Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Illustrator: Mary GrandPré

Reading Level: 9-12

As another tick in the time line is added to the life of Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling begins the task of linking the elements of her previous novels to bring about the conclusion to her story. Harry is, as always, in the middle of the action, but never before has he been so involved or so accurate in is suspicions.

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince Plot

Two weeks after the end of his fifth term at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Harry is overjoyed to learn that in only a few days he will be taken to his friend Ron's house for the remainder of the summer. Even better, Professor Dumbledore himself will be the one to escort him to the Burrow. After Dumbledore arrives and has a word with his aunt and uncle, Harry is taken first to the home of a former Hogwarts teacher whom Dumbledore hopes Harry will be able to convince to return to the school.

In his sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Harry has taken on an army of responsibilities. On top of his usual classes, private lessons with Dumbledore provide him with a history of Lord Voldemort's life and a means of destroying him, but nothing holds his attention more than the suspicious activity of a certain student and teacher. Between acting as Gryffindor's Quiddich captain, homework, friends and girl trouble, Harry struggles to find time to investigate everything. With Voldemort's "Death Eaters" attacking frequently in the wizarding world, and mysterious attacks on students at Hogwarts, Harry must hurry to reveal the truth before it is too late.

Half Blood Prince Overall Style & Tone

In her much-anticipated sixth book, Rowling holds fast to the idea that if it isn't broke - don't fix it. Carrying her through novel after novel, the author's distinct British voice combined with her keen sense for story telling provide the story of the Half-Blood Prince with a well-thought out past, an intriguing present and a very action-packed future. Dropping hints in all the appropriate places, Rowling continues to pull out all the stops, creating an intense introduction to the conclusion to her series.

As the story of Harry Potter falls into a more reflective state, though the corners are crawling with threats, the clouds have begun to collect over head and the tale of the Half-Blood Prince is only the calm before the storm. Subtle instances of the static tension that has been building since book one become an undertone, dancing just under the radar as Harry discovers more about his enemy.

Characterization & Setting

With the introduction of only one new influence, Rowling allows her well-established characters room to flourish on the page. As Harry and his friends are now teenagers they become subject to their human rights of passage and the adults are a little more prone to take them seriously. Harry himself has matured a great deal, perhaps because Dumbledore is no longer protecting him from the truth of his destiny, and steps up to the plate with the composure of a true hero.

Most of Half Blood Prince takes place within the safety of the Hogwarts castle and grounds with the usual stops at the Dursley home, the Burrow and Hogsmeade, all familiar places to loyal readers. While Rowling continues to decorate her settings, she leaves much to the imagination, banking on the fact that anyone who is reading this book has read her previous novels. Adding to the mystery of the series; however, the author has slipped some new sights to see within her story, mostly places visited through memories, and continues to show off her talents at perfected ambiance.

Illustration

Artist Mary GrandPré returns to the world of Harry Potter, invoking the imagination with her own sense of magic and mystery. With a firm grip on Rowling's world, her illustrations carry a torch down the path the author has beaten out of the bush, illuminating the forest and casting a beam of light for readers to follow into each chapter.

Final Thoughts

Without revealing any of the secrets contained between its covers, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince provides the series with a major turn. A lot of the events and situations are not surprising; however, the things that some readers have been expecting for a long time are both fun and devastating to read. Despite the obvious twists, Half Blood Prince delivers a shocking blow to the fate of Harry Potter and Rowling's conclusion to his story in book seven will no doubt be a fierce battle between good and evil.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Links

• J.K. Rowling's Official Site
• Mary GrandPré's Official Site
• The "Ultimate" Harry Potter Site
• Veristaserum.Com - Everything Harry Potter