My personal essay about reading

Hi! Can someone give me some suggestions on this essay? Did I answer the prompt clearly?Is it too childish?

The prompt: "The whole world opened up to me when I learned to read."
- Mary McLeod Bethune


Although I am able to read since an early age, my journey of "learning to read" is rather long and continuing. The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling are like footprints that trace this road, so I will let this popular wizard show you how reading unlocked my thought.

When I turned the first page of Harry Potter in fifth grade, it was for pride. Almost everyone in my class was reading it, and holding such a thick book felt like an accomplishment. However, I soon fell in love with the mysterious plot, the chilling mood and the hero-ultimately-win thing. Back then, I believed magic does exist, but humans are just too ignorant to notice that. I was reading just for imagination's sake.

I discovered more treasures when I read the fourth novels in the Harry Potter series in middle school. As I read again about the four houses in Hogwarts that each values intelligence, ambition, courage, and hard work, I began to notice that Harry Potter's success of conquering evil is not random. Harry belongs to the house of Gryffindor that put boldness above all other characteristics. He does not fear to seek the dangerous secret ahead; he wants the truth. He holds the wand firmly to fight Voldemort with his unsophisticated magic skill; he dares to try. Here I learned that solely intelligence and hard work can not guarantee success. We also need courage to discover, to make mistakes, to stand adversity and to seize opportunities. There are many other educational themes that emphasis the importance of trust, humbleness, racial equality and team work. During that time, I was not merely reading for fun, I was also reading to learn.

This year, the seventh Harry Potter novel is released. I eagerly bought it with familiar excitement, even though my parents are teasing me for never growing up. I still could not resist the power of this book as a high school senior, so this time, I am reading with the purpose of finding out why. I think one of the reasons is that Rowling created another world that fulfills human fantasy. The characters in this world are distinguished with extreme goodness and evilness, which allows the readers to make strong judgments. Many children might also unconsciously use this book as a way of escaping from the mundane reality to a place where anything can happen. How Rowling played with child psychology is still a mystery to me. But I think my own reason to love these books is that Harry Potter accompanied my growth for seven years as his changes reflected mine.

I am writing about the Harry Potter series not because these are the books I learned most knowledge from, but because this long story documented my ways of reading. At first, I learn to read plot, then I read to learn, and now, I read to think. "The whole world opened up to me" because reading opened my mind in making connections to the world.

Greetings!

I think you've written a good essay! I have just a few editing suggestions for you:

Although I have been able to read since an early age,

reading unlocked my thoughts.

the hero-ultimately-wins thing.

This year, the seventh Harry Potter novel was released.

At first, I learned to read plots

I think you answered the prompt well, and there is nothing childish about it; many adults also enjoy the Harry Potter books, and you pinpointed several reasons why it has held your interest as a reader over time. Good work!

Thanks,

Sarah, EssayForum.com