“Are the Harry Potter books worthy of sustained scholarly attention? Yes, and then some, argues John Granger. ‘Serious’ thinkers who shun Harry Potter are denying themselves a serious intellectual and scholarly challenge. Christian thinkers who eschew the Potter series because they find it grates on their theology miss the opportunity to take up once again the daunting question of evil. Wisdom often comes through the eyes and thoughts of children and, in this case, ‘children’s books.’”
JEAN BETHKE ELSHTAIN
Professor of social and political ethics, the University of Chicago
Author of Just War against Terror: The Burden of American Power in a Violent World
“John Granger’s thorough knowledge of classical literature, combined with a beguiling writing style, makes this study of Harry Potter’s hidden themes not only enjoyable but persuasive. Parents will find here a useful tool, and any Christian curious about Harry will find much to think about.”
FREDERICA MATHEWES-GREEN
Columnist for Beliefnet.com and author of The Illumined Heart: The Ancient Christian Path of Transformation
“John Granger calls upon his gifts as a classicist, a student of Scripture and Christian literature, a teacher, a parent, and a detective to answer the question, Why are the Harry Potter books so popular? He develops a thorough case that the Harry Potter books are essentially Christian fantasy, and their popularity can be attributed to human longing for the Christian truths that hide just beneath the surface of the stories. Mr. Granger presents a preponderance of evidence from the text itself, translates advanced literary concepts with ease, and addresses sensitive issues with forthrightness and clarity. Christians who love the Harry Potter books will love them more; Christians who oppose them will have a lot to think about.”
CARRIE BIRMINGHAM, PH.D.
Pepperdine University
“John Granger has emerged in recent years as one of the most important voices in the literature concerning J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series. How Harry Cast His Spell offers Granger at his most accessible and compelling. His careful analysis provides an exceptional guide to the content and meaning of the Harry Potter novels, as well as practical suggestions on how to approach the books in a meaningful way with children. Those who know and love the Harry Potter series will find that this volume adds a new dimension to their understanding and reading enjoyment. Those who are new to or undecided about the series will gain a great appreciation for what Rowling accomplishes in her novels and for the larger religious tradition that informs her stories. Granger writes with clarity and conviction, and his work is both a joy and an education for the reader. All of those interested in the ways that fiction and faith intersect owe it to themselves to read this book.”
AMY H. STURGIS, PH.D.
Liberal Studies Program, Belmont University
Author of various books and articles, including “Harry Potter is a Hobbit: Rowling’s Hogwarts, Tolkien’s Fairy-Stories, and the Question of Readership”
“No one puts the case for Harry Potter better than John Granger. This book is full of wisdom and insight. . . . The Potter books are much deeper, and a great deal more wholesome, than the critics realize. If Granger is right, J. K. Rowling is writing in the same tradition as the Inklings. Probably millions of Rowling fans knew it all along, but even longtime readers of Harry Potter will find their appreciation deepened by this eye-opening analysis.”
STRATFORD CALDECOTT
Author of Secret Fire: The Spiritual Vision of J. R. R. Tolkien
“John Granger says a ‘Great Book’ must do three things: (1) ask the big questions about life, (2) answer the questions correctly (in harmony with Christian tradition), and (3) support the answers artistically. According to these guidelines, the Harry Potter books can be celebrated as great fiction. Granger’s engaging application of literature, language, and the logic of Christian belief in his book How Harry Cast His Spell may likewise be celebrated as great commentary. Readers will discover in these chapters the essential truth of J. K. Rowling’s fictional world —that Love conquers all, even death!”
ROBERT TREXLER
Editor, CSL: The Bulletin of the New York C. S. Lewis Society
“Joanne Rowling is the greatest international ‘smuggler’ in history. She is smuggling thousands of pages of Christian theology into the hearts and minds of millions of people, both young and old. John Granger’s book leaves no doubt whatsoever that this is the case. Will Ms. Rowling be unhappy that John has let the cat out of the bag?”
DON HOLMES
Retired Christian bookstore owner and distributor