Everyone knows that Tom Angelberger is a big Star Wars fan --- he did write the beloved Origami Yoda series, afterall. But did you know that the author has a place in his heart for Harry Potter, too? Read Angelberger's post to see all of the things that the series made him wish he had, and what candy he'd choose over any created in Willy Wonka's factory.
At first glance, the secret to Harry Potter’s success seems to be wish-fulfillment. Rowling figured out what everyone wanted and gave it to them. But the thing is, when we finished the books we still wanted it AND we had a huge list of new stuff we were wishing for. Marauder’s Map comes in at the top of that list, I’d say. Even pushing out invisibility cloak. Well, no, I guess flying broom is #1. But then again the flying car was maybe even better. No use arguing about what’s at the top of the list, the point is . . . it’s going to be a long list!
Rowling didn’t just sell us on the need for the big-ticket, world-saving stuff like magic wands; she made us want the regular, day-to-day stuff of the wizard world, too. Talking painting, delivery owl, tent that’s bigger on the inside, Mrs. Weasley’s clock, butter beer and on and on. I remember the first time I read HP and wanted the chocolate frog so bad. Sure the candy in Willy Wonka is appealing, but I’d trade any of it for a chocolate frog!
It's no wonder that a whole industry sprang up creating the Muggle-versions of all this stuff. We’re literally spending money on non-magical magical wands. A real wizard would take those back for a refund! Other books have made us want things we couldn’t have, but never this bad! Rowling didn’t give us wish fulfillment, she gave us new things to wish for and since we can’t have those things, we keep wishing for more HP . . . and maybe that’s the one thing we WILL get!
Tom Angleberger is the bestselling author of the Origami Yoda series. He is also the author of HORTON HALFPOTT and FAKE MUSTACHE. Tom maintains the Origami Yoda–inspired blog origamiyoda.wordpress.com. He is married to author-illustrator Cece Bell and lives in Christiansburg, Virginia.
