My favorite book is Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I really feel that the book is the turning point of the series from the characters being kids to becoming teenagers and adults. It shows so much growth in the characters and introduces so many important new characters. I, also, believe Harry becomes far more human in this book. We see him begin to show feelings and act as a normal teenager under the amount of pressure he's under would. I really do love the entire book.
My favorite character is (obviously) Hermione Granger. She has always been the character I can most identify with since the books began. I was that same bookish girl when I was young and I grew into an intelligent person with my own opinions and bravery enough to assert them. Her character was almost a role model for me, like Queen Elizabeth I or Mary Queen of Scots or Thomas Jefferson.