It is just plain embarrassing. Although the UK publishers changed the cover of Harry Potter and the Sorcerers'/Philosophers' Stone so that adults could read it without it being Too Obvious that we were reading a book in the 9-12 age group, the Chamber of Secrets still has the cover for children. Yet I couldn't put it down and it made me laugh numerous times - it is so inventive! Comparing the two books, I would say that this 'sequel' is, fortunately, that rare form of sequel - as good or perhaps even very slightly better than the original. The moment I returned from the UK, it was nigh on snatched from my hands, and no more was seen of my 12 year old daughter for the day or so that it took her to finish it. Had it been a weekend, she would probably have read it even more quickly. Joanne Rowling has created a classic.