Half-Blood Prince

Overview:

(Released July 2005) The long-awaited, eagerly anticipated, arguably over-hyped Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince has arrived, and the question on the minds of kids, adults, fans, and skeptics alike is, "Is it worth the hype?" The answer, luckily, is simple: yep. A magnificent spectacle more than worth the price of admission, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince will blow you away. However, given that so much has gone into protecting the secrets of the book (including armored trucks and injunctions), don't expect any spoilers in this review. It's much more fun not knowing what's coming--and in the case of Rowling's delicious sixth book, you don't want to know. Just sit tight, despite the earth-shattering revelations that will have your head in your hands as you hope the words will rearrange themselves into a different story. But take one warning to heart: do not open Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince until you have first found a secluded spot, safe from curious eyes, where you can tuck in for a good long read. Because once you start, you won't stop until you reach the very last page.

A darker book than any in the series thus far with a level of sophistication belying its genre, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince moves the series into murkier waters and marks the arrival of Rowling onto the adult literary scene. While she has long been praised for her cleverness and wit, the strength of Book 6 lies in her subtle development of key characters, as well as her carefully nuanced depiction of a community at war. In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, no one and nothing is safe, including preconceived notions of good and evil and of right and wrong. With each book in her increasingly remarkable series, fans have nervously watched J.K. Rowling raise the stakes; gone are the simple delights of butterbeer and enchanted candy, and days when the worst ailment could be cured by a bite of chocolate. A series that began as a colorful lark full of magic and discovery has become a dark and deadly war zone. But this should not come as a shock to loyal readers. Rowling readied fans with Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by killing off popular characters and engaging the young students in battle. Still, there is an unexpected bleakness from the start of Book 6 that casts a mean shadow over Quidditch games, silly flirtations, and mountains of homework. Ready or not, the tremendous ending of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince will leave stunned fans wondering what great and terrible events await in Book 7 if this sinister darkness is meant to light the way.
--Daphne Durham, www.Amazon.com

Awards:

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince has won the following awards:

• British Book Awards 2006 WHSmith book of the year
• Nickelodeon's 2006 KidÕs Choice Awards Book of the Year
• Anthony Award for Best Young Adult Mystery
• Best Science-Fiction/Fantasy Novel award from Disney Adventures magazine
• ALA Best Book for Young Adults
• New York Times Notable Book
• 2005 Quill Children's Chapter / Middle Grade Book of the Year
• Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Seal
• CCBC Choice
• Publishers' Weekly Cuffie
• Booklist Editor's Choice
• Chicago Public Library "Best of the Best"
• New York State ChildrenÕs Choice Award Nominee
• 2006-2007 Indian Paintbrush Book Award Nominee

Buy Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince from Amazon.com:
Hardback | Paperback | Audio CDs | Audio Cassettes | Deluxe Edition

The Audio CDs and Cassettes are unabridged, read by Jim Dale. See Amazon.co.uk for UK versions of these titles. UK paperback available June 23, 2006. US and Canada paperback available July 25, 2006.

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