HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS (HARRY POTTER #2) BY J.K ROWLINGS

J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter, Book #2

 

Review brought to you by OBS Staff member Annabell Cadiz

Synopsis: The Dursleys were so mean and hideous that summer that all Harry Potter wanted was to get back to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. But just as he’s packing his bags, Harry receives a warning from a strange, impish creature named Dobby who says that if Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts, disaster will strike.

And strike it does. For in Harry’s second year at Hogwarts, fresh torments and horrors arise, including an outrageously stuck-up new professor, Gilderoy Lockhart; a spirit named Moaning Myrtle who haunts the girls’ bathroom; and the unwanted attention of Ron Weasley’s younger sister, Ginny.

But each of these seem minor annoyances when the real trouble begins, and someone—or something—starts turning Hogwarts students to stone. Could it be Draco Malfoy, a more poisonous rival than ever? Could it possibly be Hagrid, whose mysterious past is finally told? Or could it be the one everyone at Hogwarts most suspects . . . Harry Potter himself?

Review: Harry is done being around his horrid family, the Dursleys, and has had more than he can take. Packing his stuff away, determined to leave early, an elf suddenly appears in his room. The elf introduces himself as Dobby and he has come to bring a grave warning to Harry: he must not return to Hogwarts because he is not safe. Harry doesn’t listen to Dobby but soon realizes, he might have been better staying with the Dursleys than returning to Hogwarts, when students start turning up petrified, including Hermonie! Something dark and sinister is lurking beneath the Hogwarts school and it’s willing to do whatever it takes to get to Harry–even if that means taking down everyone he loves!

Fred and George are just sooo funny with all their mischievous pranks! They attempt cheering Ginny up by covering themselves in fur and boils then jumping out at her! I also love the way they would run ahead of Harry, shouting for everyone to make way for the Heir of Slytherin. Professor Lockhart was a new character introduced into the story as the new Defense teacher and his narcissism was completely ridiculous since he had no actual magical talent whatsoever. Dobby was awesome! He became one of my favorite characters. He is so cute and adorable but also very sneaky.

Some Memorable Scenes:

–Ron, George, and Fred breaking Harry out of the Dursley’s home using a flying car.

–The car crash landing into the Whomping Willow with Ron and Harry. The both of them almost end up crushed along with the car. The car gets so mad at the boys, it throws Harry and Ron out of the car along with their bags, and leaves.

–Ginny Weasley’s huge crush on Harry. When Harry shows up at Ron’s house and Ron’s mom has everyone sit for breakfast, Ginny runs downstairs to ask about where her mother had put her jumper and when she sees Harry she runs back upstairs.

–Ron freaking out about following the spiders.

–Dobby being introduced into the story. Such a cute and funny elf!

–Harry’s first trip through Diagon Alley by floo powder. He says the words wrong and winds up in Knockturn Alley.

–Ron and Harry trying to run through the wall to get to Platform Nine and Three Quarters and wind up knocking into the wall since Dobby placed a spell to make sure they wouldn’t get through.

-Harry, Ron, and Hermoine using ployjuice potion to turn into Malfoy and his two minions.

-Monaing Mrytle’s (the ghost haunting the girls bathroom) part in the story.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets proves that a sequel can be just as good as its predecessor, if not better. Full of fun filled pranks, intense action, and of course, fantastic magic, this is a great follow up to The Sorcerer’s Stone!

Favorite Quotes:

“It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” – Albus Dumbledore

“Never trust anything that can think for itself if you can’t see where it keeps its brain.” ~Mr. Weasley

“Deliberately causing mayhem in Snape’s Potions class was about as safe as poking a sleeping dragon in the eye.” ~Narration