J.K. Rowling is one of the most popular authors of all time. Her Harry Potter books are beloved by millions of children and respected by critics of both children's and adult literature. On the other hand, these same books have aroused controversy regarding their literary merits and moral messages. Critical Companion to J.K. Rowling seeks to educate readers about these debates and encourages them to think about Rowling's novels thoughtfully while understanding the context in which they were written. Coverage includes: A concise but thorough biography of Rowling Entries on all of the Harry Potter books, each containing a Synopsis, Critical Commentary, and a Film Adaptation section, as well as subentries on all the main characters Entries on Rowling's minor works, such as Quidditch through the Ages and The Tales of Beedle the Bard Entries on related people, places, and topics, such as book banning and censorship, British boarding schools, Lewis Carroll, The Leaky Cauldron Web site, orphans in literature, the phenomenon of "Pottermania," and much more Appendixes, including a chronology and bibliography of primary and secondary sources.