A new name has been coined for the children (now teens) who grew up reading J.K. Rowling’s books—“Generation Harry Potter.”

For senior Claire Bauman, Harry Potter was more than just a literary trend. It was a guide to growing up—a guide that taught her about morals and how to be a good friend, all bundled up in a magical tale. 

Bauman, like many others, considers herself a Harry Potter fanatic. She has gone to the midnight movies and the midnight book releases and owns massive amounts of Harry Potter collector’s items. 

While other age groups have read Harry Potter and loved it, Generation Harry Potter has a special connection due to age. 

Bauman was seven years old in 1998 when the first book came out, making her four years younger than the hero. However, with the time lapses between publications, Bauman was exactly Harry’s age in the final book, as were her peers. 

“I really felt like I grew up with the character,” senior Joanna Derman said. “I matured with Harry and went through things right when he did. 

“Harry meets his classmates for the first time on the Hogwarts express in his first year after boarding Platform 9¾ . He didn’t know anyone before, just like someone going to a new school. Our entire graduating class will have to acclimate themselves to a new, ‘magical’ environment come fall,” Derman said. 

“It’s a binding tie with everyone in our generation—a shared interest,” senior Cristina Hargrave said. “The books deal with real emotions like first kisses and real loss of friends and family, something people can relate to and discuss with each other.” 

Claire’s mother, teacher Jane Bauman, saw this unifying factor on college visits, saying that if, for example, a tour guide equated dorm rooms to Hogwarts rooms, all the kids laughed and understood. 

“This book has had such an impact on Claire’s generation,” Ms. Bauman said. “I honestly feel bad for college admissions officers—they’re going to get so many essays on the impact of Harry Potter.” 

Ms. Bauman noticed the way Harry Potter connected her older son, Jeff, ‘06, and Claire. 

“It was a book I could read aloud to both children. Even though they had different interests and reading styles, this was something they shared,” Ms. Bauman said. “Our whole family has read at least some of Harry Potter; it’s become like a language we speak.” 

Junior Matt Akins explained that listening to the Harry Potter books on tape on car trips became a family tradition. 

Derman’s family also got involved in her Potter passion.

“I don’t agree with the people that rush through the book in a day. I like to spread out and savor the reading experience,” Derman said. “So I’d have to ask my mom to hide the book around the house to keep me from reading it too quickly.” 

Claire on the other hand, finished as quickly as possible. 

“I read the last book in a day,” she said. 

The end of the series could be deemed the end of an era for the Harry Potter kids. What so many had grown up with was suddenly over. The memories, however, remain. 

“Growing up with Harry Potter, I learned the value of love, selflessness and self-sacrifice, rebellion, loyalty and friendship, honesty, trust, intelligence and fear,” Claire said. 

Not only did Potter show the basics of growing up for individuals, he made social changes as well. 

“Harry Potter promoted all types of cool. The outcast Harry was cool, the smart Hermione was cool, and the socially awkward Ron was cool,” Claire said. “Therefore, people like them in the real world were cool too, but in their own way.”

For Claire, like every other Harry Potter fan, the ending of the series was a climactic event. 

“It was weird to think it was all over, but exciting to know all the answers,” Claire said. “I went to the midnight book release and instantly started reading it. I finished it at my friend’s house, where we all sat in reading groups based on how far we’d gotten in the book—I could hear screams and squeals at various parts.” 

Claire, however, does not plan on leaving Harry behind in high school. 

“I think I’ll take my American Harry Potter books to college and leave my nicer British versions at home so they don’t get trashed,” Claire said. “I like to read them sporadically.

 “And I might want to reference them—you never know.”