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NOVEMBER 19, 2003 at 3:37 PM
Posted by GRAE
Source: USA Today via The Leaky Cauldron
Harry Potter intimidating? More than a few younger readers might scoff at the idea as they race through their copy of Order of the Phoenix for the umpteenth time, but Richard Allington, an education professor at the University of Florida in Gainesville, thinks it's an entirely different story
for struggling readers.
It appeals to kids who already read well or who are lucky enough to have a parent or teacher read it to them. "I don't know that Harry Potter is capturing many of those 15- and 16-year-olds reading at a fifth- or sixth-grade level," he says.
For struggling readers, the series can be intimidating. It's written at about seventh-grade level, beyond many middle-schoolers. And at 870 pages for the latest book, that's akin to the average adult reading The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire for fun.
"For some reason, we've got this screwed-up notion that hard reading is good" for kids, says Allington. "But hard reading is hard, and nobody likes to do it all the time."
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Head Girl
Points: 434
Tippytoes says:
Am I first to post? I guess it would be hard for struggling readers but the book worth reading. My little brother is in elementary 5th or 6th grade and some students have already gone through the HP series. It was fun for them.
Posted Nov 19, 2003 at 3:47 PM EST
Witch
Points: 518
analisa <3 says:
Hmm, yeah I guess I can understand why some teens cannot read the Harry Potter series ... Around where I live, most teens have trouble reading or don't read at all.
Posted Nov 19, 2003 at 3:51 PM EST
Witch
Points: 697
kaela987 says:
I don't agree with Allingten when he said he didn't think the book appealed to many 15 and 16 year olds... I think it appeals just as much! My friends and I have all read it and love it! And all my friends in college have read it too, and they are all just as obsessed!
Posted Nov 19, 2003 at 3:57 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 361
Dracofan1987 says:
I find it to be a easy book, but it is rather long.
Posted Nov 19, 2003 at 4:00 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1660
siriusgyal says:
I think the books are easy to read, but people might think it's too long. That why i'm buying the audio tapes.
Posted Nov 19, 2003 at 4:13 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1227
Prongs150 says:
I didn't even consider that there were difficult words in the book, but I guess that's because I don't look for them. He may have a point though. Reading can be very tough if you didn't learn how to do it correctly. And it can be intimidating to be hearing rave reviews about a series and then seeing that the books start out at three hundred pages and end up at nearly nine hundred, for someone that can't read properly. I'm just glad that I get the chance to enjoy them.
Posted Nov 19, 2003 at 4:16 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2773
Professor Grubbly-Plank says:
Any book can be intimidating if it is written above your reading level. But it can also be a good way to stretch your vocabulary and get on level.
Posted Nov 19, 2003 at 4:19 PM EST
Points: 3950
CowsOJMilkSoil says:
I can understand how these books can be intimidating. I mean I have trouble pronouncing some of the names of characters in the book. Thats why I think its really great that there are audio books avaliable for the series.
Posted Nov 19, 2003 at 4:24 PM EST
Witch
Points: 851
ConstantVigilance12 says:
Yeah, I suppose it would be hard for some people to read. Especially if they were young or slightly behind in reading levels. It was relatively easy for me to read, I read it in 2 days! :D Of course, I hardly slept or ate, it took away from reading the book. There are people in my school that aren't very good readers, but there are a lot of people in the honors classes also, I'm one of them. :)
Posted Nov 19, 2003 at 4:30 PM EST
Witch
Points: 833
hplover731 says:
I can understand where he's coming from. I know I don't have any trouble reading HP :) or think it's intimidating but that doesn't mean ther're aren't people who feel that way.
Posted Nov 19, 2003 at 4:38 PM EST
Headmaster
(Moderator)
Cheeser says:
I find it ironic that USA Today, which writes at the 8th grade reading level, did a story on teens having trouble reading. It's nothing to laugh at, though. I remember hearing a rumor about some 9th grader turning in an entire paper riddled with "chatspeak", and when questioned by his teacher, didn't think there was anything wrong with the writing.
Now, when chatting, even I use chatspeak, but HPANA's filters don't even allow them in these comments, because if you have the chance to write something out, and think about it properly, there's no reason for it. Even JK Rowling despises chatspeak.
Posted Nov 19, 2003 at 4:55 PM EST
Chief Magic Investigator
Points: 4910
EagleOwl says:
Okay...so the series might be intimidating to some people. Does that mean that JKR should dumb down her books, just in case some people don't get it? I guess I'm still trying to figure out what point Allington is trying to make here. Sure, to a 15 or 16 year old kid who is reading at a fifth grade level, the books are going to be tough for them to read. My 7 year old doesn't understand all of the words in the HP books either, but I started reading the first book to him when he was in kindergarten. Yeah, I have to explain some things, but that's how you learn. The way to gain reading proficiency is to, well, READ.
I feel bad for the kids who have trouble reading, who are not fortunate enough to have parents who read to them when they are young. Every child should be read to on a regular basis, but sadly, for some, it doesn't happen. They probably do feel like they are missing out, when there is so much enthusiasm for Harry Potter out there. I would think that that would be motivation for wanting to read the books though, even if it's not an "easy" read. I still commend JKR for writing what she does- there may be plenty of kids out there for whom the books helped boost their reading proficiency because they weren't dumbed down.
Posted Nov 19, 2003 at 5:03 PM EST
Crookshanks Caretaker
Points: 3837
hermionefan1 says:
ok, first of all i don't agree with the article. My reason...well if a 15 or 16 year old at a reading level of 5th or 6th can't read Harry Potter, then they obviously can't read certain other books. Why is this article targeting HP? There are other books out there that are just as long or maybe not even as long, but with a higher reading level maybe. So if they want to say kids have a hard time reading at lower levels, then they should point out several other books too. I have ADD and that didn't stop me from reading any of the HP books. Thats just my opinion on the subject.
Posted Nov 19, 2003 at 5:18 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1092
quidditch_queen says:
I think that the books are easy to read too. I read them in spanish, i just read OotP in english and it wasn't SO hard.
Posted Nov 19, 2003 at 5:23 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1155
AFawkes05 says:
I love reading the HP books and even though I am always rereading them, I usualy try to set aside some time to read the classics. J/K definitely helped me get into it because she takes a lot of her info from classic lit. (hello macbeth and the wicked song!) I get a kick out of reading a book and finding something in it that I have heard in a more recent book or movie. It's all about knowing the originals.
educate yourself *grin*
Posted Nov 19, 2003 at 5:34 PM EST
Keeper of Harry's Fate
Points: 9051
TheOneWhoMustBeNamed says:
I see some merit to the agrument that it is intimidating. My daughter is 7 and she really, really wants to read the books. She is not quite there yet. However, a simple work around was that I bought the CD books and she reads along with the book as she can or simply listens too it when it gets too hard. This way she has been able to enjoy the book and visualize.
So like the others above pointed out, you can still enjoy each and every word even if you can't read it.
By the way, there are two English versions available - the American version by Jim Dale or the British Version by Stephen Fry. I like the version by Stephen Fry best. Americans can get the British version through the UK version of Amazon.com
Posted Nov 19, 2003 at 5:35 PM EST
Witch
Points: 955
kab240 says:
The people who can't understand these books, also can't understand other books, this is nothing new. Yeah, it's too bad they have a lower reading level, but it's probably becuase they never read, there are sooo many people in my school that were surprised at how fast I read through Oop (though it was insulting when they thought it was my first time reading it....) which does not have anything to do with their reading level, it has to do with how much they read, which tends to reflect on their reading level. Now there are people who just have a disability, and we pray for them!
Posted Nov 19, 2003 at 5:35 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 603
Padfoot7 says:
If there are 16 year-olds reading at a fifth grade level, they have way more problems than not being able to comprehend ootp.
Posted Nov 19, 2003 at 5:41 PM EST
Points: 927
ChelCho says:
It's a good thing, though, that such an interesting book is a little challenging. I say this because after one who is having trouble reading finishes it, they can feel a sense of accomplishment and they have just had the chance to read a really great piece of literature.
Posted Nov 19, 2003 at 5:52 PM EST
Squib
Points: 166
Kathryn Leblanc says:
I also am at a loss here. Why on earth is he making this point at all? Reading levels are dropping, yes, what does that have to do with Harry Potter, when the evidence shows that these books have increased the reading volume of kids around the world and single-handedly revitalized the young adult market? As a writer myself, I must say that writing down to your audience is the fastest way to lose them. If these kids can't read at their own grade level that is a problem, but it isn't JKR's problem.
Posted Nov 19, 2003 at 6:05 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
(Moderator)
Points: 1217
shadowlife says:
Yeah the book is definitely wrong and maybe it will give the not so good readers something to work for.
Posted Nov 19, 2003 at 6:06 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1068
Penumbra says:
Well I don't find the article shocking I do agree this book is more adult and mature and implies a more grown-up vocabulary. Good native speakers will do just fine. Some of the non native may have problems. It is a difficult and very detailed and I loved it. Challenge and maturity is great!
Posted Nov 19, 2003 at 6:22 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2162
Callie07 says:
yeah I understand why some kids and teens have trouble reading, but whats the adults problems saying stuff like I don't understand is whole meaning etc.
Posted Nov 19, 2003 at 6:28 PM EST
Student
Points: 223
dreamngirl24_7 says:
I'm 19 and like the book... does that mean I'm degrating my reading level. I know kids who improved their reading level because of this series.
Posted Nov 19, 2003 at 6:29 PM EST
High Inquisitor
Points: 23488
KT Lady says:
Hmph...well I like to do it all the time! l.o.l I guess he's right though. For me, I find the books very easy to read because I have always been extremely advanced in my reading levels. But Ive never thought of it that way before...
Posted Nov 19, 2003 at 6:33 PM EST
Werewolf
(Moderator)
Points: 5479
MoonyDawn says:
They have a point, It is hard for some readers. My son has always had trouble reading. I read the first two books to him (which got me addicted). The third we read together, and now he is reading the forth on his own. He is in fith grade and for the first time reading on grade level!!:) Thank you JKR!!! If it wasn't something he is really interested in he wouldn't bother challengeng himself.
Posted Nov 19, 2003 at 6:48 PM EST
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