J.K. Rowling's best-selling novel is Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, and has sold over 120 million copies. It was the first book in the Harry Potter series.
The first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in the USA) was published in 1997 and, since then, the seven-book-series has gone on to break all kinds of records, selling over 500 million copies worldwide.
Although all of them are great, arguably the best Harry Potter book is the sixth in the series, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. By this point in the story, Harry has already come to terms with his fate, and he and the rest of the wizarding world are bracing themselves for the impending war.
#1 – Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Number one in the Harry Potter books ranked is Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, book six.
Secrets is probably the least important book in the series over all. It's still a good book, but it suffers from a somewhat bland plot, as well as a large section of the book without Hermione.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is not bad, but it is the worst of the Harry Potter books, and I don't think that's particularly debatable. It's more about every other book just being better.
The novel with a laminated board cover is one of only 500 first-edition first impressions to exist and its sale attracted international interest. A rare hardback copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone has been sold for £10,500 at an auction - having been purchased for only 30p.
Like most milestones, there is no “right age.” It all depends on the kid—and the parents. But there are a few age-related guidelines to take into consideration: From a technical standpoint, Harry Potter is categorized as a middle-grade read, which typically encompasses 9–to–12-year-olds.
The fourth novel, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, was published 8 July 2000, simultaneously by Bloomsbury and Scholastic. The fifth novel, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, is the longest book in the series, yet it is the second-shortest film at 2 hours 18 minutes.
If you're new to the series, we'd recommend sticking to the original seven Harry Potter books - everything else is a bonus. In other words, start with The Sorcerer's Stone / The Philosopher's Stone and work your way through them (as explained in our 'where to start' section above).
A Twitter user named Rob McCarter asked Rowling to pick her most beloved chapter, and she responded one minute later with her pick: Chapter 34 of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” which is titled “The Forest Again.”
Harry Potter Series
The books are raved upon by Harry Potter fans and are a must-read if you love Harry Potter and have never read them. It gives beautiful scenic descriptions and an increased understanding behind the characters' actions and thoughts.
The reader is then introduced to Harry on the cusp of his 11th birthday, on July 30th. When the clock strikes midnight, Hagrid meets Harry to tell him he is a wizard. Harry remains 11 years old throughout the rest of the first book.
One of the main reasons that the series has become so loved is it's attention to detail and the costumes, clothing choices and descriptions of the characters. Think Harry's lightening-shaped scar, his broken glasses and his "mother's eyes".
The biggest and longest Harry Potter book is Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. This book has 766 pages. The other six books in the series are all under 650 pages.
According to the graphic, it takes an average of 32.63 hours to read Leo Tolstoy's War & Peace and 60.23 hours to read the entire Harry Potter series of books.
The book series as written by JK Rowling also shows that the Philosopher's Stone, although the shortest at 223 pages, is the most popular with a volume of 3,844,316 sales during 2008-2010.
Trust me on this: it's never too late to start reading Harry Potter . It doesn't matter if you've already seen the movies, if you've overheard too many spoilers, or you think that it just won't be the same to read it now that it seems like everyone else already has.
Turns out, there's no right age for Harry Potter (or a multitude of other books and milestones). Every family and every child is a bit different.
This feeling came back so strongly when I read Harry Potter, and I felt again: there had been a mistake at Hogwarts and my acceptance letter was lost in the mail. So here's what I have to say to you: it's not too late to read the series, whether you're 12 or 20. There's no shame in getting lost in a little fantasy.
The value of a Harry Potter copy depends on the state of the copy, the edition and the printing, the country where it was printed, if it is signed (sometimes they are signed by the illustrators), if the copy is hardcover or softcover, and if it is scarce or it has any particularity that makes it especial.
Bloomsbury has reported a record year for sales, as the Harry Potter publisher said the increase in reading during the pandemic had become “permanent” after lockdowns eased. The company benefited substantially from Covid restrictions when homebound consumers turned to new hobbies, including reading, to pass the time.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
The main characteristics of a 1997 first edition first issue are a print line that reads 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 and the crediting of "Joanne Rowling", not JK. Prices on AbeBooks vary from $40,000 to $55,000. A handful of advance proof copies are available from $7,500 to $13,500.