Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

The fifth book in the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is told from the viewpoint of the now fifteen-year-old Harry.

This is possibly the darkest book in the Harry Potter series. Surprisingly, perhaps, it is not the return of Voldemort and his Death Eaters that give this book its power, for in fact they do very little during this year. Its grimness is the multiplicity of enemies facing Harry, as the Ministry of Magic, headed by Cornelius Fudge, has also set itself against Harry and Dumbledore. Additionally, Harry must deal with a new nemesis and possibly the series' most hated character, Dolores Umbridge, a petty Ministry bureaucrat.

Apart from the usual magic, events at Hogwarts School, and the frustrating Dursleys, this book includes the resurrection of the Order of the Phoenix, a group dedicated to Lord Voldemort's downfall, and Voldemort openly returning. Darker and more mature than the preceding entries in the series, this book shows Harry coping with loss and dealing with adversity, while growing in maturity and ability.

While the book appears daunting at 766 pages (Bloomsbury / Raincoast edition), it is set in somewhat larger type than the first three volumes. If set in the same type as Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, it would be 655 pages (approximately) to 223 for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. At this, though, it is still the largest of the seven volumes.

Book Highlights

New places visited: Grimmauld Place, the Ministry of Magic, St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, The Room of Requirement
Defence Against the Dark Arts teachers: Dolores Umbridge (official teacher), Harry Potter (Dumbledore’s Army teacher)
Title refers to: The Order of the Phoenix, Fawkes the Phoenix