What Would Harry Read?

Dumbledore #3 - 211 Things a Bright Boy Can Do

Dumbledore seems possessed of a pretty classical kind of education, and while clearly versed in how to vanquish the dark arts, he may not have ever learned how to deal with the mischievous arts as  practiced by the likes of the Weasley brothers. Although Dumbledore is wise, some of these boys are cunning and mischievous in ways not to be imagined, so a book like 211 Things a Bright Boy Can Do would be the ideal thing to distract them from trouble-making experimentation with their new powers.

In fact, this book is not only a distraction, it is essential. If a boy gets to adulthood without learning the skills covered in this book, well, I just don't want to think about it. What would happen if one turned twelve without knowing Bracing Outdoor Activities, How to Use Your Watch As a Compass and How to Know When a Girl Fancies You. And when one is a bit older one must know How to Order Wine In a Restaurant, How to Mow the Perfect Lawn, and How to Impress a Girl on a Budget. Although presumably the boy would be on the budget, not the girl.

One of the most important things this book can teach those rapscallion boys is How to Appear More Intelligent Than You Are, something we all should know. This can be achieved merely by speaking quickly, using a large vocabulary, interrupting people and not using slang. It also helps to be tall and to wear eyeglasses.

But mostly I think the Weasleys would like to know How to Drive a Nail Into a Plank With Your Bare Hand. I know I would.

Herminone #3 - Flyte

In Flyte, the second book in Angie Sage's trilogy, we return to the world of Septimus Heap one year after he discovers his true identity as the seventh son of a seventh son. With his bright green wizard eyes and deceptively handy Apprentice belt, Septimus has made the most of his year working alongside the Extra Ordinary Wizard, Marcia Overstrand.

When he’s not gathering materials so Marcia can build the perfect ShadowSafe, he’s learning all kinds of new spells, charms and tricks—all part of the captivating world of Magyk. When an evil Shadow, a remnant of the epic battle that took place in the last book between Marcia and DomDaniel, lurks around their apartment in Wizard Tower and refuses to leave, the pair certainly have their work cut out for them as they try to make it go away. Wait! Is it growing stronger? And is the shadow really what it seems?  Well, I’m not going to spoil that surprise…but the answers to all of these questions and more are, of course, in the book.

And on top of all the problems leftover from DomDaniel's reign, Septimus has to deal with his eldest brother Simon Heap causing all kinds of trouble. To start, he kidnaps Jenna, his own adopted sister and Queen-to-be, and then he refuses to bring her back. He’s also discovered the Flyte charm, so now Septimus has that to contend with as well. How do you battle a brother who's now up in the air? There's all kinds of new challenges for Septimus, not the least of which is a pet—a baby dragon!

Now, why would Hermione read this? Well, I think she’d love the character of Jenna. The whole Queenling thing aside, she’s smart, powerful and sassy in her own right. And even if Jenna isn’t a wizard, she certainly has some very cool skills, like the ability to talk to the living, breathing Dragon Boat, which make her stand out in a family of all-too fascinating characters. And I think she’d see a bit of herself in Septimus, as his talents when it comes to Magyk are not unlike her own. Oh, and I'd bet she knows how to handle a dragon or two...

And if you're not convinced, you can always read a chapter excerpt here and see what I mean!

Ron #3 - The Day I Swapped My Dad For Two Goldfish

Have you ever wanted a goldfish? How about two?

What would you give for them? Your allowance? Or your favourite toy? Would you trade your bike? Or even your dad? Yes, that’s right, your own father! Would you swap your dad for two pet fish?

In The Day I Swapped My Dad For Two Goldfish, a foolish boy does just that when his friend Nathan comes calling and tempts him into a trade that soon gets out of control! Now there’s wanting things, and then there’s wanting things.

Sometimes some of us desire a cookie, or a comic book, or a new pair of socks but that kind of want clearly does not compare to the level of desire this boy feels for those two fish. Because after offering some broken toys, an old punching bag and even Clownie, the clown he sleeps with, the boy has a brainstorm (apparently he has these on a regular basis) and offers his distracted father in exchange for the fish.

Not surprisingly, Nathan is reluctant, after all there are two fish, but only one dad. And the fish swim backwards and forwards, can the dad do that? Eventually a deal is struck and Nathan leaves with the newspaper-reading father, leaving the boy and his sister alone with the new fish and a lot of explaining to do.

If you are thinking their mom will be mad when she gets home and finds her husband missing—you’re right! At first, the boy avoids any discussion about the whereabouts of their father. But eventually the truth comes out and the two kids are sent to retrieve their dad. Easier said than done. Nathan, they discover, has traded the dad to Vashti for an electric guitar. Vashti, in turn, has traded him for a gorilla mask, and so on... So after visiting many houses around town and returning various swapped items the children are eventually reunited with their father.

Now seriously, what wouldn’t Ron like about this book? The art is brilliant, and the story, with its escalating ridiculousness, is hilarious! Just imagine if you were Ron, and lived in a small house with all those siblings wouldn’t you think the idea of trading one of them was a wonderful idea? How about a brother for a broomstick? A sister for some candy? Don’t think he wouldn’t do it if he thought he could get away with it! So why don’t you take your dad to your local bookstore and see if they’ll take him in exchange for a copy of this fabulous book.

Dumbledore #2 - The Chronicles of Narnia

It’s pretty easy to imagine that Dumbledore might not have a lot of spare time for reading, being busy running a school and fighting evil and all that. However, if he found a book that was both entertaining and inspirational, I’m sure he’d make the time. That's where The Chronicles of Narnia comes in—it's a series I think would keep him up nights with a candle burning down to the nub.

Comprised of seven books, The Chronicles of Narnia tells the story of Aslan, a god-like lion, who rules the land of Narnia. As a leader and an educator himself, it's not hard to think that Dumbledore would identify with this classic character.

Some readers begin with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, which is book two in the series, others begin with book one—The Magician’s Nephew. No matter what your starting point, readers are soon fully engrossed in the land of Narnia and the adventures of the characters there.

In The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the four Pevensie children find a passage to the land of Narnia through an old wooden wardrobe. At this time, Narnia is in a state of permanent winter (sadly, with no Christmas) and under the rule of the evil White Witch. Displaying bravery and strength Peter, Susan, Lucy, and Edmund stage a brilliant battle, alongside Aslan and other native-Narnians, to defeat the White Witch. Adventures such as this take place in all the books that make up The Chronicles of Narnia.  A dazzling array of people, talking animals and mythical creatures fill these books with their unforgettable exploits!

Throughout the scenes of battle, intrigue and excitement, C.S. Lewis infuses a message about faith, loyalty and making the right choices into the stories. Dumbledore, with his strong sense of honour, and his own vicious loyalty to his students, would surely find The Chronicles of Narnia irresistible.

Harry #2 - Predator's Gold

Sometimes bad things happen to bad guys—the trouble is that karma isn’t always so smart; good things don’t always follow the goodies.

In this follow-up to Philip Reeve’s thrilling first novel, Mortal Engines, main characters Tom and Hester are safe, happy and living a sweet life. Travelling around, picking up work, and having a lovely time with each other. So lovely that you just KNOW that it’s gonna end. And it does. Big time. They land on a mysterious city, meet mysterious new friends, and get pulled into, dare I say it, a mystery!

Tom, now an adventurer, finds himself drawn back into the life of a historian. And Hester feels left out. It doesn’t help that there’s a lovely, but lonely, princess on-board who has her eyes on Tom.

So why would Harry read Predator's Gold? Because the first one was so freaking good! Why stop with the first book in a perfectly wonderful series? Will Tom and Hester mend their relationship? Will they figure out what’s happening on the weird Ice City? Or will they be sucked into the intrigue and doubt swirling around this new rolling city. You'll have to crack the spine to find out the answer to these questions.

But if you wanted to wet your whistle, here's the first chapter.

Hermione #2 - Magyk

The world of Septimus Heap is not as it seems. First of all, everyone thinks he died when he was a baby, which means life for Septimus Heap is certainly not on the up and up. Second of all, he’s the seventh son of a seventh son, which in the world of Angie Sage’s Magyk usually means you’re super special, a brilliant wizard in a place where green-eyed wizards are everyday occurrences.

Now when Stepimus went missing (I refused to believe he was actually dead), another baby came into the already bursting Heap household: Jenna. Silas, the eldest of the Heap clan and father to all seven boys, finds the baby in the snow, and she’s beautiful, with lovely violet eyes.  Eyes that never turn wizard green like those of all her brothers.

So who is Jenna? Well, it turns out she’s a long-lost princess, and one that the evil Darke Magyk wizard DomDaniel wants dead so he can claim all the power of the Castle. Well, the reigning ExtraOrdinary Wizard Marcia Overstrand will have none of it, and she whisks Jenna away to safety. Forced out of their home and split into two groups, the Heaps struggle to keep their sister, the new-found princess, safe.

And that's not all! Just as they are about to flee the Castle, Jenna discovers a Young Army soldier almost frozen in the snow. He's called Boy 412, and as luck would have it, he too gets caught up in all of their adventures. And when he starts showing all kinds of special powers…well, you can just imagine what happens next, can’t you?

Why would Hermione read this book? It’s full of magic, mystery and lots of dangerous situations, spells that save lives, baddies that get their just desserts, and a lot of really cool characters, from extra-special wizards to wood-living witches and even heroic rat messengers. All in all, a lot to keep the interest of a girl attending her very own wizard school.

Want to see for yourself? Read a chapter excerpt here.

Ron #2 - The Owl Service

Even though it was originally published 40 years ago, Alan Garner's The Owl Service is a book that stands the test of time. Set in an isolated Welsh valley, this stunning novel combines myth, mystery and family dynamics. When Alison’s mother and Roger’s father marry, the new family spends the summer in a house that Alison inherited. And they’re not alone: also in the house are Nancy, the housekeeper who lived in the valley years ago, her son Gwyn, and an odd handyman/gardener named Huw.

Alison, Roger and Gwyn’s discovery of a dirty set of plates hidden in the attic, sets in motion a terrifying sequence of events.  Alison traces the pattern on the dishes and uses it to make owls out of paper—owls that keep disappearing. There are freak storms, paintings that appear and disappear, and haunting lights in the forest. The Owl Service retells the Welsh legend of Blodeuwedd about a man who creates his wife from flowers and then turns her into an owl when she is unfaithful to him. It appears that Alison, Roger and Gwyn’s lives are connected to this legend and that they are destined to relive it, as have other generations before them.

The Owl Service is not for the faint of heart, as mysteries abound, tension builds and the scenes in the forest are frightening. But the compulsion to understand what is happening will keep readers hooked until the very end.

Why would Ron like this book? He’d definitely be happy to be reading it and not living it! Like a backseat driver or an armchair critic, Ron would read this book while thinking of how he would solve the mystery, confident in the fact that he would have been braver and wiser than the main characters! In fact, he’d be very happy not to be in the isolated Welsh valley—even if it meant being forced into adventures of other kinds by those other two best friends of his…

Hermione #1 - Silverwing

There are so many things to love in Silverwing, Kenneth Oppel’s wonderful story about Shade, a small Silverwing bat, and Marina, a Brightwing he meets during his journey. Would a list be better? Probably. So in order to be as efficient as possible, here are all the reasons why this book is almost better then a candy cart on a fast-moving train:

1. The Main Characters Are Bats!

You’d think that would be cringe-worthy, but it’s not. In fact, the whole magical setting, which includes delicious places like Tree Haven (where echoes tell stories) and Hibernaculum (the Silverwing’s winter colony), adds an entirely new dimension to the wonders of the natural world.

2. There’s Drama!

When Shade is blown off-course during his first migration and gets lost over the ocean, your fingertips turn white with worry as you turn the pages. Even after he teams up with Marina, the two of them run into trouble in the form of an evil jungle bat called Goth, almost get eaten by owls, are trapped by rats, and escape more times than you can wave a wand. They do meet a few friends on the way, including a wise albino bat called Zepyhr.

3. He’s a Hero!

After Shade gets blown off course during his first migration, the adversity he overcomes is really quite something. After all, he is a runt, and with such a short wingspan, it’s amazing he finds his way back to land at all, and never once does he falter, even if he is afraid.

4. Brains Over Brawn!

On more than one occasion, Shade and Marina use their wits to get them out of sticky situations. They’ve got this cool echo vision and they use sound maps to navigate. It’s all pretty amazing for mammals that are stereotyped in scary stories set in the darkest hours of the night.

5. Marina is Smart, Sensible and a Girl!

Oh, and she’s also loyal. Enough said.

Ron #1 - Rowan of Rin

Rowan of Rin by Emily Rodda is a fabulous adventure story set in a vaguely medieval fantasy world. In this book, the first of a five-part series, a motley group of villagers must travel to a mountain top to confront a mysterious dragon who has stopped their water source. Without the fresh spring water the people of Rin and their beasts, the bukshah, will soon perish. While no one who has ventured on to the mountain before has ever survived, the seven who set out feel there is no other choice if their village is to be saved.

Among the travelers is young Rowan, timid and weak, who knows people in the village are disappointed in him because he is not as brave as his father. Guided by a bewitched map that only Rowan can hold, the group follows mysterious clues in verse that appear once a task has been accomplished. Along their journey the villagers face terrors they could not have imagined: they are misled by evil spirits and tested physically over and over again. Through these trials Rowan discovers in himself courage and strength, he didn’t know he possessed. He also discovers friends amongst the villagers he has known his whole life.

So why would Ron like this book? Because Ron knows what it is like to be considered weaker or less accomplished than his friends or even his brothers. Ron also knows that being brave often means doing something even though you’re terrified of doing it. Even when there are spiders involved. And oh does this book have spiders…

Read an excerpt here.

Dumbledore #1 - The Dangerous Book For Boys

There is no question that The Dangerous Book for Boys is only about the most useful book ever written. It is chock full of helpful tips for people of the boy persuasion, such as how to build a catapult, how to use spy codes and ciphers, how to juggle, how to make a water bomb, and how to understand those Latin phrases every boy should know. In four pages it explains more about chess then some very expensive chess books I have had the misfortune to purchase and lug home.

Near the end comes a list of authors every boy should read. I only have space list a few, but Roald Dahl, Mark Twain, C.S. Lewis (we'll get to him later on this month), J.R.R. Tolkien (him too, later this month) and of course J.K. Rowling are included in this who’s who of fantastic authors.

For Dumbledore this is the ideal all-purpose guide for distracting and educating boys like the Weasley Brothers; they’re nothing but trouble and he needs all the help he can get in that department. Conn Iggulden and his brother Hal dispense fine advice like “Don’t swagger. The boy who swaggers—like the man who swaggers—has little else that he can do. He is a cheap-Jack crying his own paltry wares. It is the empty tin that rattles most. Be honest. Be loyal. Be kind. Remember that the hardest thing to acquire is the faculty of being unselfish. As a quality it is one of the finest attributes of manliness.”

All very helpful until those boys blow up something else. And, don’t let this get out, but even girls and grownups will like this book.

You can read an excerpt from the book here.