Book Review: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (J.K. Rowling)

by Nathan

After finishing J.K. Rowling’s latest book, “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince”, the sixth book in the “Harry Potter” saga in about 5 hours, all I have to say is “Wow!” This book may yet be the greatest she has ever written.

The opening chapter takes a look at the relationship between the Muggle government and the wizard government. The new Minister of Magic is announced, and the Muggle government is given the truth about what’s happening in the wizarding world. This chapter was actually supposed to be an opening chapter of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” the first book in the series.

Then, we find Harry in his aunt and uncle’s house, where he is not upset about Sirius’s death. Professor Dumbledore intrudes into the Dursley’s household, to talk to the Dursley’s and Harry. Harry is told that Sirius left him everything, and that he has to spend one more summer with the Dursley’s before he’s out. In the encompassing chapters, we discover an old man, Horace Slughorn, who Harry and Dumbledore push out of retirement and back into teaching, we discover Snape, who is starting to show his true loyalty, Malfoy’s secret plan, given to him from Voldemort, and the engagement between Bill Weasly and Fleur Delacour.

As we travel back to Hogwarts, many discoveries are made, and the action is growing. Someone tries to attack Katie Bell in Hogsmeade, Hermione helping, or hindering, the Griffindor Quidditch tryouts, and Snape getting to teach his favorite subject- Defense Against the Dark Arts.

Meanwhile, Harry and Dumbledore have secret classes together, in which they are viewing memories from a pensive (the cover scene) about Tom Riddle’s childhood, and why he became Lord Voldemort. Dumbledore believes this is the way for Harry to fulfill his destiny and defeat him- by finding weaknesses from his childhood. Harry is also being helped in potions class by a mysterious Half-Blood Prince, who is giving him written instruction in his class textbook.

As we enter the final chapters of the book, Harry will make many more gruesome discoveries about his past, and the future, Snape openly shows his true loyalty, someone important dies (I won’t say who in case you haven’t read it yet), and the mysterious Half-Blood Prince exhibits himself at last, and the trio is left to examine their futures as a funeral (for the dead person) is departing.

On a whole, I would rate this book very high (probably a 9.7 out of 10), recommend it to anyone, and believe it’s the best one yet. However, I still doubt (and hate) why she chose the person to die that she did. This book is also very different from the other ones. This book, as the book jacket says is all about the “home front” in the second war against Voldemort.

Though it’s dark, it does have some humorous spots to enjoy.

And yes, I was one of those “weirdo’s,” who went to Border’s at midnight on the day of its release to get the book.