GOOD LIVING

6

Back to School Edition 2016

BlueRibbonNews.com

Readers arrived at 10 p.m. on Saturday, July 30 to collect passes that would allow them to purchase the book   

immediately at midnight. Co-written by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany and 

Jack Thorne, “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” is the special edition 

script released from the new play premiering on the same night in 

London. As British enthusiasts  marveled at the magic on stage 

for the first time, Potter fans worldwide purchased their 

copies of the play in its written form.

After picking up their passes to purchase the 

new book, folks enjoyed free snacks and drinks, 

and channeled their inner Sirius Black as they posed for a photo at 

the Azkaban mug shot display. A few Hogwarts wizards and witches 

also couldn’t resist a photo with Professor “Mad-Eye” Moody. 

After wow-ing the crowd with her 

vocal impersonation of Hermione Granger, 

Hannah Moore (12)  was awarded first 

place in the costume contest. “I’m really 

happy that I won, because Harry Potter 

is my favorite series ever,” 

Moore said. 

And then came the moment everyone had been 

     waiting for! A little before midnight, folks lined up to 

        purchase their brand new special edition copy of Harry Potter and the       

            Cursed Child: Parts One and Two. It’s safe to say a fair few were thrilled  

to finally get their hands on the latest in the Harry Potter series. 

“We were very happy with the turnout,” 

               said Half Price Books Rockwall Manager 

            Chris Thackaberry. “The wand-making was 

         very popular! Everyone seemed to have a 

   great time, and it’s also fun for us  because a  

     lot of our staff love to dress up in costumes.” 

              Front L-R: Meagan Eavenson, Jennifer 

         Huntsman, and  Jeremy Baggs as Professor 

             Alastor Moody; Back L-R: Ralph Smith, Chris 

Thackaberry, and Rachel Cain-Johnson. 

To top off the evening’s 

activities, Professor Moody 

tested everyone’s knowledge 

of the Harry Potter books with a 

fun trivia contest. Even the youngest of the contest 

participants were eager to share their familiarity of the 

books, sometimes raising their hand before Professor 

Moody could get a question out! The trivia questions were 

based solely off the books, not the films, and those who 

answered correctly were rewarded with some neat prizes. 

To kick off the festivities, witches and wizards 

of all ages painted their very own wands. 

Photos by Blake Macaluso and Austin Wells, Blue Ribbon News. 

See the full gallery at blueribbonnews.com.

To celebrate J.K. Rowling’s latest book, Half Price Books in Rockwall 

       hosted a midnight release party with lots of spellbinding activities.