World language teacher Shayne Thompson is reading “Harry Potter y la Piedra Filosofal,” commonly known by its English name, “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” by J.K. Rowling. She first read the Harry Potter series 15 years ago and loves re-reading these popular novels.

“It’s just an amazing world,” Thompson said. “It’s got action and excitement and romance.”

Harry Potter is about a young boy who receives a letter from Hogwarts, inviting him to attend their wizarding school. At Hogwarts, he learns to overcome real-life obstacles and other strange situations that come with the magic school.

The Harry Potter series is Thompson’s favorite series. “I do like to read in Spanish a lot,” Thompson said. “It keeps my skills fresh, and it always increases my vocabulary.”

J.K. Rowling started off writing as a hobby while working different jobs. After the first Harry Potter novel was published, she became a teacher and is most well-known for writing the Harry Potter series, which has seven books. However, she has also published “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” which was made into a movie trilogy. 

“Every time you read it, you’re at a different point in your life,” Thompson said. “You’re going to draw different things from the book.”

“Harry Potter y la Piedra Filosofal” teaches readers not to take people at face value. Characters in the novel are not always who they seem to be, just like in real life. It is easy to put a label on someone before you get to know them, but Rowling proves that it is important to have an open mind when it comes to meeting and understanding strangers.

“It reminds you that different people have different perspectives and not to take people at face value,” Thompson said.