How else can I describe this? This book is simply fantastic. Fantastic Beasts & Where To Find Them: The Original Screenplay by J.K. Rowling, is so powerful and magical, especially when put to life. I cannot recommend this book without recommending the movie to go along with it. The imagery of every description truly comes to life, and you will be pleased with yourself at every scene: the thought of “oh, I recognize this” will never leave as you predict every following action.

*Spoilers*

We follow Newt Scamander, a wizard who has a very fond interest in magical creatures. But the rest of his world, both nomages (muggles) and wizards/witches, do not share the same interests. Newt is an alumni (well, he actually got expelled) from Hogwarts, the best wizardly school in the world. And now he is in New York. He’s on a mission to educate the wizarding world of these magical creatures to show that they’re not dangerous. He has a couple of these creatures in his suitcase and is protecting them from the danger of humans. Newt plans on educating his world by publishing a book titled “Fantastic Beasts & Where To Find Them.”

If you have read J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter Series, the Fantastic Beasts title should sound very familiar. This story takes place in the year 1926, after the first world war and far before Harry Potter is actually born. And in this day and age, wizards and witches aren’t safe. In the muggle (or nomag) world, there is a fear of such mystical persons, so anything (or anyone) relating to that sort of thing is, in a sense, persecuted.

Rowling has really done it, seeing the story play out from the perspective of eyes (slightly) older than Harry Potter, so much symbolism, and power becomes clearer. Characters and their own personal situations reflect far greater and significant problems. These problems in the novel and movie are reflected in a very raw and real way. It almost made me feel vulnerable. Although that word is usually used in such a negative connotation, any creative piece that allows me to feel so strongly, it’s usually the best quality.

I highly recommend this book. If you’ve read and loved Harry Potter, you should really give this a go. I also really recommend watching the movie afterward, or if you think reading 280 pages of a movie script isn’t fun, maybe you could follow along with the movie, almost like an audiobook, but with wonderful visuals and sound effects.

Also, shout out to J.K. Rowling. You’re the best.

And to answer the article title, you can find fantastic books at a library.