When I was a kid, I looked forward to summer because I could join the reading program at our local library (nerd alert!). I have never been a competitive person per se, but reading was a sport to me at that age. Bring on the stickers and ribbons! I have no doubt that the roots of my love for creative writing were planted in the kids section of the tiny library across the street from where I grew up.

For me, there is something about the way a library smells. I have very strong associations with that distinguishable scent from my childhood and college libraries. And there is nothing like the sound and sight of pages in old books that crinkle with joy when released from their moldy confines in the library graveyards of forgotten shelves on the lower floors.

That is why, as much as I love modern technology, it makes me sad to realize that the Internet lures far more young eyes than actual libraries these days.

But the bright light in the big picture is that little man with the rimmed glasses and lightning bolt scar on his forehead. Harry Potter has, quite simply, reinvigorated the desire to read books, worldwide. 325 MILLION books, to be exact. That is how many copies of author J.K. Rowling’s seven Harry Potter books have sold thus far. They have been translated into 65 different languages. And the first five movie adaptations have become the highest grossing film series of all time ($4.3 BILLION).

Harry Potter is a phenomenon like no other. But I can honestly say that I have no desire to read the books. Fantasty is just not my genre, although I do appreciate the enthusiasm for the series and have seen all but the latest film.

So this weekend, while surrounded by nieces and nephews, I decided to investigate how they first got into Harry Potter, and why they are so passionate about the books and movies. Below are excerpts from their interviews, along with their parents.

To start, here is a summary of the entire series, as told by 8-to-16 year olds:

“Harry Potter is about a young boy of eleven who is suddenly thrust into a world of magic. He does very dangerous challenges and is forced to take classes that he hates. He devotes his life to defeating the dark Lord Voldemort, who murdered his parents and other people he was close to. Each book throws new obstacles into his path, such as dragons, happiness-sucking Dementors and the occasional romantic relationship.”

* Warning: Minor spoilers below for all books before Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

SAMANTHA, 11

“I like Harry Potter because J.K. Rowling is a good writer and she is really detailed; she describes everything really well. The only thing I don’t like about all of the books is that Rowling doesn’t make Harry dark enough; it’s hard to picture him defeating Voldemort because he thinks about using the spells but doesn’t actually use them.

My favorite book is the Goblet of Fire, because stuff happens in the middle. I didn’t like the Order of the Phoenix because Professor Umbridge is really mean to Harry.

My favorite character is Fleur Delacour. She goes to a different magical school called Beauxbatons Academy. She’s really pretty. I also like Sirius Black, because he’s funny and cool. He always wants to fill Harry in on everything when everyone else says he’s too young. I also like Remus Lupin because he’s a werewolf; he always looks ill during a full moon, but he’s a smart person.

The movies aren’t that great, but they do a good job with how the characters look…except for Hermione. The books are better.”

KIERAN, 12

“I love Harry Potter because of the magic, and how they fight each other. I like the Goblet of Fire because that’s the first real battle between Voldemort and Harry. Voldemort is evil; I like him the best.”

MAX, 8 (pictured above, securing his copy of the Deathly Hallows last month)

“I got into Harry Potter because my babysitter started reading it me when I was five and a half. Then I started reading it on my own, and then I started reading it with my Dad. I like how Rowling introduced the characters, like Hagrid. He is so big but barges through the little hut.  

I like that the series has a lot of action in it, especially the movies. The movies take parts out of the books and replace them with really good stuff that they don’t have in the books. I like Harry the best because it’s all about him and most of the time, the camera is on him in the movies.

The Deathly Hallows is very grim, but it’s my favorite so far.”

JOHN, 14

“My sister read the first book, and said it was good. I usually read whatever my sister says is good. I like how J.K. Rowling made characters that were really believable in the fictional sense, and how she keeps using them continuously throughout the books.

The Order of the Phoenix is my favorite because the students rebel against Professor Umbridge. I like how they have a government that goes wrong, because it reflects actual real life events.

My favorite characters are Luna and Tonks. Luna is very spacey and really crazy. She is very friendly but she dresses weird and is different from other people. It’s cool. Tonks is clumsy like I am, and she can change her appearance at will.”

MAGGIE, 16

“I remember that my parents would read us a chapter after we did the dishes. They read us the first three books. We would do the dishes as fast as we could to get to Harry Potter. Rowling just does such a great job with all the characters, how real they are. She keeps their storylines straight. She created a whole world inside these books. Harry Potter was the first fantasy series that I read, and then I devoured all sci-fi fantasy series' after that.

The Goblet of Fire and the Deathly Hallows are my favorites. I don’t really like the movies, because the acting isn’t very good. And you can never include everything that she has in the books.

My favorite character is Ron, because of his one-liners.”

MIKE, 40

“I think it’s a great story, in that she’s written the series not just for kids, but adults. There are adult themes as well. After the first book, I found myself caring about the characters. I’ve read a lot of fantasy and she really incorporated a lot of universal themes that went beyond fantasy. Especially the last three books, which captured a lot of emotions that 13-16 year old boys identify with.

I like Rowling’s personal story, that she wrote the whole book on legal paper and now she’s the first author who’s a billionaire. I really like the Deathly Hallows. As far as characters, I like Hermione because she’s the smartest person in the room.”

MICHELLE, 40

“We bought the first book for the kids. Then we got the books on tape, and the guy who voices them is awesome. We’d listen to them on 9 hour road trips and we’d all be silent, listening. They’re engrossing; once you start, you’re there. You can see everything.

The movies have done a good job bringing to life what I’ve had in my head. Even for characters that I pictured differently in the book, they do such a good job with the movies that I now picture them as the actors when I’m reading. What’s great is that Rowling got kids reading again.”

EILEEN, 39

“I was a junior high school teacher at the time, and among the kids there was a buzz about the first book. It was kind of my duty to read them at first. But there is believability about the books. The whole Muggles side. You feel like you’re a part of it, even though you know in your logical mind that it’s fantasy.

I love the Deathly Hallows because Rowling pulled out all of the stops and brought it all together. I have a lot of respect for how she stayed strong all the way to the end. She honored to the story and consistency, and gave it a great finish. It would be hard to be disappointed with how she wrapped it.

I love the Weasley twins. If I had had brothers, I would have wanted them. They seem like they are so much fun.”

JOHN, 38

“I was teaching sixth grade when I first read Harry Potter. I was unimpressed with the first book. It wasn’t better or worse than anything else out there. But in the Chamber of Secrets, she took elements from that first book and made it better. The Prisoner of Azkiban was just good because it was darker than the others. It proved that Rowling had a back story to go on.

Ron Weasley is my hero. He is the quintessential best friend; he supports and trusts Harry. And he is second fiddle to his best friend, who is famous in that world.”

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So why do YOU love or hate Harry Potter?