Thanks, J.K.

Dear Ms. Rowling,

Thank you for writing your series.

Our daughter, Al, just got in from seeing the last filmed installment of your series. She moves through another rite of passage when she hits 16 in August.

Last night, we were home base for the posse she runs with. Both boys and girls showed up at our place to get ready to be the first in line at the local multiplex. It felt like prom night, with parents dropping kids off.  It wasn’t gowns and tuxes, but plaid pleated skirts, wands and cloaks.

We took the pictures of the whole crew on the back deck, just like when Al’s two older brothers would come by with their prom dates.  There was something really formal and fun about the whole thing. 

My wife and I were front-end chauffeurs, taking this fully-dressed crew to the multiplex in two cars. When we arrived at the cinema, Aisha, one of Al’s buddies, had already secured the first spot in line. Aisha was so hyped to make it first that she and her two sisters passed on our photo-op and were the only ones sitting there at 6 p.m. to get in.  The management had roped off the line for theater 13 as the primary location – I guess someone has a real sense of humor over there.

In a few minutes other kids were stepping in line behind them.  In no time they had a blanket spread out in front of the building and were in full chatter mode. 

We got a few more pics and then my wife and I took off for an evening with another couple. After our evening ended, we stopped by the movie on the way home around 11 p.m.

Aisha was right to be there first. The line snaked around the building on both sides – pretty impressive for a 24-screen theater. Everyone was still waiting for the doors to open for the midnight show.

The sight brought back something from my rites of passage – sitting out in front of MADS Records or the Spectrum for tickets to Yes or the Dead or whatever big band was playing that we had to be there for.  It’s part of the fun of summer.

When Al got home she said the movie was very good. 

Ms. Rowlings, I not only appreciate the movie and the experience of the evening as a parent, but also what your series did for my kid.  Over the years we would go to opening after opening of the release of book after book in the series. It was the same thing every time. We would need to be at the book store hours ahead of time with a thousand other wizards and witches. 

The chatter was deafening. Believe me, I know – I’ve been to real concerts at the Spectrum and the Tower.  Dads would look at each other and just shrug as we wander aimlessly through the store until the magic release time. Once the book was in hand the silence of the read begins. The car rides home to the all-night reading sessions culminated the next afternoon when the words, “I’m done and I loved it,” were pronounced.

Most importantly, your books gave my kid a love of reading and of thinking outside the box. I like to bust on her that Draco Malfoy always got the short end of the stick, even though he was the one doing what he was told. Al does pretty well defending her positions. Our high school even offered a literary perspective on "Harry Potter." She made sure she got into that course in her freshman year. When she aced it, it told her that she could swim with the seniors with confidence. 

I can’t think of a better prom party leading up to her Sweet 16 rite of passage than what your art has done for her.

We’re done and we loved it.