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 The Chronicle welcomes you online! Please feel free to respond to these editorials or letters to the editor by sending your letters to the editor.

We condense letters; most, as published, won't exceed 300 words. A letter must include the writer's name and city, which will be published, and an address and telephone number for verification, which will not be published. Writers may be limited to one letter every 30 days. Open letters, letters to third parties and poetry are not considered. Letters from people living outside the Chronicle's circulation area usually are not considered.

Potter books a learning experience

Web posted August 14, 2000

 Have a thought? Go to the @ugusta Forums.

Editor, The Chronicle

What a breath of fresh air to read the Aug. 10 letter by Nicole Baugh regarding Harry Potter books. Not only are J.K. Rowling's books classic tales of good vs. evil (like nearly every TV and movie script as well as most novels and historical sagas), but they dare to give credibility to children's intellect and problem-solving skills.

In the books, Harry and his friends must think through complex issues that don't always have black and white solutions. As in real life, most of Harry's challenges are complicated and filled with gray areas.

I believe one reason children are being drawn to these books is that the characters are complex (like people in real life) and this is one of the few modern entertainment arenas for children where complexity and complication exist alongside problem solving.

Solving Harry's problems is not as easy as shooting down an alien in a video game or knocking off a bad-guy in a Pokemon cartoon. Ms. Rowling's characterizations are multi-faceted, and she entrusts kids with the ability to figure out some difficult conundrums.

I've also noticed that kids who delve into these books get high grades in school and are extremely creative. I doubt this is a coincidence.

Susan Cain Giusto, Augusta