Owen Hoke

Dear J.K. Rowling,

Your book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, strongly impacted my life. I lived in Texas from 1999 to 2004. It was during those years that I read this book. My community, an area filled with people belonging to strict Baptist churches, didn't approve of the book. In fact, there was a movement to have it removed from the library of my public school. Fortunately that did not happen. It was very hard for me to find anyone, outside of my own family, that I could talk to about the book. It was almost something you had to read in secret if you didn't want to be looked down upon.

The Halloween after I read the book, I decided to dress as Harry Potter for the annual costume contest at my school. I had a wonderful costume and even a birdcage with a stuffed Hedwig inside. I was very excited because the previous year I had won first place in the contest. I could never have imagined the reaction of the people around me. Parents pointed and stared at me, and other kids made fun of me. One student in particular told me I worshiped the devil if I liked Harry Potter. He also said he would have a party and wouldn't let anyone who liked Harry Potter come in. I was crushed!

I felt like Harry Potter myself. I was feeling like I didn't fit in anywhere, and was being excluded from everything. Even teachers treated me differently for a while after that night. I wished I had an Invisibility Cloak, so I could hide from them all.

Luckily, my family was full of Harry Potter fans. We read the book and discussed it with each other. In 2004 we moved to Iowa, a much more open and accepting place. I started a new school, and was nervous, like Harry Potter on his first night at Hogwarts. I didn't know what to expect. I made some friends quickly, and my new best friend loved Harry Potter too. Almost everyone I met had read the book. It was openly discussed and I could even read it in the classroom without glaring eyes on me. It was amazing!

I learned a lot of lessons about people, their beliefs, and acceptance because I read your book. I will never forget my experience as Harry Potter.

Sincerely Yours,
Owen Hoke