Deep Wizardry (Young Wizards, #2) in So you want to be a wizard

Nov 30, 2013 Kit rated it it was amazing

Oops, I am falling absolutely in love with these little books.
First off, let me say that I have been trying a "straddling" technique in reading these; I have been alternating between listening to the (fantastically charming) audiobook for my commute to work and then switching to my paperbacks (which I hastily and excitedly purchased from Orca Books in Oly for a song on store credit) for my 15-minute work breaks in order to continue the story. I can safely say that I have been impatiently shelvi Oops, I am falling absolutely in love with these little books.
First off, let me say that I have been trying a "straddling" technique in reading these; I have been alternating between listening to the (fantastically charming) audiobook for my commute to work and then switching to my paperbacks (which I hastily and excitedly purchased from Orca Books in Oly for a song on store credit) for my 15-minute work breaks in order to continue the story. I can safely say that I have been impatiently shelving books during my shifts, thinking about my next chance to read about my "leetle wixxards" and then shuffle the stories on to my friend Pietro so I will have someone to giggle and squeal with.
What I love:
-Parents in the book are treated with love and respect for their feelings. It is lovely how Nita and Kit both seem to actually care what their parents think about them and don't want to lie to them, both for personal and practical reasons of their wizardry and "speaking truth." Charming and different.
-Whalesong. Oh my gosh this is so cute. Love the way the whale speech has little hints of the actual sounds whales make. I think Nita's name came out something like "hN'iit", which, if you sort of perform it yourself, has a fair similarity to the sounds whales make underwater. Very clever little idea.
-Nita and Kit's friendship is absolutely fantastic. I love seeing stories where a boy and girl are allowed to be close friends and care about each other without it immediately nosediving into a relationship or romance. I have been informed that there will be more development of the characters on this front, but I have a feeling that since the author has seemed to demonstrate a relatively gentle hand on a lot of matters of character development, that I won't feel too shoehorned into it. (As a sidenote, Nita's mother and little sister seem to be viewing her adventures with her friend with some suspicion in the book, but other than one conversation, I didn't find myself too shocked by the direction their minds took. It is kinda nice to see that sort of thing develop over time in characters' minds, but considering their age, I suppose it is somewhat natural, if a bit extreme...)This brings me to my next point...
-HOLY CARP IN A BUCKET, THE PARENTS AND FAMILY MEMBERS AREN'T IDIOTS. This makes me terribly happy in a book for young people, because I could never stand it as a kid when books for people my age were populated with clueless, useless, helpless adults and authority figures. I found it terribly insulting on the front that a) the author seemed to think pandering to me was appropriate rather than being realistic or fair about how people actually act b)it is very diminishing of the achievements and adventures young people have if the adults don't pose any kind of threat to their options as young characters and thus it felt like "making it easy" for the kids by reducing the challenge. I never liked feeling like the only reason these kids got up to so much fun was because their parents were overgrown toddlers. Guhh. Gag me. Nita's parents are an actual concern in the story, both for practical reasons as for emotional ones. They are actually considered by her a lot, which ties into my previous point, but are also seen as individual, emotional beings rather than just the creators of her life. I particularly liked that they try to address the issues to some degree and ease their minds some in a really personal way. I want to see more of this in the books following. Let's hope.
-The way the song was figured out at the end maintained some tension while still making sense. Thank you for not condescending to readers like Meyer by promising a big fight and then dropping it because you don't want your characters to have to go through anything difficult.
-The relationship between Dairene and Nita is realistic but remarkably mature at the same time on how they deal with each other. I really look forward to them working together in the future and really enjoyed Dairene's cleverness in helping Nita.

Yep. Need more leetle wixxards.
...more

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Oct 02, 2014 Dominique rated it it was amazing

Shelves: year-2015, rereading, audio, year-2016

this is just a wonderful story. when i first found this series i read the 3rd book first. this is the first time reading Deep Wizardry. I love the ocean and all of the animals in it. Diane is such an amazing artist with her words your words are the speech to me not everyone can grasp it but when and if they have the privilege of knowing it, the magic never leaves them.

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Apr 23, 2013 Lily rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-wizards, wizards-witches

So rereading the whole series and such... This one is one of my favorites. I just love the whole drama and the suspense, and how stubborn Kit is... Not to mention Ed, and my favorite quote.

"You, young and never loving; me old and never loved." ...more

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