Amazing how such mediocre material can be so commercially successful. Too many comic book mentality people out there, huh? Two-dimensional reading for two-dimensional personalities would explain it.
But if it were not for the fascination with the occult the HP series communicates, it would hardly be worth commenting on.
Check out the news today. There's a high school boy whose mother is a wiccan priestess, divorced. Her son was "so sad" she says, until he started wearing his black lipstick and red mohawk and red eye/cheek makeup. The school wants him to stop this dress-up thing, but he's expressing himself, he says. The ACLU chimes in saying it's infringing on his rights. The boy says that all the girls in his school wear makeup, so if he has to stop, so should they.
Anyone wonder if he likes Harry Potter? I'll bet his mother thinks it's real fine stuff: makes her occupation more respectable, see?
Good heavens, Mrs. Meade. Remember yourself!
My family's helping me fly back home for the next book because we read them aloud together. We also read Bible stories together. Thing is, we know the difference between real and make-believe because my parents carefully taught us what was right and what was wrong from day one. My brothers have all figured out that magic isn't real, after all, no matter how many times they jump off the roof on a broomstick, they haven't managed to fly yet.
I saw a picture of that poor soul with the revolting makeup on. His visage cries out for "School Uniforms" and dress codes. Big time.
When I was in high school (early 60s) boys could not wear tee shirts or jeans, and girls had to wear skirts not above the knee, and of course no pants or shorts.
School uniforms would be a good start. Some might think it's a bandaid, but even bandaids help.