by Alexis Whaley

Created on: August 04, 2009

Many writers have criticized J.K. Rowling for her grammar and technical writing skills, claiming that they were weak. Others felt, as her books got longer and longer, that she was not being edited enough, or that she and her publisher were rushing to publication and not taking good care with the writing. And yet, the immense popularity of all of the Harry Potter books not only did not wane, but grew with each new book.

J.K. Rowling created a story that captivated millions of people. Her wizarding world is imaginative, fascinating, and fun; the characters are beloved, and many people identify with them. The adventures are suspenseful and exciting. The cliffhangers at the end of the chapters make it nearly impossible to put the book down, even to eat or sleep. It is a phenomenon unseen in children's book publishing before.

Even if her writing is not perfect, it barely matters, because the story is so compelling that the words just vanish from the page as the story unfolds in the reader's mind. The descriptions are vivid and grounded in detail so that it is easy to imagine the settings and the action.

The success of the Harry Potter books turned children's publishing upside down. Rowling broke many rules that had been set in stone for decades: kids will not read novels longer than 250 pages, characters must not die, description must be minimal, there cannot be too many characters, children will not stick with a long series, and people will not buy that many hardcovers. Children's publishers are now a bit more open to books that are original and do not follow the mold, and are actively looking for the next big thing. This will result in more variety and choices among newly published books, always a good thing.

Rowling's books have had a profound effect on millions of children. Her younger readers now have an experience with reading that was positive, exciting, entertaining, and thought-provoking. Their love of the characters and books will be fondly remembered throughout their lives, most likely encourage them to read more than they may have, and possibly to write their own stories as well.

And the Harry Potter books are not just fluffy action-filled entertainment. Behind all of the action are themes about good and evil, fighting for what you believe in, tolerance, prejudice, love, friendship, creating your own family, doing what you love, the value of education and skill development, sacrifice, and being true to yourself. Truly, Rowling deserves acclaim and respect.

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