What is the title of J.K. Rowling’s debut novel?

J.K. Rowling’s debut novel is Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

Published in the United Kingdom on 26 June 1997 by Bloomsbury, the book introduced Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, and the wizarding world centered on Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It follows Harry’s first year at Hogwarts and his discovery that he is famous in the magical community.

The novel was published as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in the United States. Scholastic changed the title because editors believed some American readers might not understand the word “philosopher” in the context of the story. The plot and characters remained the same in the two editions.

The book was Rowling’s first published novel, although she had written earlier stories and drafts. It began a seven-book series that became one of the best-selling franchises in publishing. Its British title refers to the Philosopher’s Stone, an alchemical substance central to the plot.