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Book Review By Dana Marshall
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling

It's Harry Potter's 6th year at Hogwarts School of Wizardary. The headmaster himself, Albus Dumbledore, picks up Harry from his aunt and uncle's house, so that he can stay with his friend, Ron Weasley. He makes Quidditch Captain. He's finally received results of his O.W.L.S. (Ordinary Wizarding Levels), and did not get a good enough grade in Potions class to continue in his pursuit to be an Auror (Wizarding Police), or so he thinks. A new teacher has arrived at Hogwarts, taking over the Potions classes, and Harry's grade allows him to continue, however, he didn't pick up any supplies or the required book needed. This doesn't pose a problem, as the new Potions teacher, Professor Slughorn, lets Harry borrow a textbook. Harry finds this textbook filled with notations and other spells that will help him in Potions and other classes as well. The book belongs to the "Half-Blood Prince". Professor Dumbledore advises Harry that he will be giving him "special" lessons, which turn out to be delving into the memories of other wizard's, mostly to understand Lord Voldemort (He Who Shall Not Be Named) was as a student while at Hogwarts.

Due to the Potions book, Harry exceeds all the other students in Potions, causing Hermione (one of Harry's closest friends), to question the book's origins, or whether it should even be used. Even after Harry receives a new book from a magical bookstore, he switches covers, and continues to use the "Half-Blood Prince's" book.

Harry's Quidditch team is beset by problems, temporarily losing two members to injuries. One of the temporary replacements tries to take over as Captain and Harry must deal with this problem as well as normal school work. In the end, however, the team, now with both members back, wins the last game, and the famed Quidditch cup.

On the front with the fight against He Who Shall Not Be Named, is not going well. Wizards are disappearing, and many wonder if they have been kidnapped, or have joined the "other" side.

In the end, however, the wizarding world is dealt a serious blow when an ally is revealed to be working for Lord Voldemort.


Plot & Themes
Tone of book - very upbeat
Coming of age Yes
Youngster becomes - a powerful magician
Romance Yes
Romance plotlets: - lovers spending a lot of time bickering
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 10 %
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40 %
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40 %
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 10 %

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status:
Age: - a teen
If magical mental powers: - can cast many different spells

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - long-lived adults
Profession/status:
Has magical powers? Yes
Magical/mental powers of main antagonist: - can cast all sorts of spells
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - almost none
How sensitive is this character?
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Very much smarter than other characters

Setting
Terrain
Earth setting: - current (early 21st century)
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Writing Style
Accounts of torture and death? - explicit references to deaths
Sex in book? Yes
What kind of sex: - descript of kissing
How much dialogue? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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