Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Author: J.K. Rowling (full name: Joanne Rowling)

First published: July 16, 2005 (UK/US)

Main reprint: 2006 (paperback edition)

Summary: In his sixth year, Harry becomes more involved in Dumbledore’s efforts to understand Voldemort’s past. Together, they explore memories that reveal Voldemort’s creation of Horcruxes, magical objects containing pieces of his soul that ensure his immortality. Meanwhile, Harry stumbles upon a potions textbook marked with helpful notes from someone called the "Half-Blood Prince." With this book, Harry excels in potions class, but he soon learns that the book’s previous owner was Severus Snape. In a shocking turn of events, Dumbledore is killed by Snape during a raid by Death Eaters at Hogwarts, leaving Harry and his friends to continue the quest to destroy Voldemort’s Horcruxes.