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Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

(2005, Fiction - Fantasy, Illustrated by Mary Grandpré)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 8, age appropriate for kids over 11; suggested age 11.

  • Is it any good?

    5.0

  • Common Sense says

    Powerful penultimate book mines Voldemort's past.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 11 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Not an issue.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Lots, and increasingly vicious and bloody, with numerous deaths, and with greater consequences as the series progresses, including another death of a major character.

  • Sex:

    Lots of kissing (or snogging, in the British vernacular that is used in the book).

  • Language:

    A few mild epithets.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    It is accepted in the wizard world that teens drink various imaginary brews, such as butterbeer. Adults get drunk.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Parents need to know that, as the series progresses and the characters age, this is less and less aimed at younger children. The violence is more violent, the mood darker, the consequences greater. A major and beloved character is killed, apparently in vain, and the emotional consequences are great.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about fate. Harry and Dumbledore discuss the ways in which we create our own fate. Do you believe in fate? How much control do you believe you have over your own fate?
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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    FantasyFiend12
    I rate this title on for age 9 and give it 5.0

    This is a beautiful fantasy book with a genius plot and completely unexpected and in my mind brilliant end. A must read.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  2. Kid Reviewer Age 9
    benpotter100
    I rate this title on for age 11 and give it 4.0

    Flag as inappropriate
  3. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    labluver6
    Lives in Arizona
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Unbelievably Great Book!

    This Harry Potter was a very exciting, surprising page-turner. There was much action and a little violence but definitely a really great book for kids and adults all the same.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  4. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    KScottA
    I rate this title on for age 11 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    INCREDIBLE book puts into perspective just how desperate the struggle against Voldemort really is.

    Relationships bloom, the stakes are raised, and we begin to learn more about the enemy, while at the same time losing allies and gaining new and dangerous foes. What more could you ask from the penultimate book in the series? Nothing, as far as I am concerned. I could go on and on, but CSM has already said enough for me. This is a simply incredible book that I reccomend to everyone, so long as they've read the other 5. Read them. You won't regret it.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details (1) | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  5. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    Sophie.Bear
    Lives in Colorado
    I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Negative message

    The Best book for 11+

    I think that this book is one of the best books in the Harry Potter series. It my even be THE best.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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