J.K. Rowling

Always have faith in yourself. Be true to your friends. And never repot a mandrake plant without wearing earmuffs (their screams are fatal, you know). As any Harry Potter fan knows, you don't need a wand to learn life's most important lessons.

Harry may have been born a wizard, but his journey through adolescence is purely human. For kids, he's a trusted companion during that awkward, angst-ridden adventure called growing up. For grown-ups, his escapades offer the chance to feel like a kid again. And that is J.K. Rowling's greatest trick: remembering the thrills, and fears,...