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So You Want to Be a Wizard
- By Diane Duane
- Genre: Fantasy
Common Sense Media says
Blends fantasy, science fiction in equal measures.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that there's some mild, mostly fantasy, violence in this first book in the series. Characters get beat up by bullies and are stalked by evil beings. There's also some swearing.
What's the story?
Nita, chased by bullies, hides in a library and finds astrange book called So You Want to Be a Wizard. It contains information about the nature and structure of the universe, instruction in the use of magic, and a Wizard's Oath. After taking the Oath, Nita discovers that thecontents of the books change to meet her needs and growing abilities, and that she must undergo an ordeal.
She meets another young wizard-to-be, Kit, and together with an intelligent white hole they accidentally call up, they are transported to a dangerous parallel universe run by the Lone Power, where they must retrieve the Bookof Night with Moon which he has stolen and which is necessary for maintaining the stability of the universe.
Is it any good?
Long before Harry Potter went to Hogwarts, Nita and Kit began their wizard training in this unusual series that blends fantasy and science fiction in equal measures. Rooted both in Judeo-Christian cosmology and a sort of all-encompassing animism, the novel's fascination comes not only from the weird adventures of the protagonists, but also from the magical-scientific details, conveyed in the author's own delightful technobabble.
This entry in the series is also a love song to New York City, and the world of the Lone Power is seen as a twisted version of Manhattan filled with living (and mostly vicious) taxicabs and helicopters. The settings, in and around downtown Manhattan, are vividly realized.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about a lot here, including the religious overtones present in the author's conception of the creation and order of the universe, the idea of intelligence being present in all things, and the importance of language and books.
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AGE
Great but a little confusing for younger kids.
It was very good but confusing too. I had to read it 3 times to finally completely get it.
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AGE
is there a book like this in real life and cani have it!
wekll i just started it and so far so great
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AGE
pointless
The story is a little weird, to me this book doesn't really have much point to it. They pass through the world gate just to get a pen. That doesn't really make sense. She could always buy a new one but she says no that it was an astronuts pen. There really is no point to this, it's good, but it was all for a pen. This is only my thought, read the book and see how you like it.
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| Topics: | magic and fantasy |
| Author: | Diane Duane |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Fantasy |
| Publisher: | Harcourt Brace |
| Publication date: | January 1, 1983 |
| Number of pages: | 370 |
| Paperback price: | $6.95 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 12 - 14 |
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