"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," the final book in the Harry Potter story arc, will be published July 21, author J.K. Rowling announced on her Web site today.

These books have been a big part of our family since 1999. Coming to the game late, we bought the first three that year for Christmas for our son Mikel, now 17. When "Goblet of Fire" came out, we bought that one within a few days of its publication.

Since then, we've attended the midnight release parties when new titles have become available. My daughter Katie was just two months old when we spent several late night hours at Borders bookstore at River Park waiting to get "The Order of the Phoenix."

She'll be 4 years old when "Deathly Hallows" publishes. Years from now, she may remember being at the book store late at night with her whole family -- Mom, Dad, her older sisters and Nona, her sisters' mom.

Posted by Lisa Maria Boyles at 8:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

I saw reports yesterday on the 6 p.m. news that author J.K. Rowling said two characters will die in the next and last installment of her boy wizard series, and she hinted that Harry Potter might not survive either. Here's the story on Fresnobee.com.

I find this possibility so distressing that I can't even put it into words. These books are the best new books written in the past I-don't-know-how-many years, whether you're a child reader or just young at heart. To have them end with the death of such a beloved hero would be just unspeakable.

My daughter Katie was just two months old when we took her to the midnight launch of "Order of the Phoenix," waiting until 2 a.m. in Borders bookstore to get our new copy. These books, especially the audiobooks read by Jim Dale, have become an integral part of our family literary experience. My oldest daughter, Alyssa, is one of those girls who stays up all night reading through a new one, and I have to threaten her not to give away the ending before I can get through it. Recently my 9-year-old Shayna seems to have discovered the joy of reading the well-worn tomes.

Don't do it, J.K.!

Posted by Lisa Maria Boyles at 9:47 AM | Permalink