The name of a book I read in high school

[Shaun]

I read the book about 12 years ago when I was 13. It was about a boy who moves in with a wizard as an apprentice.... I can't really remember the storyline but I can remember being scared.

I can also remember two things happening in the book. First the wizard sends the apprentice for food, on the way back he gets mugged by a group of young boys. Turns out the wizard knew it was going to happen, and wanted the boys to get the food because they were poor.

Secondly I remember the boy getting chased by an enemy into some sort of body of water, can't remember if it was a stream or pond of some kind.

Lastly I remember the same enemy hiding in the boys home... The home he lived in before he moved to the wizards house.

Not allot to go off, sorry.

It was a children's book, and I'm from the UK. Hope that's enough info to find it!

Cheers guys

[Michelle]

part of it sounds vaguely like the first section of A Wizard of Earthsea.

[Shaun]

This doesn't sound like it. Thanks anyway!

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

I don't think this is it, 'cause it's not that old, but it kind of makes me think of The Magic Thief by Sarah Prineas.

[Arabella]

Lloyd Alexander? The Prydain Series?

[Jael]

Shauns1988 wrote: "...First the wizard sends the apprentice for food, on the way back he gets mugged by a group of young boys. Turns out the wizard knew it was going to happen, and wanted the boys to get the food because they were poor..."

I may be wrong but the bit about the food sounds a lot like The Spook's Apprentice (alternatively known as ) by Joseph Delaney.

[Shaun]

Thanks for your help guys but I've found out its called the spooks apprentice.

Thanks again

[Shaun]

Yes Jael! Thanks mate

[Ron]

It wasn't in high school, but, it was a good many years ago. I was reading a detective series and the protagonist was a dope user. Not cocaine like Holmes, but, he smoked hashish, as I remember. Maybe, some grass, too. This would have been in the 60's when such things were "popular". It was an English detective, or, maybe even, an agent of some kind. Not like Bond, but, maybe a take off of him.

I believe the author was English, too. Just don't remember much about the series. I liked it, but, who knows if I'd still like it today.

However, if anybody knows of a series that sounds like what I've so inadequately described, I'd appreciate hearing about it. I'd like the chance to find out if I'd still like it today.

[Richard]

Vonnegut. Slaughterhouse Five pretty much put it all into perspective for me and cemented my distrust of authority. That led to Cat's Cradle. So it goes.Slaughterhouse-Five