Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling

Here is the summary from the back:

“Harry Potter has never been the star of a Quidditch team, scoring points while riding a broom far above the ground. He knows no spells, has never helped to hatch a dragon, and has never worn a cloak of invisibility.

“All he knows is a miserable life with the Durselys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley — a great big swollen spoiled bully. Harry’s room is a tiny closet at the foot of the stairs, and he hasn’t had a birthday party in eleven years.

“But all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger: a letter with an invitation to an incredible place that Harry — and anyone who reads about him — will find unforgettable.

“For it’s there that he finds not only friends, aerial sports, and magic in everything from classes to meals, but a great destiny that’s been waiting for him… if Harry can survive the encounter.”

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Reflection:

Sorcerer’s Stone was a surprise gift from my mom when I was about 11. She heard about it being a popular kids book and thought I might like it. At the time, I was not a big reader. I could read and I was reading at a high school level but I was more interested in playing outside with my friends than books. I even decided to use the book for a report at school and completely BS’d my way through it. I had a brilliant system of reading a little of the beginning, a little of the middle, and the final chapter of the book to cover the summary part of the book report. I didn’t truly read the book until I was 12.

I’m not sure what made me read it. I think it was because I was grounded and bored. It could have been the class trips at the end of 6th grade to the public library. I can only shrug my shoulders to the reason. All I know is that once I forced myself to read beyond the first chapter, I loved it!

The rest is history.