Harry Potter and the Azkaban

 It is a short book that somehow feels long.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is like a brief pause before the storm, and when you’re in the middle of a seven-book series, you have two options: 1) to offer a glimpse of what the series will become, or 2) to serve as the clearest example of why a book series shouldn’t continue. In this case, The Prisoner of Azkaban has the very difficult task of making things more serious, not only because Harry, Ron, and Hermione are at a complicated age, but also because the consequences of their actions begin to have more serious implications that go beyond a simple school punishment.

This year, Harry finds himself in the middle of a school year in which attending classes will be the least of his problems. In this third installment, Harry, Ron, and Hermione face the difficult realization that nothing is what it seems, starting with their new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Remus Lupin, who harbors more than one secret.

The book’s overall structure revolves around the search for the criminal known as Sirius Black, who has spent twelve years in the prison for witches and wizards known as Azkaban. Right from the start of the book, you immediately sense a difference in tone; it’s subtle, but J.K. Rowling begins to introduce more elevated ideas and concepts that would be difficult for anyone to grasp. The book’s pace remains the same—sometimes it drags on longer than it should, and at other times it feels a bit slow.

It’s really interesting to see Harry, Ron, and Hermione as a small group of thirteen-year-olds, each with their own way of seeing the world. This third installment shows us a Harry Potter in the midst of defining his identity: on one hand, he’s a very studious boy, and on the other, he’s a magnet for trouble; Hermione is on the verge of a breakdown from the workload and her desire to excel; and Ron is right in the middle, just trying to survive the school year. The introduction of new characters like Professor Lupin, Sirius Black, Peter Pettigrew, and Professor Sybill Trelawney makes Harry, Ron, and Hermione’s friendship more interesting, since the three don’t think exactly alike, and some secrets will put the trio’s relationship to the test—not to mention that this is the first time we hear about what Harry’s father was like. 

The themes introduced in the book will become a recurring motif throughout the rest of the series. Justice—represented here by Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew—responsibility—embodied by Harry, Hermione, and Lupin—and the concepts of teaching and morality will become increasingly complex as they all grow up.

Overall, “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” strikes a good balance and takes the first step toward what will soon become a story full of twists and turns.