A review by aman757
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling

adventurous challenging reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

Reading this book, I put more thought into some of the social commentary made with this book series than with the first two books I read from the series. I think there are some messages regarding an intersection of race, gender, and sexuality, some which seem appropriate, some I might not fully agree with, but I think that intersectionality is a theme present in this book series, with sexual orientation being something only alluded to from what I read. One aspect of how this theme is explored I could identify was how the Gryffindor quidditch team captain, Angelina Johnson, was introduced as being black in the previous book. This is something I took note of because I didn't read race or color as specifically identified with any other character in the books I read in this series. This is something that, while I don't think the label of black diminishes the other aspects of this character, including her role of chaser for the quidditch team and her leadership role on the team, I think it adds a layer of significance to her character, and I believe this led me to read further into what role the character may have in the larger social meaning of this book series. I think part of the message I got from reading these books was to embrace imaginative aspects of storytelling, though sometimes I think this caused me to read some parts as being coded language at times around gender, sexuality, and race, particularly race, sometimes not being able to determine if certain parts were meant offensively or not. Angelina makes an appearance in this sixth book also, mostly regarding her role on the Gryffindor quidditch team and her interaction with her fellow team members. Overall, the plot of this book in the series focuses on the students and professors from Hogwarts, and the larger wizard world, preparing for the return of Voldemort and other practioners of evil magic.

The book reaches its climax with a showdown between Voldemort and Dumbledore, with Draco Malfoy present, in which Snape kills Dumbledore. And then concludes with the funeral of Dumbledore.

Some of the dialogue in this ending part of the book were the parts I identified some allusions to sexuality and gender relations.