What Reading Level Is Harry Potter Book 1

Harry Potter Reading Level Broken Down By Age And Grade

Age 8 + / 2nd and 3rd grade

• Harry Potter and the Sorcerers/Philosophers Stone
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Age 10+/ 5th grade

• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Age 11/ 6th Grade

• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Age 13/8th grade

• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

The Fantastic Beasts Screenplays

Unless you’ve been living under a rock this entire time, you’ve probably heard of the two new Wizarding World movies that have hit Hollywood in the past few years. Led by actor Eddie Redmayne and an all-star ensemble cast, the Fantastic Beasts films tell the story of Newt Scamander, Albus Dumbledore, and the dark battle against Gellert Grindelward in the blackened days before Lord Voldemort entered the scene.

Of course, you can choose to simply watch the continuation of the Wizarding World on-screen but reading the screenplays of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: the Original Screenplay and Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald The Original Screenplay will undoubtedly give you that extra level of depth and insight into the characters.

What Exactly Is A Harry Potter Vocab List

Reading may help your kid improve their literacy abilities, mainly if they read a book they like. Take things a step further by creating a Harry Potter vocabulary list.

Your children will improve their reading efficiency while learning to spell these fantastic words. Here are a few words to include in their next spelling exam!

• Herbology: The study or collecting of herbs.
• Galleon: This is the most valuable coin in the wizarding currency. Its also called the gold galleon.
• Muggle: A person who doesnt have any magical powers and was not born into a magical family.
• Poltergeist: An invisible and supernatural entity that causes disturbances in the world of the living by making sounds and moving objects.
• Wand: A stick-like object witches and wizards use to express their magic. Its usually carved from wood or a magical substance.
• Phoenix: This is a mythical bird that rises from its own ashes. Dumbledore had a phoenix that would set itself on fire every few years and then magically reappear as a new bird.
• Apparition: When a supernatural person or thing, usually a ghost, appears.
• Luna: A moon goddess. The name of a popular character, Luna Lovegood.
• Pansy: A violet.
• Lucius: This word comes from Latin origin and means light. The name of Draco Malfoys father.

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Book #: Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire

• Age: 10+
• Grade: 5+

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is markedly more advanced than the first three books in the series, specifically so because it involves the death of a student who plays a minor role in the story.

While it also has a lot of fun elements, like the Quidditch World Cup and the Yule Ball, the student death in this novel really changes the tone of the series and conveys the theme that endings aren’t always happy in life, which will definitely be difficult for many children to understand.

Additional content warnings include betrayal by a trusted adult, blood, torture, a severed hand, imprisonment, and underage drinking. It’s also a bit more violent than the first three books.

This is the book in the series where I would start to think more deeply about whether a child is ready to read it, or even discuss the content with him or her beforehand. Of note, this book is also quite long for a younger child.

A Note On Controversy

Like so many of the best things in this world, there is controversy surrounding a few aspects of the Harry Potter series. When the books were first released, the biggest controversy revolved around the elements of fantasy and witchcraft in Harry Potter. Of course, the witchcraft is no secret- Harry Potter is a wizard, after all. And in the early books, the majority of the magic is innocent and fairly vague.

The later books in the series admittedly are a bit darker and tend to handle more discussion of dark arts, especially when talking about Voldemorts acts, and the acts of his followers. There is discussion of murder as well. So, for several reasons, Harry Potter is listed as a banned book by many schools and organizations.

But this definitely doesnt mean that it is inappropriate for all children, and ultimately the decision to allow your children to read the books lies with you and your comfort level surrounding topics of magic, witchcraft, and later, concepts of good vs. evil and morality.

More recent controversy surrounding the series has revolved less around the content and characters of the books, but rather on the personal views and biases of series author J.K. Rowling.

In response to a recent series of social media posts by the author, she has been labeled a TERF due to mocking comments she made regarding trans-positive language and transgender rights.

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Book #: Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets

• Age: 8+
• Grade: 3+

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is the book in which Harry and his friend Ron return to Hogwarts in a flying car. There, a rumor spreads that the Chamber of Secrets has been opened to release a deadly monster.

In the Forbidden Forest, they meet a giant spider, and there’s also a ghost in the bathroom. Harry then enters the Chamber of Secrets in an attempt to save Ron’s sister, Ginny, where Voldemort sets a giant serpent on Harry, and a battle ensues.

A few other content warnings include blood and petrification of students.

It’s pretty similar in terms of content level to the first book, so both can be read by younger readers around age 8+ and grade 3+. If a child had no problem with book #1, it’s likely they will do just fine with book#2 as well.

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Imagine if the Sorting Hat made a terrible mistake, and Harry and Draco had been switched, placing them in the others house now imagine it wasnt a mistake after all. Would it have changed who they were, or made them more themselves?

Sophie and Agatha leave for The School for Good and Evil knowing exactly which school they will be placed in, or at least, they think they do. When the roles are seemingly reversed will they find out it is a mistake or will they find out who they are meant to be?

Recommended for ages 10+ for challenging themes about social constructs.

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What Is Jk Rowlings Favorite Harry Potter Book

Even so, Rowling has her favorite. While engaging with her fans on Twitter, the British novelist said chapter 34, The Forest Again, from the seriess final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, was closest to her heart.

What is the least popular Harry Potter book? Poll

• 61 votes, 19.6% Ha. Ha.
• 45 votes, 14.5% Half Blood Prince.
• 30 votes, 9.6% Goblet of Fire.
• 24 votes, 7.7% Prisoner of Azkaban.
• 22 votes, 7.1% Sorcerers Stone.
• 21 votes, 6.8% Deathly Hallows.
• 18 votes, 5.8% i havent read harry potter yet. DONT SPOIL!!!
• 9 votes, 2.9% They were all terrible!!!

How old was Emma Watson in the first Harry Potter?

Emma Watson , who was 11 when the first Harry Potter flick premiered, said growing up in the spotlight was tough.

How many staircases does Hogwarts Castle have? It has 142 staircases

There are wide ones, narrow ones, some with vanishing steps and others that lead somewhere different on a Friday.

Short Stories From Hogwarts Of Power Politics And Pesky Poltergeists

Not everything about Hogwarts and the Wizarding World is bright and shiny indeed, the series has birthed some of most memorable villains in literature, from Dolores Umbridge to Lord Voldemort himself. Short Stories from Hogwarts of Power, Politics and Pesky Potergeists delves deeper into this darker side of Harry’s universe: in particular, it’ll walk you through the politics of wizards and the backstories of Hogwart’s villains, like Profess Umbridge.

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Best For Fans Of The Wizarding World Professor Snape Or Sirius Black

Much like Harry, Artemis is unexpectedly thrust into a world of magic and unknown creatures. Unlike Harry, Artemis is a cunning criminal mastermind. This series is a deep dive into a complete world, much like the Wizarding World, it is unique however as it is one of the few series for children that features an anti-hero protagonist.

There are eight books as well as graphic novels, so you can really get lost in this series for a while.

So What’s The Recommended Reading Order

Fortunately, Harry Potter isn’t one of those series like Star Wars has a sprawling number of canon novels, film novelizations, reference books, and comics to read. Instead, it’s a finite universe which makes catching up on it much easier. We recommend reading the main series chronologically so that you can see Harry and his friends grow up. Then if you’re still thirsting for more of the Wizarding World you can see where your interests most strongly lie , and start again there.

If you still havent read Harry Potter, just know that its never too late to start and even for those who have, youre never too old to go back and relive the magic.

Can’t get enough? Check out our list of the 20 best books like Harry Potter, or 60 best fantasy books for kids!

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When To Read Harry Potter To Your Children

In my day, you had to read the Harry Potter books on your own, in the original heavy hardcover books with tiny font and no handy pronunciation guide. To be fair, I was one of the lucky Harry Potter generation who started reading Sorcerers Stone at age 11 and got to read along as the last books were published, which was very exciting.

For kids today, they might not be able to experience the anticipation of a new Harry Potter release, but there are some exciting new ways to experience these books that I wish I had access to as a kid!

For very young children, you can start out by reading the books to them. Reading to your children is incredibly beneficial for a number of reasons, and has been proven to improve vocabulary, reading comprehension, literacy, social skills, and much more. Its a great way to bond with your kids and help them unwind and prepare for bed at the end of the day.

The newly published illustrated editions of Harry Potter are exquisitely designed and practically beg for parents to read them to their children at bedtime. The big, beautiful pages make it easy for witches and wizards of all ages to follow along and envision the creatures and characters of the Wizarding World. So far, only Sorcerers Stone, Chamber of Secrets, Prisoner of Azkaban, and Goblet of Fire have been published as illustrated editions, but more are on the way!

Best For Fans Of Hagrid Magical Creatures And Newt Scamander

Siblings Kendra and Seth are left with their grandparents for the week, whom they do not know well, and stumble upon a huge family secret. Their grandfather is actually the caretaker for a magical refuge of fairytale creatures. This is a story of bravery, family and magical creatures.

Personally, I would suggest you opt for the hard copy of this, rather than the audio version, I personally found to be very off-putting which is unfortunate because the story is great. Good for ages 8+

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Harry Potter Book List:

The Harry Potter Series: Ages And Stages

The first three Harry Potter books are great to read aloud to kids aged from about six or seven up. Certainly most children – both boys and girls – will love them from the age of eight.

If your eight-year-old is a fairly capable reader, he or she will probably be able to read the first three books independently. Remember though, that it can be fun to read aloud to older children and the Harry Potter books are great for this purpose because most adults enjoy the stories too.

The last four books are long and quite complex. Certainly many ten-year-olds will be quite capable of reading them but again, I think they’re great for reading aloud to kids aged up to about eleven.

Most teens will enjoy reading the books and in fact the seventh and final book in the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is probably not suitable for readers under about thirteen. And if your teen does want to read the whole series, there are editions with more adult-looking covers so they’re not embarrassed to be seen reading what they probably think of as kids’ books.

The seven books in the Harry Potter series, in order, are:

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Harry Potter And The Sorcerers Stone

The first book in the series requires a reading level of 880L, which makes it an appropriate read for most 5th and 6th graders. With a total of 223 pages and an acceptable story complexity, it should not be too challenging. Moreover, the way the story is built and the twists in the action make it a page-turner, which is a huge advantage.

Best For Fans Of Ron Weasley Neville Longbottom Or Any One Who Struggled To Read A Textbook

Hundreds of years ago magic and science existed together, but slowly science gained popularity over magic until it pushed magic aside and it began to fade from the world. This story is part textbook, part storybook of Owen Macready, a thirteen year old boy who uses magic to defeat a school bully and finds himself in the midst of a battle with anti-magic mercenaries.

In book two, Cryptozoology for Beginners, the group is back together and must travel the world to save vanishing cryptids from the anti-magicians . As a bonus, the paper copy of the book is beautifully bound and feels like an ancient book. Recommended ages 10+

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Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them

Can’t get enough of the fantastical creatures that fill Harry Potter‘s pages? You’re in luck. As detailed by J.K. Rowling , Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is the definitive compendium to the magical beasts that roam the wizarding world. You’ll find some familiar companions such as the Hippogriff, the Basilisk, the Hungarian Horntail but you’ll also discover many, many new creatures to befriend. This is the text that inspired the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them movie trilogy, so if you’re looking to catch up on the source, this is where to start!

Age 8 + / 2nd And 3rd Grade

Most children are ready for the first three books in the Harry Potter series by the time they reach the 3rd grade. After around eight years old, children will generally have a good enough reading level to try out these books independently.

If your child struggles with their reading ability, reading these books aloud with them can be a great way to share these stories and have some quality bonding time together. And of course, youre bound to love the books just as much as your kids do!

Like all the Harry Potter books, The Sorcerers Stone does explore some challenging themes, but its done in a gentle way that can promote a healthy dialogue.

There are some potentially scary scenes for example, halfway through this book, the children come face to face with an evil troll they must defeat together. And at the end of the book, theres an extended fight scene between Harry and the evil Voldermort.

Its also worth noting that this book touches upon the theme of parental death. If this isnt something your child has been introduced to through other books or movies yet, it might be wise to gently broach the subject with them first

This book explores pretty similar themes to the first book, and the story follows directly on from where the first book left off.

Some of the more mature themes include the introduction of a serial killer. Unlike previous murders in the series so far, this killer has no connection to many of his victims. He kills without purpose and on a large scale.

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