Review Detail

The Order of the Phoenix is a dark, intricately woven story. Voldemort is back, Harry has been labelled a liar by the Daily Prophet (and by the Ministry), Harry nearly gets kicked out of Hogwarts because the Ministry is determined to shut him up, and Dumbledore is staying away from Harry for reasons that aren't clear until the end of the book. I love the way the Ministry interferes at Hogwarts (better to keep an eye on the truth tellers than to deal with the truth itself!) because it gives our favorite characters a chance to rise to the occasion. From the creation of Dumbledore's Army, which gives Harry a chance to test his budding leadership skills, to the ousting of the odious Delores Umbridge (helped along by the Weasley brothers, Hermoine's cleverness, and some angry centaurs), this story is a tightly woven adventure sure to make reader's reach for book #6.