J.K. Rowling's HARRY POTTER books are classics of modern fantasy literature which have moved millions of readers with themes that reach to the depths of human existence - the fact of death, the threat of evil, and the power of love and friendship. It is no wonder that such epic themes attracted a poet like Christine Lowther. Harry Potter's losses and struggles have an uncanny resemblance to episodes from her own life which she calls the twelve "Searing Similarities" (detailed in the book's preface). But like Harry, Christine's poetry can also soar above the tragic to discover the heroic and beautiful in such poems as "Neville, Unlikely Rebel," "For Our Wide-Armed Mothers," and "A Boy's Hands." There are seventy-one HALF-BLOOD POEMS divided into seven chapters corresponding to the seven book series: STONES OF SORCERY, SECRETIVE CHAMBERS/HEART AND MIND, FREED FROM AZKABAN, GOBLET OF HEALING FIRE, TEARS OF A PHOENIX, HALF-BLOOD MUDBLOOD, EMBRACING THE DEATHLY HALLOWS. Fans of HARRY POTTER will experience again many of the emotions they felt reading the books - emotions presented most effectively through a poet's words. ~ . ~ . ~ Christine Lowther resides on the beautiful shores of Vancouver Island, British Columbia. This is her third published collection of poetry.