My favorite book growing up was definitely Harry Potter Book 1, The Sorcerer's Stone. It is the ultimate children's book; containing mystery, adventure, and intrigue. I remember being five years old when I first read the book. I was only five, so eventually my mom had to take over and read much of the book to me. However, as soon as I could, I read The Sorcerer's Stone over and over again. In fact, I loved the book so much that I read it seventeen times in one year. All I cared about was reading that one book over and over and over again! I read it in two hours, nine hours, a week, whatever it took to read that book. Of course I read the other books that were out at a similar quantity and rate, but The Sorcerer's Stone is the one that I remember most because it is the first in the series.

             I enjoyed this book so much because I wanted to be Harry. I wanted to be Harry so badly that I sent myself letters on July 31st claiming my acceptance to Hogwarts for at least 3 years in a row. He is such a perfect character, a massive underdog who all of a sudden becomes the most famous person in the world. He gets into adventures and never showed fear. He saves lives and killed monsters, all while learning complicated magic at the coolest school ever imagined. In years to come, I would want to be Harry still, but the desire has diminished asymptotically.