Book/series: Harry Potter
Author: J.K. Rowling
Banned for: Magic, setting a "bad example", "darker stuff."
Lessons Taught: Everyone has good in them, anyone can make a difference, too many to count.
Rating: Ten of ten stars. I will be honest with you; I am a Potterhead. I love Harry Potter. But I'm a huge nerd, so let's ignore that and get on with the case.

I first read Harry Potter when I was about eight, after being urged to by none other than my mother, an avid reader, and my father, a not-so-avid reader. I remember my mother reading parts of the first book to me when I was a baby in need of bedtime stories, so of course I would see a parent marking this book as "off-limits" a bit odd. However, when you look at it, it's only too easy to see why. Books like Harry Potter- that is to say, books with magic- are often thought of by churches as unacceptable. I could write a whole post on why this is a load of rubbish, and I probably will, but this is just a defense for Harry Potter, not books everywhere.

Harry Potter tells the story of a boy whose parents died when he was only a year old. They were killed by a powerful dark wizard called Lord Voldemort, but when he tried to kill him too, Voldemort's own curse bounced back and he (supposedly) died. Harry is sent to live with his Muggle (non-magical) family in a bland neighborhood. He grows up living a horrible life, but on his eleventh birthday, he discovers he is a wizard and that he'll be attending a special school for children with magical abilities. Over the course of the books, Harry goes to school, makes friends, and deals with the struggles of of adapting to a new world and getting his homework done on time. Also, the evil Voldemort returns and Harry also has to deal with the fact that he's the only one who can defeat him.

The magic in the books is not necessarily "of the devil," but could in fact be seen as a representation of "gifts" we are all born with. Harry, and other magical children, go to school to learn how to safely use these gifts. Whether they end up using them for good or bad is entirely up to them. Many kids that read Harry Potter will come away saying "I want to be a witch/wizard!" but, having read an entire series about someone who uses their powers for good, they will want to do the same. And I would like to point out that, in holy scriptures, the most prominent users of magic are not villains- rather, they are those who follow God. Jesus, Samson, and Moses are just a few examples. But they all chose to use these gifts for what they thought was right. Jesus encountered Satan at one point, who tried to tempt him, but Jesus stayed good, just like Harry Potter does over the course of the series.

The main villain, Voldemort, induces fear in everyone, even his own followers. For this reason, barely anyone calls him by his chosen name, and he is usually referred to as You-Know-Who, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, and (to his followers) the Dark Lord. His followers can "summon" him by pressing a tattoo branded into their arm. He punishes them if they fail, and if they succeed, he rarely rewards them. That's why it is my opinion that Voldemort is as a villain, more or less, a representation of the Devil. Because of his failed attempt to kill him, Harry Potter shares many similarities with Voldemort, but he defies Voldemort's mark- literal mark, as he scarred Harry with a lightning bolt- and makes his own path towards good. The main "father figure" of the novel is Albus Dumbledore, who is seen as the most powerful wizard in the world. He always seems to know everything that is going on, is willing to help anyone who asks (or sometimes, doesn't ask) for it, and can see the good in everyone. Voldemort sees Dumbledore as an annoyance that cares too much about minorities, with too good a heart and too many powers to be simply crushed under his boots. In the fifth book, the two meet in person and duel, which shows the reader that the two are more or less black-and-white, polar opposites and, essentially, enemies. And, with Dumbledore's snow-white hair and flowing beard, it isn't too hard to see how he might be a representation of an angel or even God.

So, overall, I'd say the magic in Harry Potter isn't something to hide from, as the battle between the good wizards and bad wizards in this book is more-or-less a battle between those who follow the villain (the Devil) and those who follow the Harry (the savior) and Dumbledore (the angel or possibly God). Many other characters come in as well, all of them very real. Harry has to cope with many losses, but we also see the struggle between inner good and bad, not necessarily in him, but in characters like Severus Snape, Draco Malfoy, and Peter Pettigrew.

Next, setting a "bad example." Harry and his friends break a lot of rules over the course of the series, though the majority of them are simple things like sneaking out after dark and stealing potion ingredients. The usually break these rules for "the greater good," and because they think they are doing what's right and are trying their best to help people they care about. If you take a "the end justifies the means" approach, then I would say that their rule breaking can be excused. Two of Harry's friends, Fred and George Weasley, are pranksters but are also friendly. In the seventh book, Harry and his friends become fugitives because they're working against Voldemort. Overall, I'd say their rule breaking can be excused. No one is ever put in danger unless they're a "bad guy." Sometimes they do put themselves in danger as well, but that is typically for the safety of others.

Finally, the "darker stuff." In later Harry Potter books, and even at some instances in the earlier ones, there are scenes that could be taken as frightening. Many people, good and bad, die. But the darkness in these books is just an example of how dark the real world can get. But I finished the books when I was nine, and I don't remember being scared. Rather, I was thrilled. I was too caught up in the conflicts and the characters to care about giants and dragons and Death Eaters (Voldemort's followers). The deaths, rather than scare me, saddened me.

In conclusion: I'd say Harry Potter is a great book for kids. It teaches kids to do right and rebel against forces of the dark, and that friendship and love are more powerful than any evil. It may scare children, but not too badly, and their hearts will stay in the right places. If anything, they'll be more inclined to do good.

Should Harry Potter be banned? No.