Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

Kara Lynn Anderson writes, “What is most in need of study is how children and teenagers think and feel about just this: a book which they made popular, which is not dismissed as just ‘kid's stuff,’ but that their parents and teachers enjoy as much as they do.” Considering Anderson’s point, what makes a book good? Is the criteria the same for children, teenagers, and adults?

Teaching Suggestion: This discussion invites students into the world of reviewing a novel, offering them a chance to evaluate its qualities and express their opinions before and while reading. It might be helpful to create a list of good qualities, then post it as resource students can refer to and review as they read the book throughout the unit.

• "Harry Potter and the Susceptible Child Audience" by Anderson - article analyzing the role of children in reading and advocating for literature they like
• Short video by The Atlantic with different perspectives on what makes a great story

Short Activity