Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince--J.K. Rowling

No spoilers here.

Much better than the last one...it felt much tighter, like it was actually edited. I don't want to give anything away, so I'll just say that I enjoyed it and am looking forward to the next one and the conclusion of the series.

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Reading: Nothing
On My Nightstand: ??

Sleep Rough Tonight--Ian Bone

Alex used to be cool... until his dad called the police and ratted on Alex's criminal friend, the Jockey. The Jockey gets sent to juvenile detention and Alex is ostracized. He's willing to do anything to get attention--inluding deliberately baiting the bullies so they will beat him up and notice him. Then one day the Jockey comes back and decides he's going to "help" Alex become a man by showing him what it's like to live on the streets for a weekend and have to survive with nothing but your own wit and cunning. But can Alex survive?

Bone has written a gripping, engaging story. Alex is annoying--but he's supposed to be annoying. He easily falls for the Jockey's "big brother" act, but with the help of a true friend he realizes what it means to really be a man.


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Reading: Nothing right now
On My Nightstand: lots

Stravaganza: City of Flowers--Mary Hoffman

No time for a proper review... loved this book, not as much as the first one, but I still enjoyed it. It wraps up the series nicely while still leaving it open. Hoffman says on her website that she might write more but with different characters.

This one wasn't quite as strong as the first two, but I still recommend it. The entire series would be great to use in the classroom or as recreational reading.

Someday I'll write a better review, but not today.

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Reading: Nothing
On My Nightstand: Lots