To understand why the topic of Harry Potter 6 in the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling was the hottest topic of 2004 and continues to be just as hot in 2005, you need to understand just how many people are interested in the books, particularly the sixth book, “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.” Consider the following information from Scholastic, the American publisher of the Harry Potter series:
- More than a quarter of a billion Harry Potter books have been sold.
- The books are available in 61 language and more than 200 countries.
- In America, there are close to 80 million books in print.
- While originally published as children’s books, the books have also proven to be just as appealing to adults.
Then, consider the popularity of the series on the Internet:
- According to the Daily Telegraph in London, J.K. Rowling’s website, which came online in late spring 2004, attracted 220 million visits in its first eight weeks.
- A December 2004 Google Web search for “Harry Potter” produced 13,100,000 links.
- A December 2004 Google search for “Harry Potter 6” generated 9,430,000 links.
Remember also that the Harry Potter series is not without controversy.
- The Harry Potter series is #2 on the American Library Association’s most recent (2003) list of the ten most frequently challenged books. It was challenged “for its focus on wizardry and magic.”
- According to the ALA, “A challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict materials, based upon the objections of a person or group.” (See Harry Potter: The Censorship Battles for more information.)
Finally, look at the public’s response to the December 21, 2004 release of the publication date of Harry Potter 6, “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.”
- Although Harry Potter 6 won’t be published until July 16, 2005, Amazon and other booksellers report that presales have already made it #1 on their bestsellers lists.
- Note also that Harry Potter 6 will be published simultaneously in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and in other English speaking areas throughout the world.
Is it any wonder then that chat rooms, forums, websites, and discussion groups have sprung up to try to determine what will happen in “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” and that both children and adults are eagerly awaiting Harry Potter 6? To learn more about the book, see my article “
Harry Potter Book Six: Just Rumors or Facts?” If you’d like to join a discussion about “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” here are several topics now being discussed on the About Children’s Books Forum:
Who is the Half Blood Prince?,
Harry Potter 6 – Your Predictions?, and
Who will/should die in Harry Potter 6?
