Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by JK Rowling, John Tiffany, and Jack Thorne

Do I love Harry Potter?  Absolutely!  Do I love the entire premise of the series?  Definitely!  Did I love Harry Potter and the Cursed Child?  I didn't LOVE it, but I didn't hate it either.

I have read the Harry Potter series at least four times.  (And yes, it is nearly time to start again.)  I love Harry Potter, and I particularly loved the vivid descriptions that abounded in the books.  That being said, I liked the plot, story line and new characters in the Cursed Child.  I understand Harry's parenting woes, and since I have raised two children, I totally get that our we misunderstand our children, and they misunderstand us.

If I were watching this as a play, or reading this with a group of students,  this play would be amazing, and I do hope to see it very soon,  but here I am stuck in my Potter World, and I missed the old ways.

If you are a Potter fan like me, I would recommend that you read the play, but I would also recommend that you see the play as soon as you possibly can.  That, I think, will bring back some of the magic.

"Expelliarmus!

The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

I remember when I was a sophomore in college, the FBI came to my school to look for recruits.  I was so, so tempted to drop everything, my studies, my boyfriend, my life, and follow the FBI where it led.  It seemed like such a great adventure, and it didn't help that the girl who lived adjacent from me DID decide to make the decision to leave school and join the recruit class.  I have lost track of Lorna and never learned whether she made a good decision or not.  I made the right decision and stayed in school, but that "what if" is always lurking in the back of my brain.

This book caught my interest because of that "what if."  Cassie is a teenager with a gift.  She has a knack for noticing details and reading people's emotions by their dress, and their body language.  When the FBI wants Cassie to join their team, she knows that her family will be very upset, but this might be the opportunity she needs to help her find her mother's killer.

Does Cassie fit in?  Might her gift possibly help her catch a serial killer that has been terrorizing the country?  Is there even a possibility that Cassie's training will help her find her mother's killer.

This book is on the Rosie list for 2016 - 2017.  No, I didn't join the FBI, but I can live vicariously through Cassie's experiences.  I invite you to do that too.