Before I start, a quick note about me. I was homeschooled K-12, I am a cradle Catholic (raised Catholic) and I’m probably one of the biggest Potterheads you will ever meet.

Growing up my parents usually had to screen a book or TV show before my sisters and I were allowed to read/watch it. This was the case for J.K. Rowling’s magical Harry Potter series as well. They decided a good age to start the series was 12.

Now, the homeschool program that I used had big issues with the Harry Potter series. They wrote a sample thesis statement for high school freshmen that went along the lines of: Harry Potter should be a book that is banned for all young readers, as it teaches the practices of witchcraft and satanism.

Throughout the rest of my life, leading up to the present, I have met those who hate the series and those who love the series. Shout out to all my Hufflepuffs!

I don’t think the creators of my homeschool program realized was how much the series is actually based off of the Christian religion. Harry himself even being a Christlike figure, the whole sacrificing himself for the greater good part.

This all being said, here are some reasons I think Harry Potter should be read by all:

1. The books are better than the movies.

Don't get me wrong, I love seeing my favorite characters come to life, but they could have been much better!! By better, I mean closer to the books. The movies didn't capture Harry's sassiness, Hermione's perfect imperfections, Ron's Gryffindor loyalty, or Ginny's personality.

2. It teaches the power of friendship and loyalty.

Many people get caught up in the magic of it all and look past the lessons and morals this series teaches. One being the value of true friendship, including lessons of what it looks like and what it isn't. Another, the importance of loyalty and how far it goes in times of trouble.

3. Is it that bad to believe in a bit of magic?

I mean as long as you don't start to worship Harry Potter, what's the harm in having a little bit of magic in your life? It makes the world a little more exciting. Even if you refuse to believe magic is real, these books are definitely magical in themselves.

4. You become part of a huge family.

Once a Potterhead, forever a Potterhead. You will immediately have at least one thing in common with a majority of the people you meet. There are multiple levels of fangirl/boys, so whether you meet the "HARRY POTTER IS LIFE!" or "yeah they're good" fans, you'll have a topic to talk about to liven up the conversation.

Figure out your and their Hogwarts house, it's a great way to get a quick assessment of their personality. And for heaven's sake, if they are a Slytherin do not say they are bad or evil!! Not all of them are!!

5. The series is bigger on the inside.

Pottermore. Puppet Pals. Universal Studios. Islands of Adventure. Youtube Parodies. Fanfiction. The Cursed Child. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. A Very Potter Musical. Fanart. The list goes on and on of all the amazing Potter related things.

If you haven't seen The Hillywood Show's Harry Potter parody, Harry Potter Puppet Pals, or A Very Potter musical, they're all available to watch on YouTube and are three of my favorite things ever. And while you're at it go searching for fanfic and fanart, you will find an extremely large abundance.

(Doctor Who pun intended)

6. Luna Lovegood.

Okay, maybe I'm being a little bias because she's my favorite character... but she's fricking amazing!! She's often seen as ditsy and a bit crazy, but she's really a beautiful character who sees the world as it could be. She sees the good in everyone and doesn't judge, because she knows what it's like to feel judged.

Everyone needs a little Luna in their life. Besides, who doesn't love a little crazy sometimes. "You're just as sane as I am."

7. You need the inspirational quotes.

JK Rowling is Queen of inspirational quotes!! Quotes that make you laugh, quotes that make you cry, quotes that make your heart throb, and quotes that stay with you forever. Whenever I am in need of a good quote, I turn to the beautiful words of Rowling's characters.

There's so many to chose from, I'd make a list but that'd make a whole different article.

8. Pottermore.

Thanks to the wonderful brain of our beloved JK Rowling, fans can find out what Hogwarts house they'd be in, what wand would choose them, what their patronus is, and even what Ilvermorny house they'd be in.

What's Ilvermorny, you may ask. Well look it up on Pottermore! It's not just to find out the things I listed above, you can also learn about the world of Harry Potter straight from the mind of JK Rowling!

9. You can actually be a part of their world.

Aside from Pottermore, you can be fully submerged in the world of Harry Potter in several other ways. There are actually places you can go to for a week-long LARPing experience. You can also visit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure.

10. It's simply a great read.

The size of the books may seem intimidating but I know two people who have read the entire series in two days. If you're looking for a series to read over the summer or even just one a year, I highly recommend these.

So as you can tell, I love this series with a passion. I grew up loving them and Catholic, I still love them and am a devout Catholic. So you don't have to worry all religious parents out there, these books are safe for your tweens to grow up with.