Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

 Magic, Difference and Coming of Age Story

Introducing J.K. Rowling and the enchanting world of Harry Potter evokes a sense of wonder that's hard to capture in words. The significance of this universe, both within the pages of the books and beyond, is profound and far-reaching.

Writing a review of a book like this is complicated, given that it represents a wide variety of ideas for many people around the world, which will undoubtedly leave much to be desired, since this book deals with a variety of diverse and complex topics that, as an introduction, are solid enough for any child to understand.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone introduces us to the life of an 11-year-old boy named Harry Potter, who is about to embark on a journey that will forever change the course of his life. Throughout the book, we gradually discover the secrets he must uncover, as well as the friendships he makes along the way, and some enemies he makes when he enters Britain's most famous school of magic and sorcery.

In order to understand this book, one must take into account the complexity of the themes it deals with, so, for me, a good place to start would be at the heart of the book, and its center is undoubtedly love. Defining “love” is complicated. In the case of this book, love can be understood as a powerful and limitless magic. It is the sacrifice that Lily and James Potter make for Harry. This power continues to protect Harry even later in his life, and when the story reaches its climax, the mark created by his mother's love helps Harry when he comes face to face with Voldemort again at the end of the book.

Friendship is what saves Harry when he meets Hermione and Ron, as well as the other members of his house. They function as Harry's chosen family, allowing him to feel loved and, perhaps more importantly, helping him overcome the challenges in his life. Hermione and Ron show him different sides of his personality. Ron helps Harry to be braver than he ever thought possible in his short life, while Hermione's example makes him realize that although he is not necessarily smarter than her, Harry is just as clever and creative in finding solutions to his problems.

But even amid all the positivity, we also have examples of power, greed, and desire. Harry has a natural talent for many magical abilities, and on many occasions, this leads him to have a complicated image of who he is. Being close to examples of what unbridled greed does to a person, such as Draco Malfoy, helps him realize how dangerous it is for someone to have no restraint. Power is a double-edged sword. On one side is the benevolent side, represented by Dumbledore, who does not pay much attention to it and shows that what really matters is a complete understanding of magic. On the other side is the negative side, represented mainly by Voldemort, who is capable of committing the worst crimes just to gain even more power and control in the world. Harry finds himself caught between these two ways of seeing the world, but it is thanks to the positive aspects and examples he has that he avoids falling into the trap of wanting to have and be more. 

Humanity and being able to understand that who we are is largely a compilation of our environment and influences make Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone a complex book. Throughout the book, we see the human experience through the eyes of a child who was not always treated well, but nevertheless chooses to see things in a more positive light rather than in a depressive and angry way. The sacrifice his friends make for Harry helps him understand that things are not always easy, but they are always the best option rather than acting selfishly, knowing that you can always help.

Rebellion and rules are something that has always been part of Harry's life, and while it is true that a child will always seek to find the limits of both concepts, Harry must learn them a little faster and by hitting his head when he encounters them. Whether it's challenging his aunt and uncle and his cousin in the non-magical world, or Draco Malfoy in the classroom. His desire to follow the rules is curious, since he always ends up breaking them, whether for a good or a very bad reason. 

The conclusion is undoubtedly that Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is a book that awakens the imagination of anyone who reads it. It is the story of a little boy who must grow up in circumstances that are not necessarily ideal, but through the examples he encounters as he grows up, he learns to identify not only the kind of person he is, but also the kind of person he would like to be. Besides, who said that a little dosis of magic couldn't help?