Readers are in for a delightful romp with this award-winning debut from a British author who dances in the footsteps of P.L. Travers and Roald Dahl. As the story opens, mysterious goings on ruffle the self-satisfied suburban world of the Dursleys, culminating in a trio of strangers depositing the Dursley’s infant nephew Harry in a basket on their doorstep.
J. K. Rowling's imaginary world abounds in glittering mystery, nail-biting suspense, and colorful images. At the same time, the series is hardly groundbreaking: its basic premise comes right out of "Cinderella," key scenes allude to an array of children's literature and its clever language echoes Roald Dahl's. Most importantly, Harry Potter resonate with gender stereotypes of the worst sort; as Christine Schoefer argues in her review of the series, "From the beginning it is boys and men, who catch our attention by dominating the scenes and determining the action."