Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Scholastic; 2007,

ISBN: 0545139708.

Reader’s Annotation

Harry, with the help of Hermoine and Ron, races to find the remaining horcruxes and destroy them before Lord Voldemort succeeds in conquering the wizarding world.

Plot Summary

After the death of Professor Dumbledore, the wizarding world looks to Harry as its greatest hope in fighting the evil Lord Voldemort.  Voldemort and his Death Eaters have become brazon in terrorizing the wizarding world and the world of muggles alike.  The foundational ideal for Voldemort and his followers is that pure-blooded wizards are superior to anyone else.  Muggles and “muggle-borns” are the lowest of the low, and must be put in their place.  As the Death Eaters focus on the campaign to “cleanse” the wizarding world of anything but pure-bloods, Voldemort grow suspicious that Harry has figured out about the horcruxes, and has even destroyed several.  The drama intensifies as the story progresses, until the final showdown in “the Battle for Hogwarts”.

Critical Evaluation

Rarely has the literary world seen books as wildly popular as the Harry Potter series, and the seventh book and final book could not have been more anticipated.  Rowling doesn’t disappoint with this one.  This story is the only Harry Potter novel that doesn’t take place mainly at Hogwarts.  Harry, Hermoine, and Ron spend most of the book on their urgent quest to find destroy the horcruxes, and the storyline naturally focuses on their relationships.  The campaign of the Death Eaters bears an uncomfortable resemblance to the Nazis in WWII Germany.  The first half of the novel is fascinating, but ultimately serves as a slow build-up to the amazing climax of the novel in the second half.  Rowling brings closure and ties up a lot of loose ends with this novel.  It satisfies, and yet breaks your heart too.

Information about the Author

Born in July 1965 in England, J.K. (Joanne Kathleen) Rowling grew up in Chepstow, Gwent.  After graduating with a degree in French and Classics from Exeter University, Rowling worked as postgraduate for Amnesty International in Paris for one year.  She began writing Harry Potter on a delayed commuter train, and over the next five years, outlined all seven novels. Rowling lives in England with her husband and children, Jessica, David and MacKenzie.  For more information go to:http://www.jkrowling.com/accessible/en/

Genre

Fantasy

Curriculum Tie-ins

None

Booktalk Ideas

1. Discuss the connection that Harry has to Voldemort.
2. Do you see parallels to the Death Eaters’ prejudice against non-pure bloods in our own society today or in our history?

Reading level/Interest age

Ages 9+

Challenge Issues/Challenge Response Ideas

• Witchcraft/Magic
• Be ready with a copy of the library’s selection policy
• Be familiar with similar works in the collection
• Refer to YALSA’s site: http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/booklistsawards/odyssey/2008odyssey.cfm

Why I included this work

After six wonderful books, the seventh doesn’t disappoint!

http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/teenreading/teenstopten/ttt2008.cfm

Great Quote from the Book:

Albus Dumbledore: “It is a curious thing, Harry, but perhaps those who are best suited to power are those who have never sought it. Those who, like you, have leadership thrust upon them, and take up the mantle because they must, and find to their own surprise that they wear it well.”