is an interesting mix of dystopia and The Bachelor, which is why it’s so intriguing. The first two books in the series tugged my heart strings and were an unexpected surprise, so I’m hoping for the same from the conclusion of the trilogy.

 

May 27

Allies & Assassins—Justin Somper

What it’s about: Prince Anders, the ruler of Archenfield, has been murdered, leaving his younger brother, Jared, to ascend the throne. Sixteen-year-old Jared feels unprepared to rule the kingdom and its powerful and dangerous court, yet he knows he can rely on the twelve officers of the court to advise him. He also knows he can be at their mercy-especially when one of them may be responsible for his brother's death. Unable to trust anyone, Jared takes it upon himself to hunt down his brother's killer-but the killer may be hunting him, as well.

Why I’m excited: Because high fantasy YA with princes and assassins and uncertain loyalties? That basically screams my name. In the interest of full disclosure, I am currently in possession of the DRC (digital review copy) of this novel. I just started it, but am already intrigued by the multiple perspectives and the intricate mystery.

 

June 17

Ruin and Rising—Leigh Bardugo

What it’s about: The capital has fallen. The Darkling rules Ravka from his shadow throne. Now the nation's fate rests with a broken Sun Summoner, a disgraced tracker and the shattered remnants of a once-great magical army. A weakened Alina will have to forge new alliances and put aside old rivalries as she and Mal race to find the last of Morozova's amplifiers. As she begins to unravel the Darkling's secrets, she reveals a past that will forever alter her understanding of the bond they share and the power she wields.

Why I’m excited: Because this series is expertly written and plotted. I read the first two last summer, and they were simply unputdownable. I imagine this series finale will be the same, if not better. And I’m not at all worried that my high expectations will go unmet.

 

Are any of these spring releases on your to-read list?

*Book descriptions were adapted from those on BN.com.