Rachel and Leah: Women of Genesis

Orson Scott Card, noted science fiction writer, takes on a new area with his series on notable women from the Old Testament of the Bible. Leah, eldest daughter has tender eyes (she can't see more than a few feet in front of her). Her sister Rachel has always been called 'the pretty one' and is somewhat spoiled. Also prominent in the story are Zilpah, a slave and Bilhah, a free woman, but a servant.

Into the camp comes Jacob (son of Issac): young, handsome, strong, who is destined to become Rachel's husband. That, however, does not stop the other women from trying to get his attention.

While fictionalized, the story is well told and interesting as the women end up changing each other and themselves as they grow from childhood.

Harry Potter and the Deadly Halows

Harry is no longer the little 12 year old boy who first entered Hogwarts. He has matured into a courageous young man whose personality has become stronger as he remembers Dumbledore's words of the difficulty of making choices between "what is right and what is easy."

J.K. Rowling has written a breathtaking conclusion to the series; tying up loose ends by answering readers' questions about Dumbledore and Snape, and Voldemort too.

I personally felt the final chapter was written for a younger audience who just wanted to know what happened later, and for me the book concluded before that chapter. Highly recommended for any Potter fan, or if you've never read any of the books, begin at the beginning and spend a year at Hogwarts reading all seven books!