Emily Rouse

Dear J.K. Rowling,

I am a big fan of the Harry Potter books, my favorite being Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. This book came out when I was eight years old. However, I did not read it until I was in ninth grade. At this point in my life I had difficulty with my peers and I often wondered why so many of them acted mean. I did not understand why people were picked on all the time and why I was targeted. Then I began to read this book, which I did not understand right away. I simply knew that others deemed it to be a good book. So, the next time I had a bad day, I began to read it again ... and I began to understand why people picked on other people. See, I had had trouble deciding why Malfoy always picked on Harry. After reading the text again, I saw that he was jealous - jealous of Harry. Malfoy wanted to be 'that' famous, or that good at Quidditch, or that popular with girls. He was simply, just plain jealous and that made me think, "Is everyone who picks on others always jealous?" I know the answer is 'no,' but a lot of the times, those who chide others are jealous. The teaser feel insecure about their own lives and so they take it out on someone else who will take the bait.

I know that Harry is not a saint. Harry has no interest in becoming friends with Malfoy and he tries to get Malfoy back for anything done to Harry. Yet, Harry does not pick on all who walk by him. Harry is a role model of what a teenager should be - smart, talented, strong-willed, and kind. Unfortunately, Malfoy is often the reality of what teenagers are actually like - smart, kind of talented, strong-willed, and mean. The main difference is how they each treat others. Harry is, for a majority of relationships, kind and protective. Malfoy, on the other hand, is a bully, mean to those who are nice, and sometimes even mean to other mean people.

I am inspired by this book, even now as I live my junior year of high school. This book is one that everyone any age can read and be inspired by as it can help people through hard times in school. When it seemed like everyone had turned away from me, I read this book. I must have read it at least fifty times. Daily teenage life and make-¬believe are intertwined through this story. Truth lies in fiction in respect to being teased. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire has helped me realize that no one is perfect. We all have fears and many of us are teased, sometimes even harassed. Even people like the hero Harry Potter suffer that same fate. This fact alone has helped me to cope with daily school life. I understand others, and I appreciate myself, despite the actions of peers. This book has changed the way I handle high school pressure.

Thank you for writing this inspirational, realistic, and helpful book.

Sincerely,

Emily Rouse