Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's StoneHarry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Score Modern
What it's about
Harry Potter has spent ten years sleeping in the cupboard under the stairs of his cruel aunt and uncle's house when a letter arrives that changes everything: he's a wizard, and he has a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. There he finds friends in Ron and Hermione, discovers that he's famous for surviving an attack by the dark wizard Voldemort as a baby, and starts to suspect that something is being hidden in the school.
Why it's worth reading
It's the book that turned a generation into readers, and it's still pure magic: funny, warm, inventive and with a mystery that keeps you turning pages. The world it builds has become part of how millions of people grew up.
You'll love it if you liked
The Hobbit
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
The Hunger GamesGood to know
It's published in the US as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. It's the shortest and gentlest of the seven books, which grow darker and longer as Harry grows up.
By the numbers
- Readers99 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics84 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller98 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #1 of the 219 young adult books we rank
- #1 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #1 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #2 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous
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Quick answers
Is Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone worth reading?
Yes. It's the book that turned a generation into readers, and it's still pure magic: funny, warm, inventive and with a mystery that keeps you turning pages. It ranks #2 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 96.8 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone about?
Harry Potter has spent ten years sleeping in the cupboard under the stairs of his cruel aunt and uncle's house when a letter arrives that changes everything: he's a wizard, and he has a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. There he finds friends in Ron and Hermione, discovers that he's famous for surviving an attack by the dark wizard Voldemort as a baby, and starts to suspect that something is being hidden in the school.
How long does it take to read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone?
About 8 hours (309 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone won?
Hugo Award winner (2001, for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire).
What should I read after Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone?
If you liked it, try The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis or The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.