Book Review: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets 

By J.K. Rowling 

4 Stars 

It is the second book in J.K. Rowling's fantastic book series, Harry Potter. 12-year-old Harry has just come back from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to spend a dreadful summer at Number 4 Privet Drive. Little does he know his summer is about to get worse. Uncle Vernon is expecting to get one of the best deals of his life during a visit from the Masons. Unfortunately, it doesn't go as planned when a house elf shows up in Harry's bedroom with an ominous message. The elf proceeds to try to get Harry expelled from Hogwarts by dropping a pudding on Mrs. Mason's head. Uncle Vernon puts bars on Harry's window to stop him from getting out. Harry is in despair when Ron (his best friend), Fred, and George (Ron's twin brothers) Weasley save him from the clutches of his aunt and uncle, and he spends the rest of the summer with them.  

Harry is back at Hogwarts after an eventful journey. He's ready to start a new, peaceful year at Hogwarts. However, his plans are disrupted when he starts hearing a mysterious voice in the school corridors. Harry, Ron, and Hermione embark on an amazing and thrilling journey to uncover who is petrifying the students. This book is amazing and worth reading. It is filled with magic, mystery, and loads of adventure. Similar to the first book, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is a very quick read. I enjoyed the pacing of the book. It is full of action to keep the narrative moving along, while still allowing us to see world-building and character development. I prefer the books towards the end of the series, as I enjoy depth and complexity in my fantasy books. This book truly gave me chills when I first read it. I was completely caught off guard by how scary a "kids" book could be. I was compelled to finish it in one night just so I could sleep. If I hadn't found out how Harry got rid of the voices talking about blood and killing, my subconscious would have been defenseless against my nightmares. I knew going into it that these early books lay the foundation for the later books. 

Reviewed by Neshwa 

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