For hundreds of thousands of fans across the globe, the Harry Potter series is often the first set of novels that made people fall in love with reading. Real reading.
You know, where you become enchanted by the storyline, fall in love with the characters, and feel a deep sense of sadness when the story comes to its conclusion.
And encouraging this type of reading is so essential.
So, it’s unsurprising that many children are eager to delve deep into the world of wizardry, especially if they’ve already seen the amazing movie adaptations. But make no mistake, these books are long - if you don’t know what is the longest Harry Potter book, strap in!
Plus, they often contain sensitive material.
This begs the question of what age or grade are these types of books appropriate for. Well, in this article, we’re going to take a closer look at the entire series and when your little ones should start to attempt to read them.
Many ask us how many Harry Potter books are there, and the answer is a lot. Take a look for yourself!
Just in case you somehow have missed the worldwide phenomenon that is Harry Potter, let’s look at a few things you’ll need to know about the series.
The debut novel starts with the main character Harry Potter being 11 years old and he progresses with age through each of the seven books until he is 17.
With each new novel, the books become longer, a little more difficult to read, and the themes generally become darker and potentially scary for certain age groups.
The series is written at a Lexile level of 870L. Essentially what this means is that it is recommended for those in the 8th grade or above. With this being said, though, reading levels can be specific to the individual and so it may be accessible for some younger learners who are more advanced or may still be a little difficult for those who struggle with reading.
While on the surface these books contain a whimsical and magical theme, there are some themes that may not be appropriate for all ages. There are elements of darkness and death along with some violent scenes and some creepy creatures that may frighten certain age groups.
Okay, so we’ll explain each book in the series in a little more detail later on in this article. But below you’ll find a quick overview of the recommended ages for each of the different books.
Since the books are generally aimed at the ages of 8 to 12, there shouldn’t be many issues with actually reading the books. The language used is often easily understandable and with the help of parents, it is more than accessible.
The only main reason that children of a younger age are not recommended to read these novels is simply the content within them.
Some themes are relatively mature. Below we’ll detail what you can expect in terms of content to ensure that these books are the right choice for your child.
Either way, the question of what genre is Harry Potter is unequivocal - fantasy! Plus, your little one might also be interested in the Fantastic Beasts books, which are connected to Harry Potter.
*Spoilers Ahead*
Overall, the Harry Potter series is a great story that really encourages younger children to find a love and passion for reading. In terms of their reading difficulty, they are fairly accessible for most children aged 8 and above.
However, it should be a specific decision based on the individual child. The major deciding factor for letting your children read these novels is essentially their maturity or ability to understand difficult or darker themes.
Some fairly young children can process these relatively easily, especially with family support for any questions that they may have. But for others, they may need to be a little older to truly understand the significance of what is happening.
Oh, and if you’re seeking books like Harry Potter for adults, then you’re in the right place. We’re the same here!
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