Race, Justice, and Difference in the Wizarding World
Starred review from November 1, 2022
In this timely edited collection, Dahlen and Thomas assemble a tapestry of scholarship that brings a much-needed critical lens to the long-standing issues of discrimination and harm in the "Harry Potter" series. In the introduction, the editors anchor the collection in the contemporary moment, acknowledging COVID-19 and the impact J.K. Rowling's anti-trans stance has had on them as scholars and fans. But Dahlen and Thomas have curated a text that will serve teachers and researchers far beyond this moment: the essays in this collection offer broad perspectives on topics of race, gender, gender identity, and justice in the Wizarding World. For instance, three of the selections center around the theme of #BlackHermione. Each entry is readable and worth returning to and sharing. The inclusion of fan studies and acknowledgement of the multiple ways in which readers have reframed their relationships with the series is worth noting. This is a text that will have many applications for teachers, researchers, librarians, and critical readers. VERDICT A superb and necessary collection. Purchase and share this stellar collection with all the Potterheads in your library.-Jen McConnel
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