What we read as children can shape who we become later in life. According to a new study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology, picking up the Harry Potter series can make you a better person.

For the experiment, a group of school-aged kids was split into two, with each given passages from the JK Rowling books to see how they would identify with the characters.

One scene involved Draco Malfoy calling Hermione a “filthy little Mublood” while the other camp received a more neutral scene of Harry buying his wand.

A week later, the children filled out a questionnaire. Researchers found that those who identified with Harry were more sympathetic towards “stigmatized” persons in their answers.

Which book from childhood has had a great impact on your life today?

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