Harry Potter works his magic on teens

Philadelphia Inquirer
Alfred Lubrano
July 14, 2005

The record breaking success of the sixth installment of the Harry Potter series may be due to the protagonist’s penchant for questioning authority and making up his own mind—something that many of today’s teenagers relate to and respect. In the new book, Harry Potter is said to be 16 years old—an age when many youths begin to dis-identify with both mainstream culture and their parents, according to JBMTI psychologist Cate Dooley of the Wellesley Centers for Women. “They become jaded about who their parents are. And if they’re not their parents, then who are they?” Around ages 15 and 16, adolescents are moving toward adulthood but are hesitant to let go of childhood completely, she added. “They read Harry Potter when they were younger, and so have pretty strong roots in the books, which pull them back toward the days before the realities of school, stress, and responsibilities set in.”  Read more

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