If you were a kid in the 1990s or 2000s, you probably read the “Harry Potter” books. Released in 1997 with “Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone” (first known as “The Philosopher’s Stone” in Britain) in 1997, “Harry Potter” has since been a mainstay of popular culture. From books to movies to video games, the series greatly influences modern media and culture.
I thought it would be fun to look back and rank all seven books from worst to best. (Just to be clear, I love all the books!) Without further ado, let’s get into it!
7. “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix”
The fifth book of the series sees the boy wizard struggling with the return of the main villain, an increasingly authoritative government, and the usual woes that come with teenage life. Of all the books, “Order of the Phoenix” is the most thematically relevant; it touches on themes regarding political corruption, death, trauma, racism, and teenage angst. However, the multiple storylines going on at once cause the story to feel bloated, making it too easy to lose track of what’s going on. Still, like every book, it’s an overall good read.
6. “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”
The book that started it all, “The Sorcerer’s Stone” (or “The Philosopher’s Stone”) introduces us to Harry Potter as he discovers the wizarding world. With Harry beginning his first year at Hogwarts, he quickly finds himself wrapped up in an adventure of magical objects, flying brooms, and strange teachers. As the introduction to the series, “The Sorcerer’s Stone” does an amazing job of setting up the wizarding world and drawing the audience in – with the promise of more to come. The reason I put it lower on the list, though, is because of pacing. It takes a while for the actual plot to get going, which can make rereading this one a little harder than some of the later books.
5. “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”
Oh boy, this one is probably the most controversial take on this list. The final book in the series, “The Deathly Hallows” follows Harry and his friends as they prepare for the final battle with Lord Voldemort, who is more powerful and dangerous than ever before. Overall, “The Deathly Hallows” serves as an excellent end to the series. It brings many of the themes and storylines full circle, and it perfectly wraps up Harry’s character arc. However, the story drags a lot at times. There are large chunks where the characters either just make plans or move from place to place. In particular, the middle of the book feels slow and hard to read at times. Luckily, the final battle at Hogwarts makes all of this worth it in the end.
4. “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince”
You know, I’m starting to think I have something against the later books, since “The Half-Blood Prince” is next on the list. The sixth book explores Harry juggling school, romance, and his role as the Chosen One. On top of it all, he learns about Lord Voldemort’s past, discovering the secret to defeating him once and for all. I put “The Half-Blood Prince” here because it has a lot of the same problems as the previous entries. At the same time, it also nails a lot of what I like about the series. There are plenty of scenes where the kids are allowed to be kids, action, and drama. And it’s always enjoyable watching Harry come into his own as a wizard. There’s just a lot to like about this one, though I do understand why some people are lower on it compared to “The Deathly Hallows.”
3. “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets”
This one is another interesting pick. The second book, “The Chamber of Secrets” follows Harry’s second year of school. He quickly gets wrapped up in the mystery of the titular Chamber of Secrets and the monster that lives within as it attacks the Muggle-born student.s This book is a stark improvement to the first one. It has all of the same fun and whimsy as the first book, but it layers that on top of an interesting and engaging mystery. It also takes less time for the plot to kick in; once it does, it becomes the main focus of the book until the end. This is also the first book to give us a glimpse into the complex history of Voldemort, and we learn more about the connection between him and Harry.
2. “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”
The fourth book in the series, “The Goblet of Fire,” sees Harry forced to enter the prestigious (and dangerous) Triwizard Tournament after a mysterious person places his name in the Goblet of Fire. In doing so, he finds himself roped in a series of trials that push him physically, mentally, and emotionally, all as a dark plot that threatens the wizarding world looms overhead. Unlike its successors, “The Goblet of Fire” does a good job of balancing its length with the plot. The story gets going very early, and once it does, it keeps you engaged with plenty of action and world-building. With twists and turns everywhere, “The Goblet of Fire” does an excellent job serving as the turning point in the series.
1. “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban”
There are not enough words to describe how much I love “The Prisoner of Azkaban.” The third book centers around Sirius Black, a mysterious and dangerous man with dark ties to Harry’s past. As more details come to light about the night that Harry’s parents died, the line between good and evil blurs more than ever before. To me, “The Prisoner of Azkaban” combines everything I love about this series: an engaging mystery, incredible world-building, and great action – all combined to tell an interesting and fun story. I could read it over and over again.
Do you agree with this ranking? What’s your favorite “Harry Potter” book? Let us know in the comments below!
Photo by Madalyn Cox on Unsplash
