Harry Potter

I have decided to reread the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling. Rather than give you my thoughts on the one I am currently on right now (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire), I have decided to discuss the first four books as a whole. I have read these books once at eight years old, once at eleven years old, and now. Each time I have read it, I have found new connections, new ideas, and new meaning.
Rowling starts with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. This book is painfully cheesy in a way than can only be compared to Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. Although the rest of the series is impossibly entwined, Sorcerer's Stone seems to have no real purpose other than to introduce a few characters. The next book, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, doesn't really improve a whole lot in a cheesiness sense, although we do see an aura of "don't be cocky" with Lockhart and a true horcrux. We are even introduced to Lord Voldemort. 
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is not cheesy at all and has true value. Sirius plays a role of innocence and integrity that never disappears. We learn truth. We learn to find out for ourselves what truly happened instead of taking the word of everyone else. 
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is long and a bit dull at times, but overall is quite good. We see examples of distrust being a gift, for the world is not often inherently kind. We find ourselves staring at first glimpses of death. Death we could not prevent. We watch those who care about the boy who died mourn, and we cannot help but mourn as well. 
People may say, “They’re just books,” but they’re wrong. They are so much more than books. And I haven’t even touched the last three.