I also grew up with Harry Potter and was a big fan. I don't have kids, but I would use the books as a way to begin a conversation about JKR's attack on trans views and how they largely contradict the message of the books. I think not allowing kids to read books because of issues is a form of censorship, however, I would also be reluctant to buy new copies.
As an adult I noticed some things which I either didn't see as a kid or frustrated me, without being able to name why. An example would be the epilogue, or rather, an interview where JKR said Luna would have twin boys later in life. I heavily identified with Luna at the time and that seemed totally incongruous to me - not that it's necessarily a bad choice, but why did EVERY character have to settle down and have children? There was also some line about unicorns being more trusting of girls because they're innately purer or something.
Thanks so much for reading and sharing your experience, Sophie! I think that would be a great conversation starter with adults as well, actually, how JKR's views largely contradict the message of her books. Well said.
Exactly, I know there were a lot of trans people who loved the line 'it doesn't matter who someone is born, it's who they grow up to be' (paraphrased) and now are totally let down by the author.
Thanks so much for sharing your take, Sophie! I agree the epilogue was tepid at best and agree I didn't appreciate how formulaic everyone's ending was.
I think when you read back the stories as an adult, you see a lot of themes that make you aghast. I mentioned in the article that Harry Potter feels present-day but it's still very much a product of the late 90s/early 2000s.
I just remembered another thing. In Book 7, there was a big deal about how the Sorting hat was too simplistic and there was a scene with everyone sitting together....so then why is it still being used when Harry's kids go to school?
I also noticed that everyone in Slytherin was nasty in some way and, in general, the characters who were nasty but intelligent were beautiful but with a kind of cruel edge, but those who were nasty and 'stupid' were ugly.
It really bothered me how in Book 7 none of the Slytherins joined the resistance. So they are not ambitious, cunning, and resourceful people, they're just destined to be evil bad guys with zero nuance. That felt like wasted opportunity, but given what we know now, I guess I shouldn't be too surprised.
Thanks for this thoughtful take, and thanks to Rey Katz, also. For me, the good vs. evil storyline in the books is still powerful, even though the author is so hugely problematic. I like your plan not to buy anything new to enrich the author.
Thanks so much for reading and sharing, Mary! I agree that at least parts of the story are powerful and compelling. I think that's one of the reasons there's a huge fanfiction universe for Harry Potter. The story resonates with a lot of us, but I completely agree with not buying anything new from the author.
I kind of wish we didn't know so much about authors. I feel like maybe if JKR didn't have this huge online platform maybe she wouldn't have fallen down this hateful rabbit hole she's in (or not doubled down as hard), but maybe that's wishful thinking. Anyway, my children are still too young but I think I fall into the second camp. I'm thankful that my favourite children's author (Diana Wynne Jones) has as far as I know avoided any really appalling opinions, which isn't to say that I don't notice any problematic elements in her books now.
DWJ has such a good reputation (at least that I know of). I don't know why JKR couldn't have just gone ahead and enjoyed her riches quietly; maybe write another book or two. Absolutely no need for her to do any of this.
I adore DWJ and her books, and, I would flag that many of her early works are quite fatphobic! Also some of her writing of characters of colour early on is well-meaning but has aged poorly. I think this is a product of her writing mainly between the 70s and 90s as a white British woman. And a fat person who I think wasn't comfortable with herself.
Regardless, she never headed up any hate group and I think she was pretty supportive of queer people. The Chrestomanci books are so so good, and I'd also put in a vote for the Dalemark Quartet which is fabulous high fantasy.
Thank you, Nina! I clearly need to revisit the books and update my comments accordingly! And I also need to read the Dalemark Quartet. Adding to my neverending reading list :D
Nothing wrong with your original comment! I highly recommend her myself. Just, you know, reading older kid's books with young people, you gotta keep your eyes peeled a little bit. No book is perfect, and the point isn't ideological purity. I think she's great as part of a varied kidlit diet
I’ve fully divested. I don’t even want to consume the media I already own. She’s made clear that she believes people who still consume her work know about and agree with her views, and she’s actively using her tremendous power to harm trans people in tangible ways. And I played on a quidditch team in college and used to listen to wizard rock. I will be directing my kids towards Young Wizards by Diane Duane, which are not only tremendously powerful and ethics focused, but I also am a huge fan of the way the author lives her values.
I can separate the art from the artist for someone like Orson Scott Card: shittily anti-queer way back when, but I as a queer kid felt supported by his stories, and he’s not particularly powerful or influential, but I won’t buy anything new even though I feel comfy revisiting what I already own.
Thank you for recommending Young Wizards! And I completely understand your take. Honestly, I think it's easy to say you fall into one camp or the other but I think, especially if you fall in the fully divested camp, *just* how heartbreaking and disappointing it is when something you loved so much is so ruined.
Truly! It was part of my identity for a long time. But it breaks my heart to see family I’ve spoken to about the harms continuing to support it simply because they like it. There’s so much wonderful media out there in the world without this baggage and when we know better we do better
Sri, thank you so much for sharing my words and writing such a wonderful, thoughtful post. It is an honor to coloIlaborate with you. I really appreciate you!
Thank you and Rey so much for this convo! I don’t have HP age kids yet but this has been heavy on my mind as well and you both offer some really helpful insights and advice about how to approach it both personally as a millennial HP fan and how to (or not to) introduce it to our kids. Thanks for sharing!
I also grew up with Harry Potter and was a big fan. I don't have kids, but I would use the books as a way to begin a conversation about JKR's attack on trans views and how they largely contradict the message of the books. I think not allowing kids to read books because of issues is a form of censorship, however, I would also be reluctant to buy new copies.
As an adult I noticed some things which I either didn't see as a kid or frustrated me, without being able to name why. An example would be the epilogue, or rather, an interview where JKR said Luna would have twin boys later in life. I heavily identified with Luna at the time and that seemed totally incongruous to me - not that it's necessarily a bad choice, but why did EVERY character have to settle down and have children? There was also some line about unicorns being more trusting of girls because they're innately purer or something.
Thanks so much for reading and sharing your experience, Sophie! I think that would be a great conversation starter with adults as well, actually, how JKR's views largely contradict the message of her books. Well said.
Exactly, I know there were a lot of trans people who loved the line 'it doesn't matter who someone is born, it's who they grow up to be' (paraphrased) and now are totally let down by the author.
Thanks so much for sharing your take, Sophie! I agree the epilogue was tepid at best and agree I didn't appreciate how formulaic everyone's ending was.
I think when you read back the stories as an adult, you see a lot of themes that make you aghast. I mentioned in the article that Harry Potter feels present-day but it's still very much a product of the late 90s/early 2000s.
I just remembered another thing. In Book 7, there was a big deal about how the Sorting hat was too simplistic and there was a scene with everyone sitting together....so then why is it still being used when Harry's kids go to school?
I also noticed that everyone in Slytherin was nasty in some way and, in general, the characters who were nasty but intelligent were beautiful but with a kind of cruel edge, but those who were nasty and 'stupid' were ugly.
It really bothered me how in Book 7 none of the Slytherins joined the resistance. So they are not ambitious, cunning, and resourceful people, they're just destined to be evil bad guys with zero nuance. That felt like wasted opportunity, but given what we know now, I guess I shouldn't be too surprised.
100%. That has always stuck with me... how simplistic it was. Slytherin = evil and it's such a lack of imagination (ironically!).
Thanks for this thoughtful take, and thanks to Rey Katz, also. For me, the good vs. evil storyline in the books is still powerful, even though the author is so hugely problematic. I like your plan not to buy anything new to enrich the author.
Yes, the plot is still very powerful and effective! I've also always enjoyed the lore of the Harry Potter universe.
Thanks so much for reading and sharing, Mary! I agree that at least parts of the story are powerful and compelling. I think that's one of the reasons there's a huge fanfiction universe for Harry Potter. The story resonates with a lot of us, but I completely agree with not buying anything new from the author.
I kind of wish we didn't know so much about authors. I feel like maybe if JKR didn't have this huge online platform maybe she wouldn't have fallen down this hateful rabbit hole she's in (or not doubled down as hard), but maybe that's wishful thinking. Anyway, my children are still too young but I think I fall into the second camp. I'm thankful that my favourite children's author (Diana Wynne Jones) has as far as I know avoided any really appalling opinions, which isn't to say that I don't notice any problematic elements in her books now.
DWJ has such a good reputation (at least that I know of). I don't know why JKR couldn't have just gone ahead and enjoyed her riches quietly; maybe write another book or two. Absolutely no need for her to do any of this.
I adore DWJ and her books, and, I would flag that many of her early works are quite fatphobic! Also some of her writing of characters of colour early on is well-meaning but has aged poorly. I think this is a product of her writing mainly between the 70s and 90s as a white British woman. And a fat person who I think wasn't comfortable with herself.
Regardless, she never headed up any hate group and I think she was pretty supportive of queer people. The Chrestomanci books are so so good, and I'd also put in a vote for the Dalemark Quartet which is fabulous high fantasy.
Thank you, Nina! I clearly need to revisit the books and update my comments accordingly! And I also need to read the Dalemark Quartet. Adding to my neverending reading list :D
Nothing wrong with your original comment! I highly recommend her myself. Just, you know, reading older kid's books with young people, you gotta keep your eyes peeled a little bit. No book is perfect, and the point isn't ideological purity. I think she's great as part of a varied kidlit diet
I’ve fully divested. I don’t even want to consume the media I already own. She’s made clear that she believes people who still consume her work know about and agree with her views, and she’s actively using her tremendous power to harm trans people in tangible ways. And I played on a quidditch team in college and used to listen to wizard rock. I will be directing my kids towards Young Wizards by Diane Duane, which are not only tremendously powerful and ethics focused, but I also am a huge fan of the way the author lives her values.
I can separate the art from the artist for someone like Orson Scott Card: shittily anti-queer way back when, but I as a queer kid felt supported by his stories, and he’s not particularly powerful or influential, but I won’t buy anything new even though I feel comfy revisiting what I already own.
Thank you for recommending Young Wizards! And I completely understand your take. Honestly, I think it's easy to say you fall into one camp or the other but I think, especially if you fall in the fully divested camp, *just* how heartbreaking and disappointing it is when something you loved so much is so ruined.
Truly! It was part of my identity for a long time. But it breaks my heart to see family I’ve spoken to about the harms continuing to support it simply because they like it. There’s so much wonderful media out there in the world without this baggage and when we know better we do better
Sri, thank you so much for sharing my words and writing such a wonderful, thoughtful post. It is an honor to coloIlaborate with you. I really appreciate you!
Thank YOU for being so open to answering all my questions. I’ve so enjoyed getting to work with you!
Thank you and Rey so much for this convo! I don’t have HP age kids yet but this has been heavy on my mind as well and you both offer some really helpful insights and advice about how to approach it both personally as a millennial HP fan and how to (or not to) introduce it to our kids. Thanks for sharing!