Four NY Times Bestselling Authors Help HPA Members Compete to Donate the Most Books

Since 2009, Harry Potter fans across the world have joined the Harry Potter Alliance (HPA) to donate more than 55,000 books to local communities through ‘Accio Books!’ This year, the HPA is not only donating books, it’s building a library. To help do it, four New York Times bestselling authors have taken the helm as heads of houses for the House Cup competition. HPA members who donate books will earn points for their selected houses: Gryffndor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, or Slytherin.

The Harry Potter Alliance (HPA) is partnering with the Bedford-Stuyvesant New Beginnings Charter School (BSNBCS) in Brooklyn, NY to build the “Imagine Better” library for their students.
“Accio Books is one of the most successful campaigns that the HPA conducts and each year our members are more than up to the challenge,” said HPA Executive Director Andrew Slack. “The House Cup competition is a way to turn the campaign into a friendly and exciting competition. The heads of houses are a big part of that as they rally their members.”

Representing Gryffindor is Melissa Anelli, author of Harry, A History. She is a graduate of Georgetown University and is currently writing her second nonfiction book. Melissa is the webmistress of The Leaky Cauldron, one of the leading Harry Potter sites, and consumes more coffee than is healthy for anyone. She is also on the Board of Directors for the HPA and has a particular passion for Accio Books. To spice up the competition, Melissa is offering two free tickets to Leakycon, a large Harry Potter conference being held this July in Orlando, FL, to the Gryffindor who donates the most books.

"Harry Potter taught a generation to love reading,” said Melissa. “It is fitting that now we are sharing that love with an even younger generation."

John Green appears on behalf of Hufflepuff and his goal is to decrease worldsuck. He is the author of several books, including Looking for Alaska, a Printze Award winner. John co-hosts a popular YouTube channel with his brother Hank called Vlogbrothers, through which they created a unique community of Nerdfighters. He is also giving incentive to his house by promising to record the outgoing voicemail message of the member who donates the most books.

"Through books we are continually making connections, from reader to character, from reader to author, from reader to reader,” said John. “Books inspire conversations that we otherwise wouldn't have. I love Accio Books because it gives us the opportunity to give as many kids as possible the love of reading, inspiration, and the knowledge that they aren't alone."

Maureen Johnson is this year’s head of Ravenclaw. She has written nine young adult novels including: 13 Little Blue Envelopes, Suite Scarlett, Scarlett Fever and The Bermudez Triangle. She recently released The Last Little Blue Envelope. She spends an unreasonable amount of time online, earning her the dubious honor of “Most Interesting Twitter User to Follow” in Mashable’s Social Media Awards. Maureen has a passion for young adult literature, which shows in her desire to be a part of Accio Books. Ravenclaw fans of Maureen will likely scramble to donate the most books because the Ravenclaw prize is to become “BFFs” with Maureen if you have the most donations.

Slytherin head of house is Holly Black, the author of The Spiderwick Chronicles, Tithe, Valiant and Ironside. She is currently working on The Curse Workers series as well as The Good Neighbors graphic novel series. She recently released the novel Red Glove. This is the first time Holly has worked with the HPA but her interest is clearly just as strong. To entice the few, yet passionate, Slytherin members she has promised to send a book to every person who donates in the name of her house.

By fighting the Illiteracy Horcrux and creating a library for young students, members of the HPA have the opportunity to help a school transform its educational environment and inspire the students in ways only books can do. The heads of houses are exceptional role models and leaders who are helping to further literacy in a creative and passionate way.
The Bedford-Stuyvesant New Beginnings Charter School needs books in good condition of all types including fiction, non-fiction, reference, historical, biographical, geography, science topics for their students in grades K-5.

Accio Books runs through the end of April but the school will continue to accept donations past that date.

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The HP Alliance (www.thehpalliance.org) is a 501c3 nonprofit that engages Harry Potter fans in social activism. With over 70 active chapters and 40 volunteer staff, the HPA has donated five cargo planes to Haiti, 55,000 books, protection for thousands in Darfur, and made huge strides in anti-genocide, LGBT, and media reform advocacy, and more. Covered in hundred of major publications and praised by JK Rowling, Harry Potter celebrities, Paul Farmer, and a slew of NGO’s the HPA recently came in first place in the Chase Bank Community Giving Contest on Facebook winning $250,000.