J. K. Rowling is the author of the beloved, bestselling, record-breaking Harry Potter series. She started writing the series during a delayed Manchester to London King s Cross train journey, and during the next five years, outlined the plots for each book and began writing the first novel. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer s Stone was published in the United States by Arthur A. Levine Books in 1998, and the series concluded nearly ten years later with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, published in 2007. J. K. Rowling is the recipient of numerous awards and honorary degrees including an OBE for services to children s literature, France s Legion d Honneur, and the Hans Christian Andersen Literature Award. She supports a wide number of causes through her charitable trust Volant, and is the founder of Lumos, a charity working to transform the lives of disadvantaged children. J. K. Rowling lives in Edinburgh with her husband and three children.

Kazu Kibuishi is the creator of the "New York Times" bestselling "Amulet "series and "Copper," a collection of his popular webcomic. He is also the founder and editor of the acclaimed Flight anthologies. "Daisy Kutter: The Last Train," his first graphic novel, was listed as one of the Best Books for Young Adults by YALSA, and "Amulet, Book One: The Stonekeeper" was an ALA Best Book for Young Adults and a Children's Choice Book Award finalist. Kazu lives and works in Alhambra, California, with his wife and fellow comics artist, Amy Kim Kibuishi, and their two children. Visit Kazu online at www.boltcity.com.

Mary GrandPre has illustrated more than twenty beautiful books for children, including the American editions of the Harry Potter novels. Her work has also appeared in the "New Yorker," the "Atlantic Monthly," and the "Wall Street Journal," and her paintings and pastels have been shown in galleries across the United States. Ms. GrandPre lives in Sarasota, Florida, with her family."

"'There is a plot, Harry Potter. A plot to make most terrible things happen at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry this year.'" Harry Potter's summer has included the worst birthday ever, doomy warnings from a house-elf called Dobby, and rescue from the Dursleys by his friend Ron Weasley in a magical flying car! Back at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for his second year, Harry hears strange whispers echo through empty corridors - and then the attacks start. Students are found as though turned to stone ... Dobby's sinister predictions seem to be coming true.