Tornado Alley (PROG)

[BullNBear52]

I have all the Harry Potter books in hardcover.

I'm sure I'll burn in hell for reading about wizards conquering evil.

https://www.oif.ala.org/oif/?p=10636

Writing in October of 1999, author Judy Blume had this to say about the Potter controversy:

I knew this was coming. The only surprise is that it took so long — as long as it took for the zealots who claim they’re protecting children from evil (and evil can be found lurking everywhere these days) to discover that children actually like these books. If children are excited about a book, it must be suspect. (Blume)

The fact is that J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series made reading cool again for all ages. The controversies surrounding the books over the past 20 years have only served to underscore the amazing popularity of these books and their impact on reading for enjoyment. The long lines at midnight release parties, the mega-publishing records broken, and the ubiquity of Harry Potter references across the country ten years after the release of the final book in the series reinforce their staying power. Whether Potter-fears or Potter-fans, there is no denying that Harry Potter is part of our reading culture. “It is the ability of the books to engage young audiences that will be their enduring legacy.” (Olukotun)