Lawson’s review of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Book 7) by J.K. Rowling
YA fantasy fiction hardcover released by Arthur A. Levine Books 21 Jul 07

Alright, I know, I KNOW, this is a romance blog and here I am talking about Harry Potter. What could I be thinking? I felt this book deserves to be discussed however. And really, unless you’ve been in a hole, hiding away for the last 10 years and have only just now gotten internet access and thus never heard of Harry Potter, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with blogging about the Boy Who Lived. Especially since Meljean Brook referenced Harry Potter (or rather He Who Shall Not Be Named) in Demon Angel. 

Just for posterity’s sake here’s the basic history of the series so far: Harry Potter is a legend in the wizarding world for being the only person to survive the killing curse. He was one year old when Voldemort attempted to kill him, but it backfired and Voldemort spent the next 10 years trying to come back so he could have world domination. Book 1 is Harry’s first year at Hogwart’s, a boarding school for witches and wizards. The next six follow his adventures, coming of age, and battles with Voldemort who goes from a spirit and less of a man to a restrengthened evil wizard bent, again, on world domination as soon as he can kill Harry Potter, ’cause it’s making him look really bad and he doesn’t like to be thwarted.

Like the other six, Harry starts off the book at the Dursley’s, his aunt and uncle, house in London during the summer vacation. He’s about to turn seventeen, the legal age for wizards, and he’s being moved to a safe house so that he can be protected from Voldemort. He’s being swept away by the Order of the Phoenix and of course there’s a massive plan and diversion.

Harry and six doppelgangers fly off in various directions and are set upon by Death Eaters, followers of Voldemort. There’s mass chaos, Voldemort figures out which one is the real Harry, but Harry gets away, but two of his friends die in the escape. No, I’m not telling who dies.

Harry gets to the Burrow, childhood home of his best friend Ron Weasly, where he, Ron and Hermione Granger plan to go off on one last quest given to them by their former headmaster Albus Dumbledore (he died at the end of Book Six) which could help stop Voldemort once and for all. First though, they’ve got to attend the wedding of one of Ron’s many older brothers, but in the confusion at the reception when they find out the Ministry of Magic has been compromised by Voldemort, the three friends escape and venture off to fulfill their quest.

Even though this is marketed to young adults, the series has always dealt with some very adult themes. Death is a big one, due to the deaths of Harry’s parents and Voldemorts constant fear of death. In defense of Harry there’s a lot of people that die in this one as well, and character’s acceptance of death is one thing that defines the good and the bad.

Harry’s coming of age is another theme that goes through all of the books. He goes from 10 to 17 over the course of the books and he has to deal with all the things a normal adolescent does: girls, acceptance, hormones, friendships and self discovery. There were times in the last few books where Harry got rather whiney, but that was rather absent in this one, even though he didn’t have his mentor, Dumbledore, there to help guide him.

Leadership is a big idea dealt with through many different things. Dumbledore’s leadership of Harry and Hogwarts. Harry’s leadership of his friends and those around him because of his legendary status. Voldemort’s leadership of his Death Eaters, his justice on the world and his ideas on how to deal with not only the wizards but muggles (non magical people). Even the fact that leadership is sometimes helping others do the work and you have to step up to do your part.

Rowling throughout the book references things from the series, though not huge things, but every thing seems to get tied in somehow, even if it seemed inconsequential three books ago. By the end it seems that Harry, as well as Ron and Hermione, have seen the world not as innocent children, but as people who have been through that process that everyone has to go through to get through life: adolescence.

Grade: A+

Summary:

The heart of Book 7 is a hero’s mission–not just in Harry’s quest for the Horcruxes, but in his journey from boy to man–and Harry faces more danger than that found in all six books combined, from the direct threat of the Death Eaters and you-know-who, to the subtle perils of losing faith in himself. Attentive readers would do well to remember Dumbledore’s warning about making the choice between “what is right and what is easy,” and know that Rowling applies the same difficult principle to the conclusion of her series. While fans will find the answers to hotly speculated questions about Dumbledore, Snape, and you-know-who, it is a testament to Rowling’s skill as a storyteller that even the most astute and careful reader will be taken by surprise.

No excerpt available.

Other books in the series (mass market or trade paperback linked where available):