Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. By J. K. Rowling. Scholastic, 2005. 672 pages. Tr. $29.99 ISBN 978-0439784542

Summary: Harry Potter’s sixth year at Hogwart’s school of witchraft and wizardry is off to a disturbing start. The Ministry of Magic has been infiltrated by some of Voldemart’s followers, and Hogwarts is no longer safe for students. Dumbledore is now teaching Harry private lessons, and they’re trying to uncover and destroy all of Voldemart’s horcruxes (i.e. portions of his soul enclosed in everyday objects). Harry Potter is certain that his Slytherin nemesis, Draco Malfoy, is up to trouble, but no one will listen to him. Can he stop Draco before he causes trouble, or will Voldemart win?

Critical Summary: In the sixth installment of the Harry Potter series we learn some truths, which we’ve unconsciously known all along. Professor Snape is secretly working for Voldemart. Harry learns more about his future role through Dumbledore’s lessons. The school community mourns Dumbledore’s death, and Harry plans for his final battle with Voldemart in The Deathly Hollows. This book also begins Harry’s relationship with Ginnie Weasley. Harry has left childhood, and is now blossoming into a young man.

Genre: Fantasy

Reading/Interest Level: 9-12 years

Awards: Quill Awards, 2005; New York Times Notable Books of the Year, 2005; Galaxy British Book Awards, 2006; Bilby (Books I Love Best Yearly) Award, 2006; Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award, 2008; Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children’s Literature, 2008

Reviews: Books in Canada (January 1, 2006), Voice of Youth Advocates (October 1, 2005), School Library Journal (September 1, 2005), Publisher’s Weekly (August 1, 2005), Booklist (August 1, 2005)

Series: Harry Potter Series

Similar Materials: The following books in the Harry Potter Series: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows

Subjects/Themes: Magic, Witchcraft and Wizardry, Death

Character Names: Harry Potter; Horace Slughorn; Albus Dumbledore; Ronald Weasley; Hermonie Grainger; Ginny Weasley; Draco Malfoy; Severus Snape; Hagrid; Voldemart (i.e. Thomas Riddle); Lavender Brown; 

Author Website: http://www.jkrowling.com/

Brief Annotation: With Dumbledore’s and his friends’ help, Harry Potter tries to outsmart Voldemart and his followers, in the sixth installment of the Harry Potter series.