We received this review from a 19 year old Magic Morning Show listener and San Antonio native. If you're wondering whether to buy the new Harry Potter book, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince", this may help you decide without spoiling too much of the plot. Thanks to Gerald Martinez for a great review!

'Half-Blood Prince' Proves Wholly Great
By Gerard Martinez

"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" is a masterpiece through and through. It is the richest installment yet of the story of the young wizard-in-training; its pages contain remarkable passages of fear and gloom, comedy and light-heartedness, hard-earned wisdom and courage. Now, more than ever, it has become evident that the Harry Potter books are a phenomenon that helps define what it means to be alive in this day in age. Harry Potter, like all great works of art, embodies the spirit of the age.

With the recent reprehensible and tragic terrorist attacks in London, it becomes harder and harder not to draw parallels between the ongoing war on terrorism and the war in Harry's wizarding world. The evil Lord Voldemort is terrorism personified. Harry and his friends are the forces in our society that dare to fight the evil. There are lessons to be taken here: only in unity and love can we find strength and hope in fighting the shadows that plague our world. On an even more fundamental level, the Harry Potter books exemplify the most dearly-cherished values to human nature: friendship, loyalty, courage, hope, and love. Exactly how "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" allows for such themes to develop more soundly in the 7-part saga, I hesitate to discuss here, lest I spoil the many richly satisfying surprises it holds. Nevertheless, I will carefully try to do so.

Faithful readers will know, of course, that the war between the good and bad forces of the wizarding world has reached a peak, ever since Voldemort's return to power in "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire." "The Half-Blood Prince" opens with ominous passages indicating the level of danger in the world, now with Voldemort at large. Notice that I said world and not the magical world. That is because things have started to happen that blur the distinction between the muggle world and the magic world. Voldemort is killing muggles. Disasters (in the line of collapsing bridges and freak hurricanes) are striking all across the muggle world, with most muggles, of course, still completely ignorant of the true nature of these goings-on. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Magic is in upheaval. Cornelius Fudge has been sacked from the position of Minister of Magic. It becomes apparent that the Order of the Phoenix, led by Albus Dumbledore, is the only hope in the war against Voldemort and his followers, the death-eaters. It would be a mistake, however, to assume that "The Half-Blood Prince" is so preoccupied with the war that it does not devote its attention to the home front of Hogwarts...as in all wars, we are informed, life goes on. Readers get their usual dose of fun, magic, gossip, and intrigue as Harry returns to Hogwarts to continue his wizard training. Among some of the delightful surprises of the school year: a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher with a sweet-tooth for candied pineapple pieces; Ron's new girlfriend and his discovery of the art of French-kissing; a planned wedding for Ron's brother, Bill, and his fiancée Fleur Delcour; a handy new potion; newfound romance for Harry; and some mysterious, if not questionable help, by someone who goes by the name of the Half-Blood Prince.

That's it! That's all I'm going to say about the plot of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince." Suffice it to say, it is a daring and wildly imaginative book that you will have to read to believe. Perhaps most remarkable is the sensitivity with which author J. K. Rowling ages her teenaged heroes. Harry, Ron, and Hermione are no longer the shy and timid children we read of in "The Sorcerer's Stone." They are fully-realized young adults, showing all the painful signs of adolescence. One of the most memorable incidents in "The Half-Blood Prince" is when Harry finds romantic love with a certain-special-someone. By the end of the book, readers intuit that it is true love. I imagine most little girls will read that episode with an especially keen eye, and maybe even a twinge of jealousy...

In its totality, this is a novel to be cherished. Its final episode of tragedy is almost beyond words to describe. After "The Order of the Phoenix", I had wondered if maybe this series was reaching a point at which it would be too dark and gruesome for kids to enjoy. I see now that the Harry Potter books are not intended to be all sunshine and happiness. Life is not all sunshine and happiness. With a wealth of wisdom that I would be proud to expose my children to (if I had any), these books help readers understand many of the mysteries of the human experience. I read a lot of books, some good and some bad. Some vibrant and full of life, and some dull and boring. "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" reminds me why I love reading in the first place.

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