Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and the chamber of secrets is a fantasy novel written by British author J. K. Rowling and the second novel in the series about Harry Potter. In the story, Harrys second year at Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry, during which a series of messages on the walls of the school corridors warn that the "chamber of secrets" is open and that the "heir of Slytherin" would kill all pupils who do not come from all magical families. These threats will be discovered after the attacks which leave residents of the school petrified. Throughout the year, Harry and his friends Ron and Hermione investigate the attacks. The book was published in the United Kingdom on 2 July 1998 by Bloomsbury publishing house, and later in the US on 2 June 1999 by Scholastic Inc. Although Rowling says she found it difficult to finish the book, it won high praise and awards from critics, readers and book industry, although some critics thought the story was perhaps too frightening for young children. Like other novels in the series, Harry Potter and the chamber of secrets has caused religious controversy, some religious authorities have condemned its use of magical themes, while others have praised its emphasis on sacrifice and the way ones character is the result of the election. Several commentators noted that identity is a strong theme in the book and that it deals with issues of racism through the relationship of man, not magic, and not real people. Some commentators regard the diary as a warning against uncritical acceptance of information from sources whose motives and reliability cannot be verified. Institutional authority is portrayed as self-serving and incompetent. The film adaptation of the novel, released in 2002, was at that time the fifth highest grossing film ever and received generally favorable reviews. Video games based on the Harry Potter and the chamber of secrets were also released for several platforms, and most obtained favourable reviews.