A Parent's Guide to Harry Potter

Gina Burkart

Sep 2009 · InterVarsity Press

About this ebook

Harry Potter has captivated the imagination of millions of children. And Harry Potter has caused controversy in churches and schools. What's a parent to do with the magical, mystical world of Harry and his friends? Gina Burkart chose to read the books with her own children. As they read together, she discovered many parallels between Christian faith and the themes of these books. Indeed, the escapades of Harry Potter sparked significant conversation between Burkart and her kids. In this helpful, entertaining guide, Burkart shows how Harry Potter fits into the tradition of fairy tale writing and how this type of literature aids in building a moral framework. She highlights specific situations and emotions from Harry's world that children face in their own life, such as fear, anger, bullies, diversity and the choice of good over evil. Instead of magic words or easy answers, Burkart offers solid, practical advice for helping parents and children navigate Harry Potter's world--and our own--together.

About the author

Dr. Gina Burkart is the Learning Specialist at Clarke University where she directs the Learning Center and teaches College Study Strategy and English courses. Prior to her work at Clarke, she worked as an Assistant Professor of English at Saginaw Valley State University and as the coordinator of the Reading and Learning Center at the University of Northern Iowa, where she also taught English courses for over 11 years. Her research focuses on first-year students, post-secondary literacy and retention. She is the author of A Parent s Guide to Harry Potter (2005, InterVarsity Press), Finding Purpose in Narnia: A Journey with Prince Caspian (2008, Paulist Press, and Finding Meaning in Narnia: A Voyage on the Dawn Treader (2010, Nimble Books, 16 Weeks to College Success (2014, Kendall Hunt Publishing). She has been interviewed nationally and frequently presents about using literature such as Harry Potter and Narnia to nurture Christian values and to foster inter-generational connections. She is featured on About.com for her work with Harry Potter and Christian Teens. She is also a frequent writer for Crosswalk.com.

Connie Neal (B.A. in Communication, Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA) is an author and speaker who is an expert on the intersection of Christianity and pop culture. She is widely known for her books What's a Christian to Do with Harry Potter? (Waterbrook Press), featured in Newsweek, Christian Parenting Today and Today's Christian Woman; and The Gospel According to Harry Potter (Westminster John Knox Press)--featured in Entertainment Weekly and Time magazine. Walking Tall in Babylon: Raising Children to Be Godly and Wise in a Perilous World (Waterbrook Press) was published in 2004. Some of her other books are Holding on to Heaven While Your Husband Goes Through Hell, Holding on to Heaven While Your Friend Goes Through Hell, Spiritual Renewal Bible, A Joy I'd Never Known (coauthored with Jan Dravecky), The Worth of a Man (coauthored with Dave Dravecky), The Kids' Devotional Bible, Dancing in the Arms of God, and The Life Recovery Bible.