Bound To Stay Bound

Bulletin for the Center... - 10/01/2005 Harry Potter has emerged from the difficult and tragic year of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (BCCB 9/03) more determined and decidedly less angry, and as rumors of the prophecy revealed in Book Five circulate, the wizarding world wonders if he is indeed the “Chosen One.” While the routines of school life continue—another eccentric new teacher, Professor Slughorn, joins the cast, Harry is named Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team (and is adored by legions of new groupies), and romance is in the air (along with a fair bit of snogging)—there is also a dark cloud of danger looming. Harry is sure that Draco Malfoy and Professor Snape are Death Eaters up to no good, and life-threatening mishaps prove that Hogwarts is not immune to peril. Stakes are now higher than ever as deaths and disappearances ravage the wizarding world, and Dumbledore seems at last ready to confide completely in Harry, placing more information and responsibility into his hands. Lord Voldemort’s presence is noticeably absent here (he now uses Occlumency to block Harry’s connection through the lightning scar), although he still wreaks havoc indirectly by way of his minions; much of the action in the book seems to be a build-up to the inevitable confrontation between Harry and Voldemort in the upcoming final volume. Still, under Dumbledore’s tutelage Harry learns much about pre-Voldemort Tom Riddle, knowledge that may become crucial in later battles. Even without a direct confrontation between Voldemort and Harry, this is a gripping and moving read, with all of the elements that have drawn fans to the Harry Potter saga from the beginning—masterfully suspenseful plotting balanced with imagination and humor, vivid and lovable characters, and a belief in the triumph of good. Upon reaching the book’s conclusion, readers will be left breathlessly awaiting the seventh and final book—with plenty of unanswered questions to ponder in the meantime. - Copyright 2005 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.

School Library Journal - 09/01/2005 Gr 5 Up-Opening just a few weeks after the previous book left off, the penultimate entry in the series is, as the author foretold, the darkest and most unsettling yet. The deeds of Voldemort's Death Eaters are spreading even to the Muggle world, which is enshrouded in a mist caused by Dementors draining hope and happiness. Harry, turning 16, leaves for Hogwarts with the promise of private lessons with Dumbledore. No longer a fearful boy living under the stairs, he is clearly a leader and increasingly isolated as rumors spread that he is the "Chosen One," the only individual capable of defeating Voldemort. Two attempts on students' lives, Harry's conviction that Draco Malfoy has become a Death Eater, and Snape's usual slimy behavior add to the increasing tension. Yet through it all, Harry and his friends are typical teens, sharing homework and messy rooms, rushing to classes and sports practices, and flirting. Ron and Hermione realize their attraction, as do Harry and Ginny. Dozens of plot strands are pulled together as the author positions Harry for the final book. Much information is cleverly conveyed through Dumbledore's use of a Pensieve, a device that allows bottled memories to be shared by Harry and his beloved professor as they apparate to various locations that help explain Voldemort's past. The ending is heart wrenching. Once again, Rowling capably blends literature, mythology, folklore, and religion into a delectable stew. This sixth book may be darker and more difficult, but Potter fans will devour it and begin the long and bittersweet wait for the final installment.-Connie Tyrrell Burns, Mahoney Middle School, South Portland, ME Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information. - Copyright 2005 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 08/01/2005 *Starred Review* With the Harry Potter Express chugging closer to its final destination, the sixth book in the series gets down to business. No more diversions about the welfare of house elves or the intricacies of Quidditch. This penultimate offering is more about tying up loose ends and fleshing out the backstory. Harry and the gang are back at Hogwarts, but the mood is grim. The wizard community is now fully aware that evil has returned, and the citizenry is afraid. Harry has been left bereft by the death of Sirius Black, and there are more killings to come. In a powerful early scene, readers learn that a pivotal figure is seemingly not to be trusted, yet throughout there are hints that he or she is a double agent. Later Harry becomes entangled with a former student known as the Half-Blood Prince, having accidentally acquired the prince’s Potions textbook, but this turns out to be a mixed blessing. Rowling also devotes time to a carefully crafted telling of the story of Lord Voldemort’s early life, which Harry and Dumbledore piece together by plucking other people’s memories. Rowling is at the top of her game here. For those able to reach just beyond the engrossing tale, there is commentary relevant to today: how governments offer false security about perilous situations and how being in a constant state of war affects people’s behavior. Harry is almost 17 now, and this is a book for older readers, who will best understand the moral implications of his choices. - Copyright 2005 Booklist.