Johanna

=Johanna=

=//Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows// by J.K. Rowling= Now that Harry has matured and is on the cusp of manhood, those around him are seen in far more detail and with more care than ever before. Rather than just basing opinion on what surface information he has presented, Harry examines and speculates on the reasons for action in those around him, and the characters are more real because of it. In the first several chapters, the reader is presented with some precious observations about Harry’s loved ones --- a blossoming romance, a marriage, the presentation to Harry of a meaningful birthday gift --- that makes the other cold fact of the book that much harder to handle: Harry’s world is a world at war.

At the very time when the characters become that much more precious to the reader, their lives hang in the balance --- from the moment Harry Ron, Hermione and numerous Order of the Phoenix members depart 4 Privet Drive and are ambushed, it is clear that a war has begun. When everyone finally regroups at the Burrow several hours later, some arrive injured --- and some never return.

True to his resolve, Harry goes willingly into this battle. Gone is the safety of Hogwarts and of the structured familiarity of the school year. Rowling creates a deep sense of unease and restlessness by yanking this security blanket from both her characters and her readers. Though Harry is clearly on a quest, there are many false starts, delayed plans and poorly-executed missions. The reader can very much empathize when Ron, Hermione and Harry, roughing it in the woods on their frustrating search for the Horcruxes, become cranky, sniping and petty.

In the end, the survivors of this battle cling to each other with love that has deepened and grown over the past nine years. Rowling, who began writing this story longhand over a decade ago, in a café while her infant daughter slept in a stroller beside her, believes unwaveringly in the fundamentals of love and family. She reminds readers that these things are more important than magic, fame, power or glory --- and so does Harry. (teenreads.com review)


 * Why It's Important to Me:** I will never forget the first time I read //Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone,// the very first installation of the enthralling Harry Potter series. Unconvinced that the book would be anything out of the ordinary, I read it anyway, and I was **completely** wrong. Never has a book (or in this case, a series) been so important and endearing to me. The life lessons and moral ideas within every single book are never ending. I chose //The Deathly Hallows// in particular because it is, in my opinion, the most exciting, most suspenseful, most powerful book of all 7. Because it is the ending to such an epic series, it is bound to keep you on the edge of your seat. It is moving to see how much the characters have grown and developed within the 7 years that the series takes place. It is almost as if you know these characters personally. I will always be a die-hard Potter fan!

=**//Fever 1793//** **by** Laurie Halse Anderson=  During the summer of 1793, Mattie Cook lives above the family coffee shop with her widowed mother and grandfather. Mattie spends her days avoiding chores and making plans to turn the family business into the finest Philadelphia has ever seen. But then the fever breaks out. Disease sweeps the streets, destroying everything in its path and turning Mattie's world upside down. At her feverish mother's insistence, Mattie flees the city with her grandfather. But she soon discovers that the sickness is everywhere, and Mattie must learn quickly how to survive in a city turned frantic with disease. (Barnes & Noble review)


 * Why It's Important to Me:** Not only is the book important to me because I think it is a wonderful, powerful story, but it holds a sentimental value to me because it is truly what gave me an interest in reading. I remember 7 years ago, in fourth grade, our teacher read this book aloud to the class. I liked it so much that I bought the book and reread it at least 3 times within a year. It is not a challenging read, but it is suspenseful (I love suspense) and moving. It is sad, but has a happy ending. Overall, it is a really balanced book, that people of any age can enjoy and connect with, even though it is set in the 1700's!

checked 10/20, mrs j 60 points