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

Review by Miles Hewitt

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is by far the best book in the Potter series. J.K. Rowling has again proven her mastery over an increasingly complicated world unknown to us “muggles”, or non-magical people. After months of hype and hilarity, spoilers and ¬surprises, fan bases and fan fiction, when DH was released on the 21st July of 2007, the world went crazy. The New York Times book section printed gigantic posters of the cover of the last book, proclaiming “Celebrate with the world”, which I still have pinned up in my room. Borders booksellers hosted live Harry Potter podcasts by MuggleCast, PotterCast, and the Leaky Mug. Fan sites published books of predictions; MuggleNet.com’s What will happen in Harry Potter 7 ranked among the top of the New York Times bestseller list for several weeks in a row. There were midnight release parties from London to Luxemburg, Tokyo to Transylvania, and even at Powell’s City of Books in Portland, where I, myself, went to wait the six hours with a couple of friends for the last book. Here’s why fans’ thirsts were quenched in the last book:
JKR pulled out all the stops in the last book. Between the return of fan favorites Remus Lupin and the Weasley Twins, and new additions like Xenophilius Lovegood, the mystery and suspense keeps building to the very end. With a combination of heart-pounding action, suspenseful mysteries, intriguing romance, gut-wrenching sorrow, increased swearing and a great blend of characters old and new, DH is the perfect ending to a great series.
A quick outline of the plot (skip the next three paragraphs if you don’t wish to be spoiled): Harry is transported to his friend Ron’s house for his sister’s wedding. When the wedding is interrupted by Voldemort’s army of Death Eaters and Ministry of Magic officials, Harry, Ron, and Hermione flee to Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place, London, the former residence of Harry’s godfather, Sirius. With the help of the slavelike house-elf Kreacher, Harry discovers that one of the Horcruxes—powerful objects containing pieces of Voldemort’s soul that must be destroyed—is owned by a Ministry of Magic official. This one, taking the form of a locket with a green serpent emblazoned on the front, takes a while to get, but eventually, with Ministry officials on their tale, they escape to woods in northern Britain.
Ron, upset of the lack of food and slow progress, leaves the group, to great anguish on Hermione's part. When he returns, he brings news of Snatchers—groups of people who sell out wizards and witches born to Muggle parents—and helps Harry to destroy the locket Horcrux.
Inspired by Ron’s return, the trio starts to uncover the mysterious past of Dumbledore, Harry’s mentor up till the sixth book, in which he dies. Harry refuses to believe the startling truths starting to take form about Dumbledore—and his plots for domination over muggles? What are Dumbledore’s true motives? Will Harry and co. destroy the Horcruxes? And who, who is Severus Snape really working for? You’ll have to read this amazing book to find out!
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Miles Hewitt is a great writer for Teen Reviews. You can find him online at youtube.com/user/hobocation.