HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER'S STONE

Say you've spent the first 10 years of your life sleeping under the stairsof a family who loathes you. Then, in an absurd, magical twist of fate youfind yourself surrounded by wizards, a caged snowy owl, a phoenix-featherwand and jellybeans that come in every flavour, including strawberry,curry, grass and sardine. Not only that, but you discover that you are awizard yourself! This is exactly what happens to young Harry Potter in J KRowling's enchanting, funny debut novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher'sStone. In the non-magical human world--the world of "Muggles"--Harry is anobody, treated like dirt by the aunt and uncle who begrudgingly inheritedhim when his parents were killed by the evil Voldemort. But in the world ofwizards, small, skinny Harry is renowned as a survivor of the wizard whotried to kill him. He is left only with a lightning-bolt scar on hisforehead, curiously refined sensibilities and a host of mysterious powersto remind him that he's quite, yes, altogether different from his aunt,uncle, and spoilt, pig-like cousin Dudley. A mysterious letter, deliveredby the friendly giant Hagrid, wrenches Harry from his dreary, Muggle-riddenexistence: "We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted atHogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry". Of course, Uncle Vernon yellsmost unpleasantly, "I AM NOT PAYING FOR SOME CRACKPOT OLD FOOL TO TEACH HIMMAGIC TRICKS!" Soon enough, however, Harry finds himself at Hogwarts withhis owl Hedwig ... and that's where the real adventure--humorous,haunting, and suspenseful--begins.