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237th out of 298 books
—
297 voters
So You Want to Be a Wizard (Young Wizards #1)
by
Diane Duane (Goodreads Author)
Something stopped Nita's hand as it ran along the bookshelf. She looked and
found that one of the books had a loose thread at the top of its spine. It was one of those So You Want to Be a . . . books, a series on careers. So You Want to Be a Pilot, and a Scientist . . . a Writer. But his one said, So You Want to Be a Wizard.
I don't belive this, Nina thought. She shut the bo...more
found that one of the books had a loose thread at the top of its spine. It was one of those So You Want to Be a . . . books, a series on careers. So You Want to Be a Pilot, and a Scientist . . . a Writer. But his one said, So You Want to Be a Wizard.
I don't belive this, Nina thought. She shut the bo...more
Mass Market Paperback, 386 pages
Published
June 1st 2001
by Graphia
(first published 1983)
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May 06, 2013
Christina (A Reader of Fictions)
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommended to Christina (A Reader of Fictions) by:
Alexa Wang
Shelves:
dropped-series-graveyard,
sadie-hawkins
Conveniently, the very first book chosen for me in my new regular posting series, Sadie Hawkins' Sunday, just happened to be a book I already had in my personal collection. This series first came onto my radar when I was looking for readalikes for Harry Potter. I did enjoy this one (thanks Alexa!) and I'm glad I got a chance to dig into my massive collection of unread books.
The first thing that you should probably know is that this book was first published in 1983, long before Harry Potter. The...more
The first thing that you should probably know is that this book was first published in 1983, long before Harry Potter. The...more
3 likes · like · see review
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This is sort of an American, dark and urban version of Harry Potter. While browsing shelves at the library, Nita discovers a book with the title "So You Want to Be a Wizard" She takes it as a joke, but it turns out to be the real deal. The spells work and she actually is learning to be a wizard.
It turns out that this is the way wizards are trained. Their textbooks seek out those with the talent. Nita soon finds another wizard named Kit and they go on a really twisted and somewhat scary adventure...more
It turns out that this is the way wizards are trained. Their textbooks seek out those with the talent. Nita soon finds another wizard named Kit and they go on a really twisted and somewhat scary adventure...more
13 likes · like · see review
When the young readers in my acquaintance complain that there aren't more Harry Potter books to read, I like to suggest this series.
I usually start the campaign with a few questions to get them interested.
"What if kid wizards couldn't tell their families about their powers?"
"What if they had to risk their lives in secret to keep the world safe?"
I find the pre-teen and teen characters in this series to be much more engaging and realistic than the self-centered, clueless and common sense-lacking c...more
I usually start the campaign with a few questions to get them interested.
"What if kid wizards couldn't tell their families about their powers?"
"What if they had to risk their lives in secret to keep the world safe?"
I find the pre-teen and teen characters in this series to be much more engaging and realistic than the self-centered, clueless and common sense-lacking c...more
I must've been too busy reading Diana Wynne Jones and Madeleine L'Engle, because I'd never heard of this series growing up. It was only in the past couple of years that it came to my attention. I have to say, I'm not all that impressed. Part of the problem is the fact that the book feels dated. Usually when that happens, the story is able to carry me along so that I don't notice things like Dictaphones and typewriters (non-self-correcting ones, at that). Not with this book. I blame most of that...more
5 likes · like · see review
Thanks for the push, yvensong, to get my copy this off Mt. TBR and read. It was worth the evening to get through, but didn't engage me enough to want to go further in the series. Definitely for middle-grades - it really got to the action efficiently. I can imagine 10 year-olds being utterly enchanted.
I remember reading this book for the first time and finding an entire new world opened up to me. I was ten then, in search, as the main character here was, for something deeper; something fantastic in everyday life. I read this book, the second, and the third in the series in such quick succession that I couldn't believe I'd actually managed to make my brain process the words that fast, and I was hooked forever on fantasy.
Years later I came back to this book and opened it up, and the magic was...more
Years later I came back to this book and opened it up, and the magic was...more
Jan 09, 2009
Daniella
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
everyone
Shelves:
young-adult,
book-challenge-2009,
favorites,
rereadable,
to-buy,
contemporary-fantasy,
series,
2009
"Dear Artificer, I’ve blown my quanta and gone to the Good Place!"
I'm so glad that I decided to re-read So You Want to Be a Wizard as part of my self-imposed book challenge for this year. I'd almost forgotten how much I love this book!
In fact, I love it so much that I almost couldn't read it again. At first, I would read a couple of pages and have to put the book down because I'd get all teary and junk. Not because it's sad (although it does have its moments), but because I would remember how mu...more
I'm so glad that I decided to re-read So You Want to Be a Wizard as part of my self-imposed book challenge for this year. I'd almost forgotten how much I love this book!
In fact, I love it so much that I almost couldn't read it again. At first, I would read a couple of pages and have to put the book down because I'd get all teary and junk. Not because it's sad (although it does have its moments), but because I would remember how mu...more
The magic and wizardry content in this book was just too strange. It's totally possible to write about things that are different from what we experience in this world, but to write them in a way that you understand what's going on. In this book, though she uses analogies that don't help make things any clearer. When I stopped reading, for example, the 2 young wizards are creating a thing to plug a hole in a thing to keep out a grey cloud that they somehow know wants to eat them (clearly I couldn...more
4 likes · like · see review
Jun 26, 2008
Jenna
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
no one. maybe the same group of people who like harry potter
Recommended to Jenna by:
mom
Meh. I wasn't sure whether to give it a 2 or a 3, so I rounded up. Actually, you know what, I'm going to follow Chandra's wonderful example and move it down to a 2, cause frankly I didn't really like it.
It wasn't great. I will say that right from the start. There were things about it I liked, such as the character "Fred" the magic glowing neutron star or whatever he was. That was pretty entertaining. I thought Nina and... what was the other kid's name? I forget. Anyway, I thought they were both...more
It wasn't great. I will say that right from the start. There were things about it I liked, such as the character "Fred" the magic glowing neutron star or whatever he was. That was pretty entertaining. I thought Nina and... what was the other kid's name? I forget. Anyway, I thought they were both...more
1 like · like · see review
I honestly picked this book up by accident. Which, if you've read the series, is quite ironic.
I really fell in love with Duane's world. It seems almost realistic, as if people actually live in an underground world of wizardry. Her adolescent characters most definitely refleft how we all feel at one point; insecure, confused. Nothing like, as someone has previously mentioned, the cookie cutter, courageous, hero of most epic tales.
It is most definitely worth the read, as is the rest of the Young...more
I really fell in love with Duane's world. It seems almost realistic, as if people actually live in an underground world of wizardry. Her adolescent characters most definitely refleft how we all feel at one point; insecure, confused. Nothing like, as someone has previously mentioned, the cookie cutter, courageous, hero of most epic tales.
It is most definitely worth the read, as is the rest of the Young...more
Being a book geek as a kid, I always read those books where the farmboy got picked for an adventure to save the kingdom/country/boat at one point. So You Want To Be A Wizard was the book for the hero in my geeky self, where the protagonist is chosen to become a wizard by a book (okay, a mutual choice) in a library. It's a journey of heroism by inches, with a great supporting cast that I look forward to revisiting with every new addition to the series, but the first book is always my reread choic...more
There might be some spoilers in here.
I just finished, more precisely, the New Millenium Edition of this (I read the original many, many years ago and re-read it regularly). I am just a total, helpless devotee of these books; the sense of an internal code that boils down to "Do all that you do in Life's service" sunk into me and never let go, and each book builds upon this idea of good and evil and the ambiguity in between—this is a not a book about black and white divisions! I recommend reading...more
I just finished, more precisely, the New Millenium Edition of this (I read the original many, many years ago and re-read it regularly). I am just a total, helpless devotee of these books; the sense of an internal code that boils down to "Do all that you do in Life's service" sunk into me and never let go, and each book builds upon this idea of good and evil and the ambiguity in between—this is a not a book about black and white divisions! I recommend reading...more
I read this in one sitting last night after about two months of not reading any fiction, which was a nice way to ease back into it. It started off kind of middle-grade-ish and facile, and but it found its paces somewhere within the first 15-20% of the book and followed the story it set out to tell very satisfyingly. There was one major plotline / dilemma, but it was traced through very thoroughly, and there are lots of really inventive details about the world building (set in real-life NYC as we...more
Read my full review at wadingthroughbooks.wordpress.com!
This is a revised and updated version of Duane’s 1983 novel, since technology and society have changed a great deal since it was originally published. Her blog post on the subject explains the changes and the reasons, but the short version is to connect the book more closely to the rest of the series. I’ve been reading the series for 20+ years, so I recognize most of the technology, but the third book’s technology is especially out of date...more
This is a revised and updated version of Duane’s 1983 novel, since technology and society have changed a great deal since it was originally published. Her blog post on the subject explains the changes and the reasons, but the short version is to connect the book more closely to the rest of the series. I’ve been reading the series for 20+ years, so I recognize most of the technology, but the third book’s technology is especially out of date...more
Mar 24, 2013
Goose
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
pre-teens, fantasy fans, fans of harry potter
I was pleasantly surprised with this book. I remember reading the second one ages ago and absolutely loving it, so in a bit of nostalgia I picked up the first and second one for my kindle.
While the initial set up, Nita, a book-smart girl becomes a wizard after picking up a book that trains her in the arts, may seem a little bit outlandish for a seasoned reader, it actually works out in rewarding manner. This isn't a book about whimsy, though there is a share of it. The seemingly tired Good vs Ev...more
While the initial set up, Nita, a book-smart girl becomes a wizard after picking up a book that trains her in the arts, may seem a little bit outlandish for a seasoned reader, it actually works out in rewarding manner. This isn't a book about whimsy, though there is a share of it. The seemingly tired Good vs Ev...more
Since Diane Duane just put out 21st-century e-book editions of her first three "Young Wizards" books, I bought them all - and I'm glad I did.
Coming to the series as an adult, I was at first annoyed by the beginning of this book. It seemed like a take-off of "A Wrinkle in Time", and further, a take-off that advocated physical violence between children. On rereading, though I still find the beginning a little off-putting, I was happy to find that Duane's doing something much more sophisticated and...more
Coming to the series as an adult, I was at first annoyed by the beginning of this book. It seemed like a take-off of "A Wrinkle in Time", and further, a take-off that advocated physical violence between children. On rereading, though I still find the beginning a little off-putting, I was happy to find that Duane's doing something much more sophisticated and...more
(I am not attempting to review the Young Wizards series from scratch. I encountered them in college, I loved them, I still love them; take that as the baseline. This is about the "New Millennium Editions".)
This series was originally written in a "rolling present" mode. The first one is set in 1983; the third one takes place a few months later, but it's approximately 1990 and portable computers are hot; by the ninth, the characters are still teenage but they carry iPods.
Duane has started rewriti...more
This series was originally written in a "rolling present" mode. The first one is set in 1983; the third one takes place a few months later, but it's approximately 1990 and portable computers are hot; by the ninth, the characters are still teenage but they carry iPods.
Duane has started rewriti...more
1 like · like · see review
I think this is the worst book I ever read. Only reason I finished it is because it was so short (and even then it took me a while to slog through it). Didn't even realize it was part of a series when I was reading it, as I had forgotten the reason I had checked it out was because the 6th book in the series made the ALA Teen Top Ten List. Very surprised there was enough interest to create a series after this terrible first book. Some highlights:
p. 10: "A wizard's business is to conserve energy -...more
p. 10: "A wizard's business is to conserve energy -...more
Aug 29, 2012
Cornerofmadness
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
urban-fantasy,
young-adult
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I had thought about getting this book for a while: I had enjoyed several of Diane Duane's books in the past, and she is a very likable human as well. When I found this book for the Kindle, I jumped at the chance.
This is a thoroughly modern book, in that it is urban, fast-paced and full of dramatic action. It does not spend a long, boring introduction getting acquainted with the humdrum life of the main character, a problem I have with so much fantasy fiction. And the author has not found it nece...more
This is a thoroughly modern book, in that it is urban, fast-paced and full of dramatic action. It does not spend a long, boring introduction getting acquainted with the humdrum life of the main character, a problem I have with so much fantasy fiction. And the author has not found it nece...more
Why I picked it up: I needed a book with a magic wand in it for my reading scavenger hunt and when I put a plea for recommendations on facebook, I had not one, not two, not three, but FOUR people recommend this title.
Nita is running from a school bully and she hides in the library. She finds a book that she hasn’t seen before called “So you want to be a wizard.” She assumes it’s a joke, but when she gets home, realizes that it isn’t a joke, and she has what it takes to be a wizard. The next day...more
Nita is running from a school bully and she hides in the library. She finds a book that she hasn’t seen before called “So you want to be a wizard.” She assumes it’s a joke, but when she gets home, realizes that it isn’t a joke, and she has what it takes to be a wizard. The next day...more
1 like · like · see review
I was not impressed by this book. Its system of magic was not well defined at all; there was no explained reason why they were able to cast spells to solve some problems but not others. And there was no apparent reason why the alternate reality ruled by the evil guy, or fallen magician (what exactly he was and how exactly he got that way wasn't explained clearly either) was a place where machines were alive and were evil (except for the race car that was a convenient exception). There was also n...more
This is such a fun premise, and such a good book. It's precisely the kind of story I would have LOVED as a young nerdy bookworm; girl hides in the library to escape bullies, and in the self-help section (because she reads everything) finds a book called So you Want to Be a Wizard, a book that she's never seen before; and she's seen ALL the book in this library. She steals it, naturally, and makes the pledge - and it's that easy. She really does become a novice-level wizard. Except that of course...more
Not bad but not delicious. I read books 1, 2, and 4-8. They go really fast because they're kids' books, target age about 13-14. What bothered me the most was the inconsistency of the rules of magic. And don't even get me started on the issue of how Our Heroine tries to fight the "cancer virus." I think I will probably keep reading these to see what happens, and because they have aliens - I'll read almost anything with aliens! I would recommend them as fluffy summer reading for your 7th-grader, i...more
Nita (Jaunita) is fleeing from a bunch of bullying girls, led by Joanne, when she hides out in the basement children's room of the local library. There she comes across a book that seems to be from one of those career series: "So You Want to Be a ..." but this one ends "...Wizard". It's full of rules, spells and warnings, but also holds the promise of excitement and possible a solution to her bullying situation. So Nita speaks the Oath. And then finds that she's now listed in the geographical in...more
2.5 stars? A mixture of science fiction and fantasy involving magic, time travel, and alternate worlds, set in New York City. Reminded me in turn of The Lord of the Rings and A Wizard of Earthsea; and I suppose that if I had read more science fiction I would probably see more similarities to books from that genre.
I didn't find this very gripping or convincing - often things just happened with no lead-up and/or little explanation, and I guess I wanted a deeper story. There were some scary moment...more
I didn't find this very gripping or convincing - often things just happened with no lead-up and/or little explanation, and I guess I wanted a deeper story. There were some scary moment...more
So You Want to be a Wizard
by Diane Duane
In a school library Nita checked out a book titled So You Want to be a Wizard. On her way home a bunch of bullies beat her up and took her space pen given by her uncle. The next day Nita found herself on the wizard's list. As Nita want to cast a spell to retrieve her pen, she met another new wizard named Kit. Together they created a new spell that show them the Other Manhattan, polluted and consumed by complete darkness. To escape they summoned a white ho...more
by Diane Duane
In a school library Nita checked out a book titled So You Want to be a Wizard. On her way home a bunch of bullies beat her up and took her space pen given by her uncle. The next day Nita found herself on the wizard's list. As Nita want to cast a spell to retrieve her pen, she met another new wizard named Kit. Together they created a new spell that show them the Other Manhattan, polluted and consumed by complete darkness. To escape they summoned a white ho...more
I so wanted to give this book five stars. The first third was WONDERFUL. The author was moving in new directions as effortlessly as Diana Wynn Jones. Oh yes, oh yes. I was fascinated.
But once the plot really gets going, I started to get increasingly frustrated. The main character is a thirteen year old girl. But her friend, a twelve year old boy, is the one who does all the action. She defers to him often. And he is the one who has all the answers and abilities once they are in the scary place...more
But once the plot really gets going, I started to get increasingly frustrated. The main character is a thirteen year old girl. But her friend, a twelve year old boy, is the one who does all the action. She defers to him often. And he is the one who has all the answers and abilities once they are in the scary place...more
Feb 27, 2013
Melissa
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fantasy,
young-adult
The 2nd book of this series randomly appeared on my shelf (and with the nature of how books work in this series should I take that as coincidence or not?). Of course I couldn't start at the 2nd book, so instead I started here. And I have to say, I really wasn't that taken with this book.
Nita is an outcast girl that is frequently bullied. One day, while hiding from said bullies in the library, she discovers a new book on the shelf "So You Want To Be A Wizard." But it's not an ordinary book, and a...more
Nita is an outcast girl that is frequently bullied. One day, while hiding from said bullies in the library, she discovers a new book on the shelf "So You Want To Be A Wizard." But it's not an ordinary book, and a...more
Jan 15, 2012
Selina Lock
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fiftyfiftyme,
novel
rNita is thirteen years old, a bullied loner who spends a lot of time reading and studying. An easy character to identify for a lot of teenage geeks. We're right there with her as she comes across a career book entitled "So you want to be a Wizard?", knowing it can't be real but wishing it was.
Once magic becomes a real proposition we also meet Kit, the only other young apprentice wizard in the area, who has his own bullies. What starts out as an attempt to be cast a spell to protect themselves a...more
Once magic becomes a real proposition we also meet Kit, the only other young apprentice wizard in the area, who has his own bullies. What starts out as an attempt to be cast a spell to protect themselves a...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What's The Name o...: Solved: YA Fiction book about a girl learning magic in strange world [s] | 6 | 121 | Jul 13, 2012 06:40pm | |
| unexpected | 3 | 32 | Jun 04, 2012 09:28pm |
Diane Duane has been a writer of science fiction, fantasy, TV and film for more than thirty years.
Besides the 1980's creation of the Young Wizards fantasy series for which she's best known, the "Middle Kingdoms" epic fantasy series, and numerous stand-alone fantasy or science fiction novels, her career has included extensive work in the Star Trek TM universe, and many scripts for live-action and a...more
More about Diane Duane...
Besides the 1980's creation of the Young Wizards fantasy series for which she's best known, the "Middle Kingdoms" epic fantasy series, and numerous stand-alone fantasy or science fiction novels, her career has included extensive work in the Star Trek TM universe, and many scripts for live-action and a...more
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“Reading one book is like eating one potato chip.”
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3,619 people liked it
“In Life’s name and for Life’s sake, I say that I will use the Art for nothing but the service of that Life. I will guard growth and ease pain. I will fight to preserve what grows and lives well in its own way; and I will change no object or creature unless its growth and life, or that of the system of which it is part, are threatened. To these ends, in the practice of my Art, I will put aside fear for courage, and death for life, when it is right to do so—till Universe’s end. I will look always toward the Heart of Time, where all times are one, where all our sundered worlds lie whole, as they were meant to be.”
—
37 people liked it
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