Nothing's hotter than Harry Potter

Readers here eagerly await the fourth book, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - all 752 pages of it.

By ALINE MENDELSOHN

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 3, 2000

For about two months this year, 13-year-old Harry Hai Hoang and Harry Potter were inseparable.

Wherever the St. Petersburg boy, who goes to John Hopkins Middle School, went, the three books about the boy who goes to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry went. He read every chance he could -- in the car, during extra time at school, before bed. Sometimes, late at night, he would sneak a flashlight under the covers to read one more chapter.

Needless to say, the real Harry is eagerly awaiting Saturday's release of the newest installment about the wizard Harry, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

So is the rest of the world. For months, secrecy has surrounded the much-hyped fourth book in the series, and until last week, when the British press got warehouse workers to spill the beans, even the title was under wraps.

Though it hasn't even been released, the book is already making retailers smile. Online bookstore Amazon.com took advance orders, and as of Friday, more than 278,000 had been sold. According to Amazon officials, the highest presold book previous to this Potter book was John Grisham's The Brethren, which sold 43,000 copies ahead of release.

With this kind of popularity, it's no wonder area booksellers have been caught up in the craze, figuring ways to get around the publisher's strict ban on reading the book before Saturday. Many bookstores are planning to stay open late Friday so they can sell the books at 12:01 Saturday morning. Most Barnes and Noble and Borders stores are hosting special late-night events.

Because Amazon's books are being shipped to arrive in customers' homes on Saturday, the company hired extra guards to watch the padlocked cases until shipping. Only certain employees are allowed to handle the books, and even they must sign in and out.

All this hype for the $25.95 book is pleasing some adults, who might normally be appalled at such oversell directed toward children.

"This is wonderful," says Janice Fletcher, child services manager at the Largo Library. "Kids are getting the message that TV is fun and video games are fun and the Internet is fun -- but so is reading."

As proof, local libraries are already clogged with Harry Potter requests. Hillsborough County libraries have ordered at least 80 copies of the book, significantly more than most new releases. Almost 400 people have signed on to the waiting list. Other libraries are buying fewer books -- Largo has ordered five; Clearwater 25.

Children's serial books have long been popular; librarians list Nancy Drew, The Boxcar Children, Little House on the Prairie and Goosebumps as some of the most beloved children's reading of all time.

Still, librarians report that Harry Potter has far surpassed these titles in popularity. The first three volumes have been on the New York Times Bestseller List for 119 weeks combined. So why is Harry so hot with young and adult readers alike?

Some say it's Harry Potter himself. A sympathetic character, the book's hero is an orphan who faces the wrath of his mean aunt and uncle.

"He grabs your heart," said Corey Bennett, senior youth specialist at Tampa's Northwest Regional Branch.

Others are captivated by the adventure and action in the story line. Marcee Challener, public service manager for Hillsborough County Libraries, noted the classic clashing of good vs. evil.

"It's like being in a house of mirrors; you never know what you're going to see around the corner," she says.

Younger readers explain the appeal more simply: "It's a good story," says 12-year-old Amber Powell, who will be in the seventh grade at Tyrone Middle School in St. Petersburg. "I like how everything is described and how Harry has an imagination about everything."

Each of the books has been longer than the previous one and written at a higher difficulty level than standard juvenile literature. The Web site http://www.lexile.com has a system of ranking books according to difficulty. Many Stephen King novels written for adults are listed almost on the same level as Harry Potter books.

Length is another unique element: The newest book is 752 pages long.

"If they like reading, then the pages aren't daunting," says Fletcher of the Largo library.

Dru Brooks reports similar findings. A teacher at Lealman Discovery School, Brooks reads Harry Potter aloud to her students and says the books hold the attention of her learning disabled students. She sometimes even "bribes" her students with Harry: For example, if they complete a task successfully, she might reward them with an extra chapter.

Like her students, Brooks' 11-year-old daughter has been caught up in the craze. But she doesn't devour the books all at once; she reads only a few chapters a night so she can save some for the next day.

"After she finished reading the books, she was so sad because it was over," Brooks says.

With the newest book's arrival, will there be a fight between mom and daughter over who gets it first? Brooks says she'll let her daughter have dibs (though the second her daughter finishes it will be hers).

Clearly, these books aren't just for kids. In fact, many of the most passionate Potter-philes are adults such as Fletcher. Before she learned that the book has the same release date worldwide, Fletcher begged her son in England to send her a British edition.

Bennett, of the Northwest Regional Branch Library in Tampa, knows exactly what she will be doing this weekend: She has taken the day off from work and marked July 8 on her calendar as Harry Potter day. Bennett has instructed her daughter and husband to leave her in her room, with the book and a cup of tea as her only companions.

She does not intend to leave her bedroom until she finishes the book.

Wild about Harry

This weekend the Tampa Bay Area will be buzzing with celebrations for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Here is a sampling of the festivities:

Brandon

Barnes & Noble, 122 Brandon TownCenter: Store reopens at midnight Friday for a Harry Potter release party, with employees dressed as book characters.

Clearwater

Barnes & Noble, 23654 U.S. 19 N (at Sunset Point Road): Store will reopen at midnight Friday for a Harry Potter release party, with employees dressed as book characters.

St. Petersburg

Barnes & Noble, 2501 Tyrone Blvd. N: 9 p.m. Friday Merry Magician, 10 p.m. costume contest, 11 p.m. countdown begins, books sold beginning at midnight.

Borders, 6901 22nd Ave. N: 11 p.m. Friday, wand-making; books will be sold from midnight to 1 a.m.; 8 a.m. Saturday, store reopens.

Haslam's Book Store Inc., 2025 Central Ave.: Saturday, first 75 customers receive free Harry Potter pin. Tampa

Barnes & Noble, 213 N Dale Mabry Highway: Store reopens at midnight, when books will be sold. There will be a drawing for unabridged audiocassettes of the first three titles.

Borders, 909 N Dale Mabry Highway: 8 a.m. Saturday, pancake breakfast; book will be 40 percent off. Breakfast is free to customers who purchase the book.

Borders, 12500 N Dale Mabry Highway: 3 p.m. Saturday, costume contest, crafts, refreshments.

Inkwood Books, 216 S Armenia Ave.: Store reopens at midnight Friday with a drawing for Harry T-shirt and cap. Golden snitch doughnut holes with wings will be served; store reopens at 7 a.m. Saturday.

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