The Journey of Harry Potter

"Amazing Race" host Phil Keoghan announces each season's official million-dollar winning team by telling them they covered (for example) four continents, 30 cities and 32,000 miles. 

Yesterday, my son and I officially finished the Harry Potter series after reading out loud 4,175 pages in approximately 208 separate sittings over a 21-month time period. We feel like a million bucks.

Personally, I caught Harry Potter fever in the summer of 2008 after several friends urged me to give the series a try. In just under 3 months, I read the series myself, captivated from beginning to end. A little over a year later, my then 9-year-old son expressed an interest in reading the series, too.

As a parent I can tell you that this series was not designed with elementary school-aged kids in mind. It's complex, complicated and quite honestly, difficult to follow without an advanced reading comprehension ability. Perhaps with a conservative view on the matter, I think it is the rare exception that a young child can tackle the series by themselves and truly take away from the books the rich context.

The only way that I felt comfortable with him reading the series was if we read it together. So we did. Adam borrowed each book from his teacher's library, while I read my own personal copy. And we faithfully read through the series. Motivation was not hard to find with such a wonderfully written story-line. Plus, 20- to 30- minute reading blocks were required throughout the month as homework in fourth and fifth grades, while continuing the series both summers as part of the St. Louis County Reading Program.

Nearly two years of reading out loud to each other was a huge commitment - sometimes overwhelming. As the books got longer (600- to 800-pages each), the task in front of us was more daunting. Yet, it was a wonderful experience to talk about inferences and foreshadowing and talking through the complex stories to make sure Adam was fully understanding each chapter.

But we did it, and I am still in awe that we set out a goal and accomplished it. Not as quickly as I had anticipated, perhaps, but we did it. What I did not anticipate was the shakiness in my voice as I read the final paragraph. Choking back emotion, we read the final line of the final book together. Like the let-down that follows a holiday celebration, I find myself a bit sad that this journey is over.

The upside is that the final movie comes out very soon and for the first time, my son and I will watch it in the theaters together. Watching DVD's on a small screen at home does not compare to the large screen with digital surround sound and brilliant colors. While I have seen the last few movies in the theater, this will be his first (and last) chance to see Harry Potter in all its theater glory.

And this does not really have to be the end. What we learned is that we love this one-on-one time together. We are discussing other series that we might want to read together. I've had a few suggestions given to me. "The Guardians of Ga'Hoole" is popular right now; also Dave Barry's "Peter and the Starcatchers" series has been recommended.

Just as the series begins with Harry Potter turning 11 and attending Hogwarts, we are finishing the series with my son also being 11. Truly full circle in my eyes.