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

*****

         After fifteen years of peace in the Wizarding World, the war against Voldemort is back on.  The Ministry is doing its best to protect everyone, but it can only do so much against a powerful, terrifying enemy who works in stealth.  Harry Potter is coming to terms with the prophecy he heard last summer, a prophecy that brings him to the center of this war.  Now that Harry knows what he should have known years before, Dumbledore has offered to help him.  Dumbledore, the only person Voldemort ever feared, knows more about Tom Riddle's life than anyone else.  He promises to take Harry on his journey through the past, looking for the key to defeat Voldemort.
         At Hogwarts, meanwhile, strange things are happening.  Students are being poisoned, cursed, and attacked.  Nobody knows how, but Harry has a theory.  He suspects that Draco Malfoy has been made a Death Eater (something that nobody else believes) and he's determined to catch Draco in the act.  Throughout the year, Harry takes advice from the notes of a former Hogwarts student, the self-proclaimed Half-Blood Prince, who might be more trouble than he's worth.  Harry and Dumbledore dig deeper into Riddle's murky past, until they finally hit the moment when all of the pieces come together.
It is then that Harry finally understands the magnitude of what must be done to stop Voldemort once and for all.

         I think by now we've established that I am a Harry Potter fan, but I've got to say that book six is not my favorite.  True, there are some seriously exciting parts: Quidditch and romance and poison and adventures with Dumbledore.  Maybe it comes down to the fact that, goody two-shoes that I am, I hate having to sit around while characters make stupid decisions in books.  Most characters do - trust me, I know.  But here we have Harry, and he's taking advice from a book again.  I mean, what happened the last time you listened to a book, Harry?  TOM RIDDLE POPPED OUT!  Throughout book six, I get this horrible sense of impending doom, even when I know exactly what is going to happen.  That being said, this book also contains some of my favorite parts of the series (Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, Harry's and Ron's relationships, and Harry's final trip with Dumbledore, to name a few).  And those things must outweigh the bad, because I still find it in me to give The Half-Blood Prince five stars ...

Rating: 5/5
Completed: June 25, 2013

Two Harry Potter reviews in a row!  And this one was particularly rambling.  Sorry, people - new content coming up soon.

BookWatch: Allegiant (Veronica Roth)

         Most people familiar with the world of YA books are probably also familiar with the dystopian future trend that's been big for the past few years.  One of the most exciting dystopian series, in my opinion, comes from Chicago writer Veronica Roth ...
         That's right - the Divergent trilogy.
         It is now officially freak-out time, because the third and final book in the series, Allegiant, comes out on October 22 (nine days from today).

         I, for one, can't wait to find out what happens to Tris et al, even if I was a bit annoyed with her in Insurgent.  Hopefully I'll have some time to skim through the books and remind myself of the finer plot points.  And, more importantly, fingers crossed that I don't have too much homework the week the book is released!

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (J.K. Rowling)

 *****

         Harry Potter has never enjoyed summer with the Dursleys less.  Haunted by the death of Cedric Diggory and anxious for signs of the return of Lord Voldemort, Harry wants to hear news of the Wizarding world.  When he finally does, it is nothing like he had expected.  The Ministry of Magic denies that Voldemort has returned; wizards everywhere think Harry is an attention-seeking liar; and Dumbledore has revived the Order of the Phoenix, a secret society and the only force fighting against Voldemort.  At Order of the Phoenix headquarters, everybody is determined to keep Harry in the dark.  Harry is trying to get through the usual Hogwarts drama on top of everything else: evil teachers, future-altering exams, gossip, rule breaking, and budding romance.  All the while, he knows something much worse is brewing outside the walls of Hogwarts.  And something about the strange dreams Harry has been having makes him wonder how soon it will be before he becomes a part of it.

         Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is one of my favorite books in the series (and also one of my favorite books ever).  My sister divides Harry Potter into three categories: Baby Harry, Angsty Harry, and Adult Harry.  Order of the Phoenix is most definitely considered Angsty Harry (hint: try to count the number of all-caps explosions Harry has in this book).  I know that some Potter fans think Angsty Harry is really annoying, but I kind of like it.  And after all Harry has been through, and all the pressure he feels, isn't it normal for him to get emotional?
         By the time Harry gets to his fifth year, he has seen how twisted and evil some people can be.  For him, it's more than just a glimpse into the "real world".  I would argue that it's in Harry's fifth year that he figures out what he cares about and believes in.  The realizations he comes to after all the angst prepare him to take on the challenges Dumbledore will throw at him the following year.
         Apart from all the seriousness, though, this book is really exciting.  You can't help but feel giddy as Harry and the D.A. defy Umbridge and learn defensive magic behind her back.  You have to laugh out loud at Fred and George's various attempts to cause mayhem in the school, while the teachers turn a blind eye and even encourage it.  You feel your stomach flip-flop when Harry decides that he has to take matters into his own hands to figure out what's going on.  I would even go so far as to say it's epic.

Rating: 5/5
Completed: June 19, 2013

Starting this summer, my sister and I started reading Harry Potter aloud to our younger sister.  It's been really fun to look back at all of my favorite parts of the story and live vicariously through her experience.  For those of you who have read the series, which is your favorite book?  Favorite character?  Favorite scene?  Post in the comments!

Dying to Know You (Aidan Chambers)

***

         Karl knows he loves Fiorella, but that is not enough for her.  She wants proof - written proof, that is, in the form of a Q&A essay.  As girl who considers herself a writer, this seems to be the most romantic thing Fiorella can imagine.  But for Karl, who is dyslexic, it only inspires terror.  Will Fiorella, lover of poetry, reject him when she discovers that he hates to read?
         Instead of telling her the truth, Karl asks Fiorella's favorite author to answer the questions for him.  The lonely novelist reluctantly agrees, and in the process starts a friendship with the shy, reserved plumber that is Karl.  They help each other move beyond the past and restart life on their own terms.

         This time, I'm facing the opposite problem from my last review.  Now I can't remember what I didn't like about this book that merited three stars instead of, say, four.  Aaaaarghhh!  What I will say is that this isn't your typical teen novel.  If you're looking for a super-cute romance, you're not going to get it.  Karl isn't exactly your run-of-the-mill teenaged boy, and things don't turn out the way you would expect them to.  That's not necessarily a bad thing, but this way you won't fall victim to false advertising.  If you are in the mood for a book that's a little more thoughtful and introspective (which isn't all that common in YA lit), this would be a good option.

Rating: 3/5
Completed: June 10, 2013

The Best Night of Your (Pathetic) Life (Tara Altebrando)

***

         Graduating high school senior Mary has always been a goody two-shoes at school.  She's done everything she could to get into her dream school, Georgetown.  Her college dreams haven't worked out (while the dreams of classmates like jock and bully Jake Barbone, on the other hand, have).  But none of that matters now, because the annual Senior Week Scavenger Hunt is on and Mary is determined that her team will win.  If they do, it will prove that your social status in high school doesn't define you for the rest of your life.  But as the games begin, the drama that has plagued Mary throughout high school is running rampant.  She and her friends will have to rise above it all if they're going to have any chance of winning.

         This book was good, but not awesome.  Mary had her flaws as a character, but could have had more in the way of redeeming qualities to balance things out.  I'm glad I read this book this year (as opposed to the same time next year) because I think I would have become thoroughly depressed by the conclusion if I were a graduating senior.  Mary starts out feeling so determined to win, and so self-righteous, that it takes a while before she realizes that she's not the super-nice girl that she thought she was.  In the end, Mary discovers that she has wasted her life up until now obsessing over social drama and judging others without thinking about what she has done to them.  This reflection over her personality and relationships gets you thinking, and Mary does come out better in the end because of it.  For me, however, it was frustrating that most of the book was spent listening to Mary's whining.  Many of the other characters were also annoying.  To be fair, though, it was a pretty neat scavenger hunt and everyone seemed to learn a good lesson about themselves and becoming adults.

Rating: 3/5
Completed: May 26, 2013

P.S. - Sorry about my little rant there.  I usually try to give a fair review, get the whole picture, and all that . . . But sometimes books can be so annoying!  And it's funny, once there are two months between you and a book, how selective your memory can be.  I know I didn't hate this book (I did give it three stars at the time; I always try to rate a book right away) but I can't remember for the life of me what I liked about it!  Sorry, Tara Altenbrando.
Has a book ever been ruined for you by some annoying character trait or other little thing you couldn't get your mind off?  Which book, and why?  Post in the comments.

This is What Happy Looks Like (Jennifer E. Smith)

****

Author of The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

         When Ellie O'Neill gets an email from a total stranger who meant to contact his pig-sitter, she replies only to let him know that he got the wrong address.  But one email quickly expands into an online friendship, where Ellie's identity and past just don't matter.
         While Ellie is happy to keep their relationship strictly on the internet, Graham Larkin can't help but want to meet this faceless girl.  And when he gets his chance, filming his next movie in Ellie's hometown, he jumps at it.  When Graham arrives, things get complicated.  Ellie is horrified to discover how famous Graham really is, and even more horrified at the thought of being seen in public with him. If Ellie gets media attention, the result could be the end of her peaceful, secretive life in Maine.

         This was another cute book by Jennifer E. Smith, and a perfect summer quick-read (it took me about a day to get through it).  Ellie and Graham both have their personal problems but are nevertheless likable.  Just like in Statistical Probability, the plot has an overall positive vibe.  However, there is conflict outside of the emotional strife that usually goes along with romance, so it doesn't get too boring.   If you're looking for a fun, light read, This is What Happy Looks Like would be a good choice.

Rating: 4/5
Completed: May 18, 2013

Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore (Robin Sloan)

****

         When you dive into this story, the first person you meet is Clay Jannon.  Clay is a young, modern, and unemployed graphic designer living in San Francisco.  His wanderings in search of the right job lead him to Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, an outdated establishment in a rather seedy part of town.  Without really thinking, Clay takes the graveyard shift at the store.  To the front of the shop, there is a small selection of current-day books, which nobody ever seems to buy.  The back of the store, however, is home to a vast collection - a collection Clay is forbidden from looking at.  Most of Clay's customers borrow books from the back of the store.  These people are very eccentric, and Clay is given the task of noting their appearance and state of mind in a large logbook every time they visit.
         Soon Clay, bored of long, lonely nights at the store, begins to investigate the nature of the forbidden books.  When he discovers they're all written in code, he enlists the help of several of his friends - Neel Shah, CEO; Mat Mittenbrand, set designer; and Kat Potente, Googler - to figure out the mystery behind the store.  What they uncover leads them to a secret society trying to answer an age-old question, a question that they become determined to answer.

         People say that you should never judge a book by its cover, but let's face it: most of us do anyway.  This book's cover is simple and attractive, but better yet is the fact that it glows in the dark.  Between the great cover and the inside jacket that promised code breaking, old books, and secret societies, I was sold.  I ended up liking this book a lot.  The characters and plot highlight the very relevant transition from the printed word to the digital word.  Every character is well-developed, the kind of people you would love to meet.  The way that these book sellers, code breakers, secret keepers, and nerds interact makes for a great story.

Rating: 4/5
Completed: May 7, 2013