Books like Exploring Harry Potter by Elizabeth D. Schafer

Follow Harry Potter’s journey through witchcraft and wizardry at Hogwarts, as he learns magic, plays Quidditch, and confronts the dark wizard Voldemort in an epic, globally bestselling fantasy series.

A scholarly anthology that examines J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, exploring its literary themes, historical influences, and impact on children’s intellectual and social development.

A magical tour of Harry Potter's wizarding world, exploring the real history behind the beloved books.

A scholarly exploration of the Harry Potter series, examining its pivotal role as a modern early‑text for children, its evolution into a cultural phenomenon, and its significance in contemporary fantasy literature.

Explore how real science explains the spellwork and magical phenomena in the Harry Potter world, revealing hidden principles behind the wizarding universe.

An insightful guide that delves into the real-world history, folklore, and mythology shaping the magic, creatures, and characters in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series.

The Potter stories, far from being ‘wicked’ or ‘Satanic,’ ... are in fact narratives of robust faith and morality ... “What Ms. Rowling has furnished us, besides what the Brits call ‘a good read,’ and a whopping good one, ... is a modern interpretation of the gospel, the wonderful news that ‘God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself’ and making sure that the goodness of creation would never be obliterated by the forces of darkness and evil.” Since their first publication, J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter novels have brought joy to children and adults alike. Many conservative Christians in the United States, however, have decried the books as wicked, as preaching witchcraft and the occult, and as glamorizing dishonesty. A minister in New Mexico held a “holy bonfire” on the Sunday after Christmas 2001, at which he publicly torched the Potter books, declaring them “an abomination to God and to me.” John Killinger, a Congregationalist minister and an academic in the field of contemporary literature, beautifully demolishes the objections of right-wing Christians to this bestselling children’s series. He compellingly argues that, far from corrupting children’s morals, the Potter stories actually influence young readers to follow the teachings of Jesus. He cites passage after passage to illustrate how the world of Harry Potter would be inconceivable apart from the strictures of Judeo-Christian theology and the way human existence should be approached by every follower of Jesus. Additionally, he reflects on the possibility that Harry Potter, like Dostoevsky’s Prince Myshkin and others, is a witting or unwitting Christ figure who actually battles the forces of darkness for the souls of the faithful. All through this extraordinarily well-written, compelling, and very entertaining little book, the author points out that stories like this are worth more than any sermon toward producing people who truly follow the lessons of Jesus. --Amazon review