Response: Potter 'not suitable for children'
 

Mairéad Scannell first wrote an article (which we reported on here) in the Irish Examiner, claiming Harry Potter was 'not suitable for children'.

Now Orlaith Ní Challanáin has written an article in response to her harsh words, defending the novel series.

It's nice to see that common sense still exists in the world ;)

The article contains this statement;

"As for the magic, it is obviously complete fiction."

I couldn't agree more.

Source: HPANA

she's just weird...

WELL! Glad to see they'll print a balanced response which, might I and, sounds less like a senseless rant than the article she's responding to.

Well, she's strange.

Glad to see that there was a response to that crazy article!

i love hp books, and its right when they say it keeps children away from the tv, it keeps me away from the tv, need i say more!:yes:

Couldn't have said it better myself....

Agreed. Real magic is nothing like in the Books or Movies (Although some times I wish I could wave a wand and say Scorgify and have my apartment cleaned).
Anyway, I'm glad there was a response to this. The things that were said in the original article were half-truths at best and conclusions that were completely ridiculous. I'm glad to see that there are some intelegent people still writing articles.

i agree!! i used to hate reading untill i picked up harry potter :flower:

I totally agree with her. It's nice to see a thinking person between those ignorant ones.

There is clever people in the world, among us. :)

Harry Potter is so suitable for childern! Why not? I mean children can't really read a book like HP(not that they can't but its too big) and the movies aren't R rated. its stupid! My parents never let me watch or read HP untill i turned 14 they thought it had Dark Magic and stuff and because of our religion but now my parents like HP. Whats her good reason for saying that HP is not suitable for children!!!

I think this whole thing is a bit much. Chill out it's a book Harry Potter is not going to start a new world order or make a kid more creative.

I think that HP books are good for children for the same reasons the original author said it wasn't. It helps children understand concepts such as death and cruelty -- so that they know how to handle death and be courageous against cruelty.

I think that this original author is taking the phrase "protect the children" way too literally -- without realizing that too much protection will be harmful for the children.

^yes couldnt agree better

It's nice to see more people publicly speaking up against close-minded goons.

yea really!

I agree. ;)

hm...interesting

*Sigh* it's irratating when people just jump to the conclusion that Harry Potter is evil because it contains magic. I have said it before and I will say it again, the magic is mearly a novelty, nothing more then a backdrop, to bring forwards the story of how powerful love is, and how qualities like loyalty and bravery are to be appriecieted in society. Why does anything that becomes remotly popular people have to stab at without looking beyond the obvious? Simply to get some much wanted attention no doubt.
It was a good reply and I hope that common sense finally gets to some people. We, here, are arguably some of the most dedicated fans, and are we all making potions and spells like crackpots? No, we are enjoying the story. And if we're not that crazy then casual readers arn't either. And if the original author of that article didn't relise that then I think she isn't giving children enough credit, the question is who has more common sense?

im glad that she defends HP, there's nothing wrong with the magic or imagination. it does motivate kids to read, my younger brother finally picked up a HP book. granted, it was GoF and he was totally confused (so idk if he's still trying to read it) but hey, he tried at least :P

Glad to see someone supporting our lovely Jo!!

Too many people try to argue against her and it's all a load of rubbish - finally someone's stuck up for what we've been saying all along!

Nice to see there are some people who still have common sense and can see how wonderful the HP books are - hooray!

i think HP is good for kids it makes them read

How could someone say such horrible things about Harry Potter. I mean it's Harry Potter for crying out loud. Saying that it's perverted or has sexual inuendos IS ridiculous. Whoever wrote the response to the article ROX MY SOX.

Hp Rules!!

I agree as well.

i know what you mean heehee ^_^

It actually does have innuendos and connotations, but that's besides the point.

Glad to see that there was a response to such a ridiculous artical. There are small inuindos but that's just what they are. Alot of kids probably wouldn't pick up on it. As for saying that it's perverted well the one's that say HP is perverted are the ones with dangerously perverted minds.

^ Exactly, that's why HP is for all ages. The kids have fun with the magic and the heroism of it all and we see the real context, the literature, the foreshadowings, inneundo's and connotations. It's fun and, more importantly, good, for everyone.

Exactly Emma, it's not like the sexual conatations of the Chamber are sitting out there for the whole world to see. They are hidden indepthly in the background and connections need to be made to other events in the novel. There is nothing wrong with that, authors have been doing that for thousands of years, infact apparently magic was around in Shakespeare's work! And they teach that in catholic schools! And they have been for hundreds of years! And if someone says that Macbeth or Romeo and Juliet don't contain sexual conatations then they are kidding theirselves.
It isn't at all perverted, it is mearly an example of the depth of literiture and you have to be pretty immature to not see that.

i totally agree... at least we aren't lazing aroung watching tv... and also it does teach us aboutove etc etc... oh well we can't satisfy everyone can we?

i hope that woman takes all this into perspective before making such harsh accusations

why would someone say that HP is not suitable for children.
HP RULES :)

Well duh! I am a Catholic and I love HP because I have enough common sense to know that magic isn't real.
Um no it wasn't aimed at children. J.K. said herself that it wasn't aimed for kids. Its for I say about 11 or 12 and up...

haa joke of the year.

Well you guys must admit that the movies seem to get more and more scary. (And the acting just gets better) I myself (I'm 25) got scared when I saw The Chamber of secrets, when Harry try to escape the Basilisk:dragon:

And when I read The goblet of fire, I could feel the creepy crawly feeling down my back, when Voldmort got his new body. :rip: That got to be kinda scary to see on the big movie screen. (But we will have to wait and see in november 2005) I don't think I want small children seeing that. But I guess at the age of 9 or 10 would be oaky, if they see it together with an adult. At least if they see it in the movies:-)

I think it is great that the books both appeals to children and adult, not many authors have achieved that. You go girl!!! Our favorite all time writter: J. K. Rowling.
I actually read on www.mugglenet.com that she might write another book after book no 7. About Harry and friends growing up. But nothing is for sure, she might write a completly different story.

She said she'd only write an epilogue which would not be a novel at all.

all righty thennnnnnnnnnnnnnnn