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J.K. Rowling
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Mary GrandPré
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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Paperback – September 1, 1998

by J.K. Rowling (Author), Mary GrandPré (Illustrator)
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 5,684 ratings
Amazon Charts #9 this week
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Harry Potter has no idea how famous he is. That's because he's being raised by his miserable aunt and uncle who are terrified Harry will learn that he's really a wizard, just as his parents were. But everything changes when Harry is summoned to attend an infamous school for wizards, and he begins to discover some clues about his illustrious birthright. From the surprising way he is greeted by a lovable giant, to the unique curriculum and colorful faculty at his unusual school, Harry finds himself drawn deep inside a mystical world he never knew existed and closer to his own noble destiny.
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  1. Reading age
    7+ years, from customers
  2. Book 1 of 7
    Harry Potter
  3. Print length
    309 pages
  4. Language
    English
  5. Grade level
    4 - 7
  6. Lexile measure
    880L
  7. Dimensions
    5.25 x 0.75 x 7.75 inches
  8. Publisher
    Scholastic
  9. Publication date
    September 1, 1998
  10. ISBN-10
    1338878921
  11. ISBN-13
    978-0590353427
  12. See all details
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  1. What's it about?

    A young orphan discovers he's a wizard, receiving an invitation to a magical school where an extraordinary adventure awaits.

  2. Popular highlight

    After all, to the well-organised mind, death is but the next great adventure.
    18,060 Kindle readers highlighted this

  3. Popular highlight

    Mr and Mrs Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much.
    15,134 Kindle readers highlighted this

  4. Popular highlight

    Scars can come in useful. I have one myself above my left knee which is a perfect map of the London Underground.
    11,772 Kindle readers highlighted this

  5. Popular highlight

    Harry was used to spiders, because the cupboard under the stairs was full of them, and that was where he slept.
    9,352 Kindle readers highlighted this
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The breakaway bestseller is now in paperback. In a starred review, PW said, "Readers are in for a delightful romp with this debut from a British author who dances in the footsteps of P.L. Travers and Roald Dahl." Ages 8-12.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

* "Readers are in for a delightful romp with this award-winning debut from a British author who dances in the footsteps of P.L. Travers and Roald Dahl."*Publishers Weekly, starred review* "Rowling's wonderful ability to put a fantastic spin on sports, student rivalry, and eccentric faculty contributes to the humor, charm, and, well, delight of her utterly captivating story."*Booklist, starred review* "Harry himself is the perfect confused and unassuming hero, whom trouble follows like a wizard's familiar. After reading this entrancing fantasy, readers will be convinced that they, too, could take the train to Hogwarts School, if only they could find Platform Nine and Three Quarters at the King's Cross Station." *School Library Journal, starred review

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 059035342X
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Scholastic; 1st edition (September 1, 1998)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 309 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1338878921
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0590353427
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 7+ years, from customers
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 880L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 4 - 7
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.25 x 0.75 x 7.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 5,684 ratings

About the authors

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  1. J.K. Rowling

    J.K. Rowling

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    J.K. Rowling is the author of the enduringly popular, era-defining Harry Potter book series, as well as several stand-alone novels for adults and children, and a bestselling crime fiction series written under the pen name Robert Galbraith.

    The Harry Potter books have now sold over 600 million copies worldwide, been translated into 85 languages and made into eight blockbuster films. They continue to be discovered and loved by new generations of readers.

    Alongside the Harry Potter series, J.K. Rowling also wrote three short companion volumes for charity: Quidditch Through the Ages and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, in aid of Comic Relief, and The Tales of Beedle the Bard, in aid of her international children’s charity, Lumos. The companion books and original series are all available as audiobooks.

    In 2016, J.K. Rowling collaborated with playwright Jack Thorne and director John Tiffany to continue Harry’s story in a stage play, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, which opened in London, and is now thrilling audiences on four continents. The script book was published to mark the plays opening in 2016 and instantly topped the bestseller lists.

    In the same year, she made her debut as a screenwriter with the film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Inspired by the original companion volume, it was the first in a series of new adventures featuring wizarding world magizoologist Newt Scamander. The second, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, was released in 2018 and the third, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore was released in 2022.

    The screenplays were published to coincide with each film’s release: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - The Original Screenplay (2016), Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald - The Original Screenplay (2018) and Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore - The Complete Screenplay (2022).

    Fans of Fantastic Beasts and Harry Potter can find out more at www.wizardingworld.com.

    J.K. Rowling’s fairy tale for younger children, The Ickabog, was serialised for free online for children during the Covid-19 pandemic in the summer of 2020 and is now published as a book illustrated by children, with her royalties going to her charitable trust, Volant, to benefit charities helping alleviate social deprivation and assist vulnerable groups, particularly women and children.

    Her latest children’s novel The Christmas Pig, published in 2021, is a standalone adventure story about a boy’s love for his most treasured thing and how far he will go to find it.

    J.K. Rowling also writes novels for adults. The Casual Vacancy was published in 2012 and adapted for television in 2015. Under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith, she is the author of the highly acclaimed ‘Strike’ crime series, featuring private detective Cormoran Strike and his partner Robin Ellacott. The first of these, The Cuckoo’s Calling, was published to critical acclaim in 2013, at first without its author’s true identity being known. The Silkworm followed in 2014, Career of Evil in 2015, Lethal White in 2018, Troubled Blood in 2020 and The Ink Black Heart in 2022. The series has also been adapted for television by the BBC and HBO.

    J.K. Rowling’s 2008 Harvard Commencement speech was published in 2015 as an illustrated book, Very Good Lives: The Fringe Benefits of Failure and the Importance of Imagination, sold in aid of Lumos and university-wide financial aid at Harvard.

    As well as receiving an OBE and Companion of Honour for services to children’s literature, J.K. Rowling has received many other awards and honours, including France’s Legion d’Honneur, Spain’s Prince of Asturias Award and Denmark’s Hans Christian Andersen Award.

    J.K. Rowling supports a number of causes through her charitable trust, Volant. She is also the founder and president of Lumos, an international children’s charity fighting for every child’s right to a family by transforming care systems around the world.

    www.jkrowling.com

    Image: Photography Debra Hurford Brown © J.K. Rowling

    See more on the author's page
  2. Mary GrandPré

    Mary GrandPré

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    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

    See more on the author's page
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Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
We don’t use a simple average to calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star. Our system gives more weight to certain factors—including how recent the review is and if the reviewer bought it on Amazon. Learn more
5,684 global ratings
Amazing book
5 Stars
Amazing book
Easy to read, my son LOVED it. Better then the films, definitely! My son is not a reader, but je finished this book super quick.
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Top reviews from the United States

Fitness.Mom
5.0 out of 5 stars Life changing
Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2016
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I was late to the Harry Potter game, but I loved it. In this book, Harry got a letter saying he is in fact a wizard. So he is enrolled the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Him, along with his new friend the giant Hagrid, go to Diagon Alley, a magical bazaar, and thus he is thrust into the magical universe so captured the imagination of millions. We soon learn Harry is world famous among wizards for conquering an evil Wizard named Vo - um - He Who Must Not Be Named. Sorry `bout that slip. =). The book also introduces the relationship dynamics that would continue throughout the entire series, from the interplay between the three main kids (Harry, Ron, and Hermione), to the ambiguous Severus Snape, the wise mentor figure of Albus Dumbledore, bumbling Hagrid with his love of nasty creatures, prim and reserved Professor McGonagall, evil incarnate Voldemort, Draco Malfoy, etc.
Along the way, we learn that Voldemort is after a magical artifiact called the Philosopher's Stone (which was, unfortunately, changed from the UK original title to "Sorcerer's Stone" in all other regions). So much of the novel is driven by the three main characters defending this stone from Voldemort. The book is engaging with its imagery, humor, plot twists and real-life child problems. The book doesn't only appeal to children but adults as well. She's a master on fantasy. She really can, with no difficulty at all, think herself back to 11 years old. You will love the whimsical descriptions, humorous quotes and the fun characters.
This book was much fun to read. Very enjoyable. the writing is fabulous and the story line is also exceptional. It is probably the best book i have ever read. Overall very good i would recommend it basically to anyone who wants a good story. This is, without a doubt, one of the BEST books I have read in my life! I LOVE anything dealing with fantasy and/or humor, so I hardly put this book down when I started reading it! This book ranks up there with any of Roald Dahl's dark kids' books. My dad and my mom are going to read it, too, and I gave a copy to my best friend. I can't wait for Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets to be published in the USA! Take my advice: If you haven't read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, then you haven't read anything yet! I think Harry Potter is a great character. I like the word "muggle" and I think it might become an ordinary word. My favorite chapter in Harry Potter was Quiddich - I wish it was a sport that was real. I liked it because it was a mix of sorcery and basketball. I was really lucky becauses my mom got a hold of the second book which is only out in England, but soon will be in America. I will give you a little hint. Harry Potter and his friend fly in a car and get in trouble. I can't wait until the third book comes out. Reminiscent of T.H. White's The Sword in the Stone, this lovely book captures one's imagination and sets off on a fantastical adventure. Equally appealing to adults and children, it weaves an intricate world that is pleasant to visit even though evil lurks and must be avoided at many turns. It's biggest fault is that it ends much too soon!
8 people found this helpful
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Brittany
5.0 out of 5 stars Exactly as described
Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2024
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Bought this for my son for his birthday as he was asking for it. He has now read it and is asking for the next. Good buy and price. Will be getting the next from Amazon as well. Came quick, good quality.
One person found this helpful
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Jessica Davis
5.0 out of 5 stars Potter Rules!
Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2014
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I was a little late to the Harry Potter craze, having been raised to believe that this book was the work of the Devil and never having the time to read seven extra books during college. However, after being assigned to read this book in a young adult literature class at the age of twenty-five, I was hooked. The plot is imaginative, the characters are interesting and fully developed, and the book is well written yet simple enough for children to enjoy. After finishing the class, I continued to read the other six books, which are equally amazing.

To Christian parents: I am a Christian too, and it is true that the book is full of magic and sorcery. Harry Potter and his friends do go to the Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, after all. Many people rationalize reading this book by saying that the main point of the series is not the witchcraft but the life lessons on perseverance, patience, and other positive qualities that Harry and his friends must learn to defeat the dark forces who threaten the Muggle world. This is very true, and I think that the characters of Harry, Ron, Hermione, and the others would make positive literary role models for children. However, it is difficult to ignore the large amount of magic that goes on in the book. In the first few books, it's very lighthearted: the kids ride on brooms to play quidditch, they make things disappear and reappear, and they play other tricks on each other, but as the series progresses, the tone of the books becomes darker, and much more evil "black magic" is used by evil characters. Having read the series as an adult, I was able to enjoy the positive messages and adventurous spirit of the books while ignoring the undercurrent of dark magic, but I feel that some of the scenes, especially in the later books, would be disturbing to young children who cannot tell the difference between fantasy and reality. My final verdict is that these books are not appropriate for young children unless you read and discuss them with your child; they are better suited for teens and young adults.
9 people found this helpful
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Corey Cummings
5.0 out of 5 stars Classic Book
Reviewed in the United States on February 15, 2024
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Recently purchased this book for my daughter. I was surprised at the quality of an Amazon product. The book was pristine. I am very satisfied with this book.
One person found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Love this book!
Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2024
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I bought this as a gift for a student. Great book.
One person found this helpful
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Fungi222
5.0 out of 5 stars Time to enjoy reading
Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2023
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This book has been out for several decades at this point and if you are using this review to decide if you need to read it, it’s probably the first thing you’ve ever read. This is by far the first book of a long series of seven books that you will enjoy if you decide to read it after that, you can enjoy the prequel to this book in the form of a Hogwarts video game on Xbox Silencio
3 people found this helpful
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ckrank424
5.0 out of 5 stars Love the series
Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2024
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Good book
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Diana
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read!
Reviewed in Canada on March 27, 2024
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I truly enjoy the Harry Potters series of books.
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Martha Felix
5.0 out of 5 stars Meu primeiro livro em inglês.
Reviewed in Brazil on April 8, 2023
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Comprei este livro para treinar a leitura em inglês, Harry Potter é um clássico e por ser infanto juvenil, possui uma linguagem mais fácil perfeita para iniciantes. O que eu não gosto das edições internacionais é o acabamento dos livros, páginas finas como papel de jornal, sem orelhas, capa mole e frágil.
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Martha Felix
5.0 out of 5 stars Meu primeiro livro em inglês.
Reviewed in Brazil on April 8, 2023
Comprei este livro para treinar a leitura em inglês, Harry Potter é um clássico e por ser infanto juvenil, possui uma linguagem mais fácil perfeita para iniciantes. O que eu não gosto das edições internacionais é o acabamento dos livros, páginas finas como papel de jornal, sem orelhas, capa mole e frágil.
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7 people found this helpful
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Cliente Kindle
5.0 out of 5 stars Ótimo!
Reviewed in Brazil on November 30, 2023
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O livro chegou direitinho, bem protegido. É uma edição simples, mas ótima qualidade!
One person found this helpful
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Felipe Colen de Oliveira
5.0 out of 5 stars Excelente
Reviewed in Brazil on July 9, 2023
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Ótima leitura, recomendo! Uma pena o livro ser bastante frágil e básico.
2 people found this helpful
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Dafne
5.0 out of 5 stars Buena compra
Reviewed in Mexico on December 5, 2022
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Es un buen precio para el libro, pedí el de portada blanda y aún así es un poco gruesa, no se va a doblar con facilidad lo cual es bueno. Vino muy bien empaquetado y sin detalles, es de buena calidad.
2 people found this helpful
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