REVIEW BY ELIZABETH WEINTZ

J. K. Rowling's third masterpiece, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban , is just as exciting and action-packed as the first two. I personally think that this is the best so far. The book is guaranteed to make you read nonstop from beginning to end (but you may want to slow down and say the "S" names out loud: Severus Snape, Sirius Black, Scabbers, and Slytherin).

It's another year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and that means another year of trouble. Hagrid the Gamekeeper has a terrific surprise for Harry and his friends. But a lot of surprises at Hogwarts aren't so pleasant, like the escape of Sirius Black, the most dangerous prisoner of the most dreadful prison in all of the wizarding world. Everyone thinks Black is following Harry to Hogwarts. Using his cloak of invisibility and a new magic map, Harry solves another mystery with the help of his old friends and a new teacher.

Ron Weasley and Scabbers the rat have problems of their own. Brainy Hermione hardly has time to help; she's taking so many subjects in school that she has to figure out how to be two places at once -- SERIOUSLY!

Fortunately, major magic comes from Professor R.J. Lupin, the new teacher of Defense against the Dark Arts.

This book has so many strange creatures and people, astonishing secrets, twists and turns, that you can never predict what's going to happen. I'm glad Rowling is planning to write seven Harry Potter books. The jacket art is great, and I like having them on my bookshelf.

Special Thanks: Bookpage