All was well: how the magic of Harry Potter influenced a generation

Have you ever been lost in a book? Slipped between the covers of a story and into another world?

It can feel like magic.

But some books reverse that pull; they reach into our world and shift our lives in spellbinding ways. The adventures of J.K Rowling's Harry Potter left a permanent mark on many of us.

For kids around the globe it was the ultimate fantasy and for some fans, that connection was much deeper. Harry Potter was intensely formative, impacting the way they grew up and how they viewed the world. Today, we look at how Harry Potter influenced an entire generation ... and hear how The Boy Who Lived, lives on in many grown-up devotees. 

About the producer

Shannon Higgins has been producing at The Current since 2010. A graduate of Ryerson University's School of Journalism, Shannon is most passionate about telling audio­-rich stories that give voice to regular people. Some highlights from her career include a special edition out of Kabul focused on the hopes and worries of Afghans, Introducing Generation Z about three Canadian teens who each represent defining characteristics of their generation, and the documentary Room for Improvement about the failings of the contemporary bathroom.