How?

In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Harry has grown up, and the book is a little more grown up too.  One of the things I love about J.K. Rowling is that she writes with depth, she doesn't play it down for children.  But even with that, the series matches Harry so the first book is much more magical (which is why it's my favorite) while the later books are older and more real.  Rowling never writes one dimensional characters, but we get to see more because Harry is old enough to understand more.

Ok I've blabbed on long enough here's the quick summary.

"But he understood at last what Dumbledore had been trying to tell him.  It was, he thought, the difference between being dragged into the arena to face a battle to the death and walking into the arena with your head held high" 

Accepting your fate...that's kids stuff  

Oh Harry

When I first read Order of the Phoenix I remember feeling so much empathy for Harry.  He was stuck at Pivet Drive, missing out on all the action.  But when I reread it this summer I felt nothing but annoyance.  I was frustrated with Harry and wanted to shout at him.  So that probably means I am getting old, but not too old as I still hate Umbridge as much as ever.

To sum it all up in one sentence:

"so does that mean that...that one of us has got to kill the other one...in the end? 

Facing your destiny...that's kids stuff. 

Goals

This year one of my goals is to read all of the Reading Olympic's books before the competition in May,  I usually get pretty close but there are always two or three books that I just didn't get to.  This is double trouble because, one, I don't feel as confident judging those answers; and two, often the questions contain major spoilers.

First up was Ten Days a Madwoman: The Daring Life and Turbulent Times of the Original "Girl Reporter Nellie Bly by Deborah Noyes.  I was eager to read this one because we reference Nellie Bly as part of the 7th grade curriculum and I would love to be able to provide a book for kids who are looking to find out more.  And if they happen to get involved in Reading Olympics too...well you won't see me complaining.

Ten Days a Madwoman was a fascinating read.  I was only familiar with Nellie's time in the "madhouse" and I was very impressed with her illustrious career that followed.  Sometimes I think people get biographies written about them just because they were famous and their lives weren't actually that interesting.  Nellie Bly definitely deserved a biography, her life was fascinating.

This book is also well arranged with a good mix of newspaper clippings, diary entries, and photographs supplementing the story line.  I read this on my Kindle while I was in Africa and I have to admit the electronic formatting was not that great.  I'm hoping the print edition showcases all those primary sources in a better way.
 

Exposing corruption...that's kids stuff.  

And We're Back

Well that was an incredible summer break.  For those of you who don't know I spent the majority of my summer in Lusaka, Zambia interning at Chisomo Centre.  Chisomo provides food, counseling, and education for children who are living on the streets and my role was to further develop their education curriculum.  It was an amazing experience and, hopefully, the start of a lifelong partnership with Chisomo.  

But now I am back.  I'm excited to return to regular life here in the US and that includes blogging!  Next up is the fourth installment in the Harry Potter series Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.  Even though a ton happens in this book the one sentence summary was actually quite easy. 

"Lord Voldermort had risen again." 

Facing what comes...that's kids stuff.