January 2014: This book is proof that sometimes things have to get worse before they can get better. I still have a lot of problems with it, but I'm bumping it up from four stars to five stars because it's Harry Potter. Duh. Don't know what I was thinking before. 
 August 2011: Oh man, I have a REALLY hard time with this book. All of the things I love about it (Dumbledore's Army, Luna, Fred and George) can't make up for the fact that really awful things happen to nearly every main character. I hate watching them struggle because I love them so much. Also, I despise Umbridge with everything that I am and I KNOW that that's sort of the whole point but I just get so mad. Also, Sirius dies which is just horrendous. There's so much going on in this book and the end is so messy--the book needs to be tightened up just a titch. At least I can move on and read Half-Blood Prince now. I freaking love HBP.