1
In the mid 1990s, J.K. Rowling had a fairly typical life—she was mom to a daughter and was secretary at a human rights organization in London. At times, she struggled to make ends meet. In 1997, when she published her first book in the Harry Potter series, her life changed dramatically.
2
Rowling had been writing stories since she was six years old, but when she first had the idea for a character named Harry Potter in 1990, she knew it was special. While traveling on a London train, Rowling imagined a “scrawny, black-haired, bespectacled boy who didn’t know he was a wizard,” but she did not have a pen to record her thoughts. Looking back, Rowling thinks this was a blessing in disguise because she was forced to sit and think about the boy and other characters for the book. That very night she sat down and began work on the book, although Rowling admits that the few pages she wrote that night do not resemble the finished manuscript.
3
Wherever she went, Rowling was armed with the manuscript. It grew and grew over the next five years, but Rowling wasn’t sure she’d ever finish it. At the time, Rowling was teaching full-time and was a busy single parent, so spare time was at a premium. However, every chance she got, she rushed off to write a few pages. Rowling admits that sometimes she actually hated the book, even while she loved it.
4
Once Rowling finished the book, the next step was to secure a literary agent to help her get the book published. Rowling knew this would be a challenge, stating during an interview that “the difficult thing is going to be to get published. If it’s published, it will be huge.” Rowling was right: it took a year for a publisher to bite. In fact, many publishers turned down Rowling’s book. But, once she received the phone call that a publisher had made an offer, her life was never the same.
5
Rowling says she was unprepared for the book’s wild success. On an American book tour, she couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw a mob of fans screaming with excitement. That day, she signed over 2,000 books. Everywhere she went, people recognized her. Life in the spotlight was challenging for Rowling, but she learned to adjust.
6
The Harry Potter series includes some of the most popular books ever written for children. Even though millions of people around the world immensely enjoy Rowling’s work, she has faced criticism. Some groups have claimed the books are too frightening and dark for young readers. Others have accused Rowling of promoting witchcraft. Rowling understands parents’ concern over what their children read. But, she explains that stories about witches and magic have been told for hundreds of years in many cultures. The topic is appealing for adults and children alike.
7
Rowling never thought she’d become a children’s author, but her readers are certainly glad she did!
Multiple Choice Question
Which is the best explanation for why the author included the information in the first paragraph?
A.
to give insight into Rowling’s reasons for writing the books
B.
to show how much her life changed after her books were published
C.
to show that Rowling changed very little as a result of her success
D.
to provide background details about Rowling's early life
1 answer
The best explanation for why the author included the information in the first paragraph is:
D. to provide background details about Rowling's early life.
The first paragraph outlines Rowling's typical life before her success, detailing her role as a mother and her job, which helps to set the stage for the dramatic changes that occur after she publishes her first book.
