Originally Published: July 8, 2000

By: J.K. Rowling

It’s Harry Potter’s third year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry and this year his problems start before he even gets to school.

When mass murderer Sirius Black breaks out of the high-security wizard prison, Azkaban, rumors swirl that he is out to get Harry. As the year goes on, Harry and his friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger soon learn that not everyone and everything is what it seems.

Possibly the best book in the series, the Prisoner of Azkaban introduces readers to several new characters and magic that remain important through the end. There’s even more mystery and darkness in this novel, which is interesting as it’s one of the books that deals least with dark wizard Lord Voldemort.

Final say: Rowling writes with such passion and flair, you’ll wish that you could see inside her head. ★★★★★