One Sentence Summary
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: The Illustrated Edition (Book 3) is an intricately-illustrated fantasy adventure novel by Mr. Jim Kay, that explores the magical realm of Hogwarts and its inhabitants.
Book Genre
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is a fantasy adventure novel.
Main Topic of the Book
The main topic of this book is the magical world of Hogwarts and the adventures of Harry Potter in particular.
Key Ideas
The key ideas explored in this book include:
- The power of friendship, as Harry, Ron and Hermione battle against dangerous forces with their own brand of courage and loyalty.
- The desolation of defeat, as the main characters face seemingly insurmountable odds and must rely on ones faith and courage to prevail.
- The importance of family, as Harry is forced to confront and face his own family’s dark secrets.
- The power of belief, as characters search for meaning and purpose amidst a universe of chaos.
Main Parts of the Book and a Short Summary
The novel Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: The Illustrated Edition (Book 3) is divided into seventeen illustrated chapters. It follows the young wizard Harry Potter, as he leaves his unhappy home life to begin his second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Throughout his journey, Harry must come to terms with the past events of his family’s legacy, as dark forces arise to try and take over Hogwarts.
- Chapter One: Owl Post – Harry sets out for his magical Hogwarts journey, as he is being watched by an unwanted follower.
- Chapter Two: Aunt Marge’s Big Mistake – Harry gets into an argument with his aunt Marge and accidentally makes her inflate like a balloon.
- Chapter Three: The Knight Bus – Harry jumps onto the Knight Bus, a magical bus for wizards, and meets the conductor.
- Chapter Four: The Leaky Cauldron – Harry visits the Leaky Cauldron, a pub frequented by wizards, to find out that the prison of Azkaban is searching for Sirius Black, an escaped convict and Death Eater.
- Chapter Five: The Dementor – Harry takes the Hogwarts Express but meets a Dementor, a dark creature which sucks out all happiness, aboard the train.
- Chapter Six: Talons and Tea Leaves – Harry, Ron and Hermione attend Professor Trelawney’s Divination class, where they learn how to look into the future.
- Chapter Seven: The Boggart in the Wardrobe – Harry and his friends attend their first Defence Against the Dark Arts class, where they encounter a Boggart which takes the form of their worst fears.
- Chapter Eight: Flight of the Fat Lady – After a near-death experience, Harry confronts the Fat Lady, who guards the entrance to Gryffindor Tower.
- Chapter Nine: Grim Defeat – After losing a Quidditch match to Slytherin, Harry unravels a mystery involving a magical Marauder’s Map and a mysterious creature called the Grim.
- Chapter Ten: The Marauder’s Map – Harry and his friends find out that the Marauder’s Map was created by James Potter, Lily Evans and Sirius Black.
- Chapter Eleven: The Firebolt – Harry receives a Firebolt broomstick from an anonymous person, which helps him in rescuing Sirius Black.
- Chapter Twelve: The Patronus – Harry learns to conjure a Patronus, an incorporeal animal guardian, to protect himself and his friends from Dementors.
- Chapter Thirteen: Gryffindor vs. Ravenclaw – Harry and his team face off against Ravenclaw in the Quidditch finals.
- Chapter Fourteen: Snape’s Grudge – Harry is nearly killed by the giant three-headed dog when they visit Hagrid’s hut.
- Chapter Fifteen: Aragog – Hagrid reveals that he keeps a giant spider called Aragog in the Forbidden Forest.
- Chapter Sixteen: The Plan – Harry and his friends discover Sirius Black is being held prisoner in the Shrieking Shack and plan to rescue him.
- Chapter Seventeen: Cat, Rat and Dog – Harry and his friends set off to rescue Sirius Black but are intercepted by Professor Snape. They escape with the help of Harry’s patronus but find out that Sirius has already escaped.
Key Takeaways
- Friendship is a powerful force, capable of overcoming many obstacles.
- Belief can be a source of strength in dark times.
- It is important to confront one’s family’s dark secrets.
- Sometimes, being brave can mean doing what one must, even when the odds are against you.
Author’s Background and Qualifications
Mr. Jim Kay is an award-winning illustrator, whose work has been featured in publications such as The Guardian and The Independent. He has received the Kate Greenaway Medal in 2012, for the book A Monster Calls. He is also the illustrator in charge of the Illustrated Edition of the Harry Potter series.
Target Audience
The target audience for this book is primarily children aged 8 and above, although adults may also appreciate its intricately-illustrated characters and settings.
Publisher and First Publication Date
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: The Illustrated Edition (Book 3) was first published in 2015 by Bloomsbury Children’s Books.