A Wizard Abroad
By Megan McDonald,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
High fantasy -- with a dose of Irish mythology.
Add rating
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this book.
Where to Read
Community Reviews
Based on 1 parent review
It's ok
Report this review
What's the Story?
When Nita's parents decide she needs a break from wizardry, they ship her off to stay with her Aunt Annie on a farm outside Dublin. Ghost horses and a talking cat named Tualha are the first clues that magic surrounds her. Researching Irish mythology at the library, Nita learns that 400 million years ago, Ireland was geologically severed. .
When the Makers tried to reshape the land, the powerful Fomori interfered. As a result, it's too easy to accidentally slip sideways through time and space. Nita the wizard must do something about the leakage. With the help of her new love interest, Ronan, she learns of the Four Treasures, three of which are still in existence--the cup, the sword, and the stone. But a fourth, the spear, must be reforged, to enter into a battle with the Fomori and Balor, the new form the Lone Power has taken.
Is It Any Good?
Fantasy readers will find they are on familiar ground with this tale of a quest for the Fourth Treasure, and the awakening of the first three objects. But while Dairine has a definite role to play, it's never quite clear why Nita and Kit were called all the way to Ireland for this mission. The story rises to a fevered pitch that culminates in a strange battle scene. "... the drow exploded into fragments and splinters of stone that bled hot and splattered her with ichor that burned like drops of lava. Her wizard's shield took most of it, but a few drops got through ... and burned right through her clothes to her skin."
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the author blends elements of the past with the realities of present-day teens. Is the author's world believable, or purely fantastical? How does this book compare to other wizard stories -- including the Harry Potter series? Which series do you like the best?
Book Details
- Author: Diane Duane
- Genre: Fantasy
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Harcourt Brace
- Publication date: January 1, 1993
- Number of pages: 342
- Last updated: September 8, 2015
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Read
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate