MOST CRITICS AND READERS AGREE THAT HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX MARKS A TURNING POINT IN J. K. ROWLING'S ENORMOUSLY POPULAR SERIES IN THAT THE STORY TAKES ON A MORE MATURE, DARKER TONE. NOW 15 YEARS OLD, HARRY FACES THE DOWNSIDE OF BEING THE WORLD'S MOST FAMOUS WIZARD-IN-TRAINING AND MUST ADJUST TO CHANGES IN HIS RELATIONSHIPS WITH FRIENDS AND MENTORS. HE ALSO LEARNS SOMETHING QUITE DISCONCERTING ABOUT HIS DECEASED PARENTS AND BEGINS TO REALIZE HOW HIS PERSONAL DEMONS MAKE HIM VULNERABLE TO THE EVIL LORD VOLDEMORT. FURTHER COMPLICATIONS ARISE WHEN HARRY GROWS DISILLUSIONED WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF THE MAGICAL REALM AND BEGINS TO QUESTION THE POWER OF THE AUTHORITIES AT HOGWARTS.