This summer's book hit is in and it's a teen wizard and his friends!

Recently my 15-year-old son and I braved a major book store chain near midnight. The place was haunted by ghosts, had spells cast by witches and wizards, and muggles waiting in long lines. They were all awaiting the opportunity to buy a book. Yes, a book!

Once again J.K. Rowling cast her spell over the world. Young and old alike turned off the T.V., stayed home from the movies, and read books. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince had its spine cracked open and was devoured by young and old alike.

My son took our family copy off to the beach for the week. A strict schedule was enforced as to who could read the book and when. As we each became more involved with the story the schedule was harder to enforce. At one time I used my parental authority to lay a superior claim to the book. Not pretty I admit. Was it worth it? Absolutely!

I knew that someone was going to die. Rowling had stated that there would be love and death in this book. There was plenty of both. Teenage hormones were in play, with teenagers acting, well, like teenagers. Harry and Ron both find love. Many people have made predictions to me about who would pair off. I told them they were crazy. I was vindicated by the logical flow of events. Harry does attempt a Spiderman like nobility at the end of the book, but his friends properly tell him he's loony.

While not all loose ends are tied up in this penultimate book, they are laid out nicely. While characters I felt sorry for act for the Dark Lord, it makes sense. People pay the price for trusting too much, hoping for the good in those with evil intentions.

This is the promise of the Harry Potter series. The young boy we loved from book one has grown, through anger, to be a fine young man. While having lunch at a restaurant my son kept reading. A woman at the next table commented on how she was unhappy with Harry's attitude in book five. She understood it, but it made her sad. For those readers who shared her concerns, do not worry. The Boy Who Lived continues to live not only in body, but in spirit.

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