In a question and answer session with Great Britain Prime Minister Tony Blair at Parliament, the subject of Harry came up: Q8. Miss Anne Begg: Now that the summer recess is almost upon us, will my right hon. Friend have time to do what millions of people did this weekend and read the new Harry …read more!

Young readers in New Canaan, Connecticut had the chance to discuss the plot of the recent Potter book at a summer camp modeled after Hogwarts. The “Hop on the Hogwarts Express” program divides campers into Houses. Students participate in activities such as Quidditch, potions class, costume contests, and book discussions. Campers were warned that talking …read more!

People driving along A442 near Telford had the ending of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince revealed to them on a banner hanging from a bridge. The banner was removed by noon. A spokesperson for the Telford and Wrekin council: “This does have a serious side to it as if the banner had fallen down …read more!

Amy let us know about the Astronomy for Wizards event at the The South Florida Science Museum on July 30 at 5 and 7 pm. Audience members will be divided into houses and take turns winning house points with their knowledge of the wizarding world. Professor Pagan will teach you all about the various constellations, …read more!

Illegal, downloadable versions of HBP are the subject of a recent article in Wired‘s online magazine. It seems that a few people scanned the entirity of the book, in violation of copyright laws, and distributed it on peer-to-peer networks. Such a distribution is illegal in most countries, and in the US, under the recent Grokster …read more!

Slate Magazine this week features an article exploring how the series resonates in the post-9/11 and post-7/7 world. The article contains some spoilers for the plot of HBP, and the reporter notes: In 1998, when the first Harry Potter book came out, Voldemort was a fantastical villain, a symbol of evil in the abstract. Today, …read more!

The Boston Globe reports on the impact Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince may have on younger people, offering advice from experts as well as remarks from readers: “Talking about fiction is a safe way for children to talk about real life. The book can be a catalyst for important conversation,” she says. ”For me, …read more!

In the wake of the release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the media seems to be catching up to what we already knew; that Harry Potter is not just for children. The Washington Post has a nice article about one such adult fan who loves Harry Potter, Jennie Levine (or Zsenya, as she …read more!

JKRowling has updated her website with thoughts about the Half-Blood Prince release weekend. Her news section, and the extras section both have been updated,including her reactions to meeting our own Melissa and Emerson from MuggleNet. And there they were, waiting for me. I had met Melissa twice before, though each time for no longer than …read more!

JKRowling.com became accessible yesterday to disabled, deaf and visually impaired internet users. Lighmaker worked with RNIB and Macromedia to develop the new version. The site is now navigable by keyboard without a mouse, and contains an accessibility menu, including the ability to enlarge text in certain areas, pause movement, and turn off background sound. A …read more!