Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban film was released in 2004 and it is the sequel to Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. J.K.Rowling’s novel was published on July 8, 1999, in the United Kingdom by Bloomsbury. Scholastic Inc. published it in the United States on September 8, 1999, two months after the release in the UK. In the UK, it sold 68,000 copies in the first three days of release and since has sold over three million copies in the country. The first book in the series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, took five years to complete writing, while the second, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, took two years for Rowling. But the writer said “this book, The Prisoner of Azkaban, was quite easy to write, taking only a year to finish”. It won several awards, including the 1999 Whitbread Children’s Book Award, the Bram Stoker Award, and the 2000 Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel. The book was made into a major motion picture in 2004, ranking number one in the box office for its first two weeks in theaters. Many different editions were printed, including hardcovers, adult editions with a different cover than the original, and a Celebratory Edition, with a blue and purple border around the book.

Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban is about Harry’s 3rd year at Hogwarts. Along with friends Ron and Hermione, Harry investigates the case of Sirius Black, an escaped prisoner from Azkaban, the wizard prison. Sirius Black is believed to be one of Voldemort’s allies, and he is the only wizard ever to escape Azkaban, so he is definitely powerful. Harry Potter then overhears that Sirius Black wants to kill him.

This book is really interesting. Ron and Hermione fall in love for the first time and Neville finally finds the courage to stand up to Lord Voldemort. In a memorable moment, Harry Potter flies on a Hippogriff, which is a hybrid between a horse and eagle. In another part, The Prisoner of Azkaban goes from fantasy to sci-fi, because of time travel, where Harry goes back in time to save himself.