VALLEY PATRIOT EDITORIAL: Thank You J.K. Rowling!

August, 2007

 We wish to thank author J.K. Rowling for inspiring so many people, especially young children, to read and to enjoy reading in the age of internet, television and video games.

 In the 24 hour period from midnight July 21st, to midnight July 22nd, over 15 million copies of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” were sold world-wide, including over 8.3 million copies in the United States. (According to Scholastic, Inc.)

 Since the release of the very first Harry Potter book, J.K. Rowling has brought magic to life with the most fascinating characters; Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, and of course Harry Potter himself, fighting the eternal struggle of good versus evil.

 We watched the many twists and turns as the series progressed and these main characters began to grow up with magical powers, cultivated and perfected to fight the evil Voldemort and his army.

 We cried as characters such as Harry’s godfather Sirius Black was killed and when Professor Dumbledore died. And we smiled when we learned that Ron and Hermione were married. Rowling’s wonderful imagination has inspired something in our kids that is constructive and critical to their futures … loving to read.

 At the Borders Bookstore at the Methuen Loop, a giant Harry Potter party was held before the midnight release of “The Deathly Hallows” on July 21st. Over 800 people turned out in costume to celebrate and purchase the final book in the Harry Potter series. All around the world celebrations just like the one at Borders were being held; where kids dressed up as their favorite Harry Potter characters, debating the loyalty of Snape and wondering who would die in the end.

 Seeing lines and lines of kids waiting to buy a book was awe inspiring and we thank author J.K. Rowling for bringing reading back into the lives of so many children. We cannot think of any other occasion where children wanted to stay up late to read, rather than playing video games, watching TV or using the computer. J.K. Rowling has done for our children what we as parents, and our school systems, indeed our culture has not been able to do effectively for years, make reading fun.

 Thank you J.K. Rowling.