Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Harry Potter in the Order of the Phoenix by J.K Rowling is the five book in the series.

"'You are sharing the Dark Lord's thoughts and emotions. The Headmaster thinks it inadvisable for this to continue. He wishes me to teach you how to close your mind to the Dark Lord.'"

Dark times have come to Hogwarts. After the Dementors' attack on his cousin Dudley, Harry Potter knows that Voldemort will stop at nothing to find him. There are many who deny the Dark Lord's return, but Harry is not alone: a secret order gathers at Grimmauld Place to fight against the Dark forces. Harry must allow Professor Snape to teach him how to protect himself from Voldemort's savage assaults on his mind. But they are growing stronger by the day and Harry is running out of time ..

The Breakdown
In this book Harry Potter becomes super shouty, and angry, thus giving this book a darker mood than the previous books.  It really shows that our favorite trio is growing up.

This book introduces one of my most hated literary character in Umbridge.  Possibly the only character that complete with my hate of her is Joffery from Game of Thrones.  She is cruel and horrible.  I find her more despicable than Voldemort.  The punishment she uses for those in detention is down right child abuse.  Plus there is her obvious bigotry to those magical creatures that are not human.   All this and the government is condoning her behavior  is just sickening.

This book also shows the deeper connection between Harry and Voldemort.  From Harry seeing Voldemort's thoughts and emotions to learning the prophecy that caused Voldemort to target Harry to begin with.

Can I take a minute to talk about my love of both Luna and Neville.  Luna is such a strange and unique character, and she does not care what people think of her.  I particularly love her Quidditch hats, #truefan.  Then Neville really starts to shine is this book.  He flourish under Harry's instruction in the D.A.  Also, seeing him with his parents in St. Mungo's was really heartbreaking.  Then Rowling drops the bomb with the prophecy that Neville could have been the boy who lived!

I am so disappointed in Sirius in this book.  The way he treats Kreacher is horrible, especially in the last book he said you can tell a lot about a wizard by how he treats his house elf.   Plus, I really does feel that he is trying to be more a best friend to Harry rather than a guardian.

The fight at the Ministry is one of the most awesome fight sequences in books.  The ruthlessness of the Death Eaters, and innocence of the Hogwarts' students makes for an interesting foil in the fight. Plus the heartbreak that it brings about and the revelations about the prophecy and how the story will have to play out.

To Read or Not to Read:
Must Read