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Young Wizards #1-3
Support Your Local Wizard
"This trio of magical adventures, wizardry proves as good as its words" a Guild America collection of three books by Diane Duane.
473 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1990
32 people are currently reading
368 people want to read
About the author
Diane Duane
167 books2,411 followersDiane Duane has been a writer of science fiction, fantasy, TV and film for more than forty 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 animated TV series on both sides of the Atlantic, as well as work in comics and computer games. She has spent a fair amount of time on the New York Times Bestseller List, and has picked up various awards and award nominations here and there.
She lives in County Wicklow, in Ireland, with her husband of more than thirty years, the screenwriter and novelist Peter Morwood.
Her favorite color is blue, her favorite food is a weird kind of Swiss scrambled-potato dish called maluns, she was born in a Year of the Dragon, and her sign is "Runway 24 Left, Hold For Clearance."
(From her official website)
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 animated TV series on both sides of the Atlantic, as well as work in comics and computer games. She has spent a fair amount of time on the New York Times Bestseller List, and has picked up various awards and award nominations here and there.
She lives in County Wicklow, in Ireland, with her husband of more than thirty years, the screenwriter and novelist Peter Morwood.
Her favorite color is blue, her favorite food is a weird kind of Swiss scrambled-potato dish called maluns, she was born in a Year of the Dragon, and her sign is "Runway 24 Left, Hold For Clearance."
(From her official website)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
June 22, 2018
Book 1: Four Stars
Book 2: Three Stars
Book 3: Four Stars
Read my reviews of the individual books for a more in depth analysis. Overall, these books are well written with interesting characters and intriguing premises. In many ways I feel adults would relate more to these novels. Regardless, there is something here for people of all ages.
Book 2: Three Stars
Book 3: Four Stars
Read my reviews of the individual books for a more in depth analysis. Overall, these books are well written with interesting characters and intriguing premises. In many ways I feel adults would relate more to these novels. Regardless, there is something here for people of all ages.
May 19, 2018
A bullied young girl finds her way into another world where magic rules.
It feels pretty derivative, but is entertaining.
It feels pretty derivative, but is entertaining.
July 3, 2009
Another teen/YA fantasy novel that my kids have enjoyed and asked me to read. As usual, I like to have a sense of what they are reading (to provide guidance and an occasional intervention LOL), so I thought I'd take a look. Its actually quite good, a cut above most teen fantasy fiction, even those I have enjoyed. The writing style is similar to other good ones I've seen, but what I loiked most is the creativity of the author. There were times when it rocked me back how inventive she was. She even philosophizes from time to time to good effect...not so much as to put off a teen reader (or even the occasional adult reader), but just enough to cause one to pause and think a bit.
The main characters (Nita and Kit) are likable, and seem to demonstrate good values. Girl and boy, they are identified as 13 and 12 years of age, but think and act considerably older in most ways. Dairine, Nita's younger sister, makes a strong appearance in the third section of the book, but is little more than a foil in the first two sections. In general, Support Your Local Wizard appears to be an uplifiting book, with an underlying message of good will and the importance of battling against evil. It also happens to be quite an entertaining yarn. I especially like the approach to magic, as a form of language and spoken thought, that the author has conceived. Its an interesting and fun conceptualization.
The main characters (Nita and Kit) are likable, and seem to demonstrate good values. Girl and boy, they are identified as 13 and 12 years of age, but think and act considerably older in most ways. Dairine, Nita's younger sister, makes a strong appearance in the third section of the book, but is little more than a foil in the first two sections. In general, Support Your Local Wizard appears to be an uplifiting book, with an underlying message of good will and the importance of battling against evil. It also happens to be quite an entertaining yarn. I especially like the approach to magic, as a form of language and spoken thought, that the author has conceived. Its an interesting and fun conceptualization.
August 15, 2020
all 3 books included in this combined book are SO GOOD.
April 6, 2018
I love the premise of the series, but frankly I find the adventures boring.
November 10, 2025
Done with the first, So You Want to Be a Wizard. Ambitious, but awkwardly told... almost as awkward as most of the covers. An adventure, with a bit of humor, a lot of magic-building that I don't fully understand, and a lot of something more spiritual (?) / metaphysical (?).
The dragon in the subway is quite the creative invention; good on Duane for coming up with it.
"She loved any a library, big or little; there was something about all that knowledge, all those facts waiting patiently to be found out that never failed to give her a shiver."
(I love that she's interested in the non-fiction, not the adventures.)
"You should know how terrible a power belief is especially in the wrong hands - and how do you tell which hands are wrong? Believe something and the universe is on its way to being changed. Because you've changed, by believing."
Apparently the next books are better, and I do have them to hand in this omnibus, so I'll keep going, but I'm not sure if it's my thing.
---
Deep Wizardry is the second book. As in, the depths of the ocean. Also pretty metaphysically deep as there's lots of philosophy. A young reader would get so much more out of these upon rereading them.
Even "though the occasion was serious, it didn't have to be somber."
"There'll be a time when any time someone's elected to a public office - before they let them start work - they'll bring whoever was elected up here [to the moon] and just make them look at that [Earth] until they get what it means."
"'Not old enough to love as yet, but old enough to die...' Instead of, as in lesser songs, the other way around."
She "quietly, bitterly, started to get caught up on her crying."
I guess I'm this far and not disliking them. I'll read the third, High Wizardry.
---
Welp. I kept waiting for them to be less awkwardly written, to be more satisfying, and nope.
1990 computers. Making it even more dated than the others with their specific pop culture references, unfortunately.
"... it's always been the children who saved the universe from the previous generation, and remake the universe in their own image."
" The moon was at first quarter, so the Earth was at third..." [I've always tried to better understand the phases of the moon and I don't understand this but I want to.]
"... they were going to have to be different on the inside, too, to do any good. If some danger comes along that they have to cope with, it's no use their information processors being all the same: whatever it is could wipe them all out at once. If they're as different as they can be, they'll have a better chance of surviving."
The dragon in the subway is quite the creative invention; good on Duane for coming up with it.
"She loved any a library, big or little; there was something about all that knowledge, all those facts waiting patiently to be found out that never failed to give her a shiver."
(I love that she's interested in the non-fiction, not the adventures.)
"You should know how terrible a power belief is especially in the wrong hands - and how do you tell which hands are wrong? Believe something and the universe is on its way to being changed. Because you've changed, by believing."
Apparently the next books are better, and I do have them to hand in this omnibus, so I'll keep going, but I'm not sure if it's my thing.
---
Deep Wizardry is the second book. As in, the depths of the ocean. Also pretty metaphysically deep as there's lots of philosophy. A young reader would get so much more out of these upon rereading them.
Even "though the occasion was serious, it didn't have to be somber."
"There'll be a time when any time someone's elected to a public office - before they let them start work - they'll bring whoever was elected up here [to the moon] and just make them look at that [Earth] until they get what it means."
"'Not old enough to love as yet, but old enough to die...' Instead of, as in lesser songs, the other way around."
She "quietly, bitterly, started to get caught up on her crying."
I guess I'm this far and not disliking them. I'll read the third, High Wizardry.
---
Welp. I kept waiting for them to be less awkwardly written, to be more satisfying, and nope.
1990 computers. Making it even more dated than the others with their specific pop culture references, unfortunately.
"... it's always been the children who saved the universe from the previous generation, and remake the universe in their own image."
" The moon was at first quarter, so the Earth was at third..." [I've always tried to better understand the phases of the moon and I don't understand this but I want to.]
"... they were going to have to be different on the inside, too, to do any good. If some danger comes along that they have to cope with, it's no use their information processors being all the same: whatever it is could wipe them all out at once. If they're as different as they can be, they'll have a better chance of surviving."
June 11, 2023
"Support Your Local Wizard" is a compilation volume of the first three stories (So You Want to Be a Wizard, Deep Wizardry, & High Wizardry) in the "Young Wizards Series", and tell the tale of two grade school children who discover they are wizards, and are recruited into the local wizards union (for lack of a better term).
Juanita "Nita" Callahan is a young girl who is constantly being bullied by few other girls in her school, and who finds a book (or does it find her?) in her local library when she hiding out from the gang. She teams up with another young wizard Christopher "Kit" Rodriguez, and have a series of interesting adventures.
Now while some people may be inclined t equate these stories with another tale of wizardry about a boy with a scar on his forehead, these stores were written many years before so banish the thought.
I found these stories to be very well written, and while the second is somewhat darker that the first it allows for significant world building, and the three novels work well together. When I first read these I though this was all there was to the series, but I have since discovered that Ms. Duane has written seven more in the series, which I now have to go and find.
A great series.
Juanita "Nita" Callahan is a young girl who is constantly being bullied by few other girls in her school, and who finds a book (or does it find her?) in her local library when she hiding out from the gang. She teams up with another young wizard Christopher "Kit" Rodriguez, and have a series of interesting adventures.
Now while some people may be inclined t equate these stories with another tale of wizardry about a boy with a scar on his forehead, these stores were written many years before so banish the thought.
I found these stories to be very well written, and while the second is somewhat darker that the first it allows for significant world building, and the three novels work well together. When I first read these I though this was all there was to the series, but I have since discovered that Ms. Duane has written seven more in the series, which I now have to go and find.
A great series.
February 5, 2018
This omnibus was put out by the SF Book Club, probably in the early 1990s? It doesn't even show an ISBN. It contains So You Want to be a Wizard, Deep Wizardry, and High Wizardry. I've read all the books in this series (several times), but decided to start again from the beginning.
My favorite is the first one, which details how Nita becomes a wizard, and what happens when she and her friend Kit are on their Ordeal.
Deep Wizardry is also very good, especially if you like whales. The motivation, and Nita's waffling, get a little bit tiresome, although understandable. The author must have done a lot of whale research.
High Wizardry is primarily about Nita's sister Dairine and her Ordeal. The fun part of this book is that her wizard's manual is an Apple computer, with interactive capability. It's rather 1970-1980s computer stuff, which was fun for me because I lived through a lot of that - my first computer was a Commodore!
My favorite is the first one, which details how Nita becomes a wizard, and what happens when she and her friend Kit are on their Ordeal.
Deep Wizardry is also very good, especially if you like whales. The motivation, and Nita's waffling, get a little bit tiresome, although understandable. The author must have done a lot of whale research.
High Wizardry is primarily about Nita's sister Dairine and her Ordeal. The fun part of this book is that her wizard's manual is an Apple computer, with interactive capability. It's rather 1970-1980s computer stuff, which was fun for me because I lived through a lot of that - my first computer was a Commodore!
December 28, 2017
I must be way outside the targeted demographic (of course, I was back when they were first published as well), because all three stories just sat on the page. The writing is good and I don't think I've ever read a bad tale by Ms. Duane, but these three stories really didn't do anything for me.
I'm not fond of Mary Sue characters, and Nita's little sister certainly seems to be one, so that helps explain my dislike for the third tale. The first two though, left me just as meh.
Perhaps you need to be a 12 year old to get them.
Read it, maybe, if you don't have anything else in your To-Read stack.
I'm not fond of Mary Sue characters, and Nita's little sister certainly seems to be one, so that helps explain my dislike for the third tale. The first two though, left me just as meh.
Perhaps you need to be a 12 year old to get them.
Read it, maybe, if you don't have anything else in your To-Read stack.
January 5, 2018
Though not a young-adult book, it feels like it would be a good thing to steer my kid to read once he's getting to such things. (Right now he's still working on letters. :D )
Really enjoy the characters, they method of magic, and the breadth of the books. This is a compilation. The first of the 3 I enjoyed the most. Have up to number 7 in the series though, I think, and looking forward to reading more.
Really enjoy the characters, they method of magic, and the breadth of the books. This is a compilation. The first of the 3 I enjoyed the most. Have up to number 7 in the series though, I think, and looking forward to reading more.
May 29, 2018
A lot more fun than I expected. Good characterization and action. Reminds me of Harry Potter though it predates him by decades. This is the first three books in a series of around nine.
August 13, 2018
I just find the main characters a bit too young for how they react to what they're going through. Other books in this series may keep my attention better, so I'll keep my eyes open.
October 12, 2019
Meh. Not what I was hoping for. I only ended up reading the first novel in the omnibus.
January 1, 2024
The world building, the HUMOR, the rules of magic, the characters' growth, everything about these 3 books is wonderful.
November 9, 2012
Originally posted here as part of the 30 Day Book Challenge (and Diane Duane totally commented!).
Wow. I sure am doing a lot of talking about the things I loved to read as a kid, aren't I? In an effort not to repeat myself, PRETEND I NEVER SAID any of the others were my favourites, 'kay? JUST PRETEND! We're also going to go ahead and acknowledge that I've done all the talking about Tolkien I'm likely to do for a while (if you somehow missed it, check out this linkapalooza), so now I have to find SOMETHING ELSE to talk about. As chance would have it, I was just discussing these books earlier with a new friend, and even managed to convince Kate to read them (Non-Sneaky Fuckerism totally works for me. Sorry, guys.) so I am counting that as a win.
Favourite Childhood Book
So, really - this istotally kind of cheating. Support Your Local Wizard is actually the first three books in the Young Wizards series by Diane Duane (the first three being
So You Want to Be a Wizard
,
Deep Wizardry
and
High Wizardry
).
I found this (at the time) omnibus at a yard sale when I was 11 or 12. I think I paid 50¢ for it. FOR THREE BOOKS, SUCH A DEAL! I read the first few pages while I was standing around waiting for my mom to finish digging for cast iron pots, and was sad when I had to stop reading to walk back to the car. If I hadn't had to carry other things, I probably would have read while walking.
Juanita Callahan is a 13 year old girl running away from her bullies. Like me, she had difficulty knowing how/when to keep her mouth shut, and as a result she was beat up frequently. She ducks into her local library (where of course the librarian knows her) to hide, and runs down to the children's room in the basement. She has fond memories of hours spent there, reading as she was growing up and thinks of the books on the shelves as her old friends.
As she runs her hand along the spines of her old pals, one catches on her finger. It's mixed in with the So You Want to Be a [insert occupation here] series, but this is one she's never seen before - and Nita has read every damn thing that tiny children's room has to offer.
So You Want to Be a Wizard.
Of course, she thinks it's a joke at first. But she still checks it out. It's not a joke.
Even though I was on my way out of childhood at this point, I still had enough belief in faeries and magic left to be completely swept completely up in this series.
I re-read them all (More have come out! There are 9 now [I haven't read the most recent, but I'm correcting that right away]! With another next year!) a few summers ago, and was delighted to learn that they are still just as amazing as I remembered them being.
They're not just children's books - they tackle hard subjects, and Duane's world-building is of the top notch variety.
I think I'm going to give these to my oldest son to read soon. I know he'll love them just as much as I still do.
Wow. I sure am doing a lot of talking about the things I loved to read as a kid, aren't I? In an effort not to repeat myself, PRETEND I NEVER SAID any of the others were my favourites, 'kay? JUST PRETEND! We're also going to go ahead and acknowledge that I've done all the talking about Tolkien I'm likely to do for a while (if you somehow missed it, check out this linkapalooza), so now I have to find SOMETHING ELSE to talk about. As chance would have it, I was just discussing these books earlier with a new friend, and even managed to convince Kate to read them (Non-Sneaky Fuckerism totally works for me. Sorry, guys.) so I am counting that as a win.
Favourite Childhood Book
So, really - this is
I found this (at the time) omnibus at a yard sale when I was 11 or 12. I think I paid 50¢ for it. FOR THREE BOOKS, SUCH A DEAL! I read the first few pages while I was standing around waiting for my mom to finish digging for cast iron pots, and was sad when I had to stop reading to walk back to the car. If I hadn't had to carry other things, I probably would have read while walking.
Juanita Callahan is a 13 year old girl running away from her bullies. Like me, she had difficulty knowing how/when to keep her mouth shut, and as a result she was beat up frequently. She ducks into her local library (where of course the librarian knows her) to hide, and runs down to the children's room in the basement. She has fond memories of hours spent there, reading as she was growing up and thinks of the books on the shelves as her old friends.
As she runs her hand along the spines of her old pals, one catches on her finger. It's mixed in with the So You Want to Be a [insert occupation here] series, but this is one she's never seen before - and Nita has read every damn thing that tiny children's room has to offer.
So You Want to Be a Wizard.
Of course, she thinks it's a joke at first. But she still checks it out. It's not a joke.
Even though I was on my way out of childhood at this point, I still had enough belief in faeries and magic left to be completely swept completely up in this series.
I re-read them all (More have come out! There are 9 now [I haven't read the most recent, but I'm correcting that right away]! With another next year!) a few summers ago, and was delighted to learn that they are still just as amazing as I remembered them being.
They're not just children's books - they tackle hard subjects, and Duane's world-building is of the top notch variety.
I think I'm going to give these to my oldest son to read soon. I know he'll love them just as much as I still do.
Wizards love words. Most of them read a great deal, and indeed one strong sign of a potential wizard is the inability to get to sleep without reading something first. But their love for and fluency with words is what makes wizards a force to be reckoned with.
April 16, 2016
Beyond the various fact-induced tales, fantasy is the fulcrum of all fiction. A sensibility linking creatures to creators by virtue of narration—the be all and end all relation between the two; albeit sometimes the traditional meaning is superseded by genre-lisation from the same. Better yet, a world venerated enough to generate pensy regards—Muggles alike. The world of magic, witches, and wizards.
Equal to latent talents, magic presents itself at the right moment. Calling finally meeting intent. For Nita, a flexure from bullies foresees her foray into this striking world. Confessions fall into place about the love of, among other things, space and astronomy—which form the basis of her earliest manoeuvres into the realm of magic. Summoning and befriending a white hole that in quite mega-nova fashion, radiates and releases residue as required. Maraudings lead to a fellow outsider schoolmate, Kit, new to the craft. And as Harry's acquaintances, they can't help being friends after certain encounters.Curiosity and sheer aspirations for mastery—or a destiny pre-written by magical lore—leads Nita and Kit to Tom (keeper of a clearinghouse, similarly named from the H.P. one), and Carl. They are older wizards and guides of fledgling new entrants.
The younger the wizard, the powerful their abilities. Geek in, geekin' out. For a Trekkie, Nita's kid sister, Dairine, is the family's motion setter; explaining her early accustomization to wizardry and other subversions. Delving into hyperspace by loading worlds and navigating datastreams beyond BEMs and silicon. Reaching for the further shore; Voyager of course. Dairine's interstellar intervals interact creatures and lifeforms that relay posterious wars; where the best upload may win, governed by wit-showdowns.
If playing by the rules guarantees an arrested-age and a lifetime of consultancy. . . . Wizardry got no match. It is a hard sport
Equal to latent talents, magic presents itself at the right moment. Calling finally meeting intent. For Nita, a flexure from bullies foresees her foray into this striking world. Confessions fall into place about the love of, among other things, space and astronomy—which form the basis of her earliest manoeuvres into the realm of magic. Summoning and befriending a white hole that in quite mega-nova fashion, radiates and releases residue as required. Maraudings lead to a fellow outsider schoolmate, Kit, new to the craft. And as Harry's acquaintances, they can't help being friends after certain encounters.Curiosity and sheer aspirations for mastery—or a destiny pre-written by magical lore—leads Nita and Kit to Tom (keeper of a clearinghouse, similarly named from the H.P. one), and Carl. They are older wizards and guides of fledgling new entrants.
The younger the wizard, the powerful their abilities. Geek in, geekin' out. For a Trekkie, Nita's kid sister, Dairine, is the family's motion setter; explaining her early accustomization to wizardry and other subversions. Delving into hyperspace by loading worlds and navigating datastreams beyond BEMs and silicon. Reaching for the further shore; Voyager of course. Dairine's interstellar intervals interact creatures and lifeforms that relay posterious wars; where the best upload may win, governed by wit-showdowns.
If playing by the rules guarantees an arrested-age and a lifetime of consultancy. . . . Wizardry got no match. It is a hard sport
February 24, 2015
I knew this was an omnibus when I bought it. I also know that I'd like to give a copy of these books to my nieces and nephews once they get old enough to read fantasy.
I first discovered Diane Duane's writing when I read some of her Star Trek novels which I was a teenager. As an adult, I discovered her Wizard books.
I liked the first two books in this omnibus the most. They cover Deep Wizardry and So You Want to Be a Wizard. I found them timeless.
Unfortunately, High Wizardry didn't survive the passing of time as well. I don't think my students now would understand about CD-roms and bits, bytes, etc. It's too technical for children who are used to easy access to the internet.
Maybe I'll skip High Wizardry when I buy the set for my nieces and nephews.
I first discovered Diane Duane's writing when I read some of her Star Trek novels which I was a teenager. As an adult, I discovered her Wizard books.
I liked the first two books in this omnibus the most. They cover Deep Wizardry and So You Want to Be a Wizard. I found them timeless.
Unfortunately, High Wizardry didn't survive the passing of time as well. I don't think my students now would understand about CD-roms and bits, bytes, etc. It's too technical for children who are used to easy access to the internet.
Maybe I'll skip High Wizardry when I buy the set for my nieces and nephews.
August 22, 2010
This omnibus edition of the first three Young Wizard books is one of the oldest books I own. I got it when I was in middle school, I think, and I've read it multiple times. The dust jacket is torn in a few places, but I still like this cover better than those of some of the YW books.
As I said in the review of another YW book, Duane has been doing wizards longer and better than Rowling and other recent young wizard writers. In her world, magic isn't something you use to make life easier. To become a wizard is to take an oath to battle against evil and to use magic only in the defense of life. Spells take the energy of the wizard to use, and in some cases, they may even require the wizard to give up days, months, or even a year of their lives. Kit and Nita, the two main wizards of the series, find themselves facing very real-world challenges in addition to magical ones. I do enjoy Harry Potter, don't get me wrong, but he has nothing on Duane's young wizards.
As I said in the review of another YW book, Duane has been doing wizards longer and better than Rowling and other recent young wizard writers. In her world, magic isn't something you use to make life easier. To become a wizard is to take an oath to battle against evil and to use magic only in the defense of life. Spells take the energy of the wizard to use, and in some cases, they may even require the wizard to give up days, months, or even a year of their lives. Kit and Nita, the two main wizards of the series, find themselves facing very real-world challenges in addition to magical ones. I do enjoy Harry Potter, don't get me wrong, but he has nothing on Duane's young wizards.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 13, 2010
This was one of my growing up books, grabbed the anthology upon Mother's suggestion at least a decade ago.
Functional Magic. Epic morality. Inspiration for some of my own views on ethics and eternal sacrifice. Honestly, some of the things are a little obvious (the girl gets nature association, the boy gets machine associations).
Unlike certain friends, I never noticed the racial thing at the time, and I loved the Ascended Fanboy components. The whole frameworks just makes sense, the writing is well-told, and the tropes are classic. I strongly recommend this to anyone who is looking for good SFF, a fantasy kitchen sink, or has a high tolerance for YA literature.
P.S.: this series is made of The Language of Magic.
Functional Magic. Epic morality. Inspiration for some of my own views on ethics and eternal sacrifice. Honestly, some of the things are a little obvious (the girl gets nature association, the boy gets machine associations).
Unlike certain friends, I never noticed the racial thing at the time, and I loved the Ascended Fanboy components. The whole frameworks just makes sense, the writing is well-told, and the tropes are classic. I strongly recommend this to anyone who is looking for good SFF, a fantasy kitchen sink, or has a high tolerance for YA literature.
P.S.: this series is made of The Language of Magic.
March 29, 2008
Harry Potter--HA! I have had this book for over 10 years. I read it every year! When my husband and I swapped books for the first time I gave him this gem(can't believe I said that). He doesn't like stories of this sort, but it is such a favorite of mine that he needed to know it. This has three books in it that are now sold separately. If I'm not mistaken this format--an omnibus edition of SO YOU WANT TO BE A WIZARD?, DEEP WIZARDRY, and HIGH WIZARDRY--is out of print. My copy is haggard and worn-and don't even think of asking me to swap unless you plan to come to my house, read it and put it back on the shelf until next time. I may even have you sign in and out as well.
Stay tuned for why I don't want you touching my precious omnibus...
Stay tuned for why I don't want you touching my precious omnibus...
March 8, 2009
One of my favorite books ever, it's a wonderful story. It seemlessly weaves together science and magic, and through the sheer genius of Diane Duane makes it not only feel believable, but real as well. It's a story of two kids, who travel together on a mission to save the world, beyond that I won't spoil the story. It's amazing, and should be read on paper, after taking a deep breath and breathing in the smell of the paper. Not only does the story draw you in, but it shows an alternate way of looking at the universe, possibilities, and promise, and hope. Make sure to buy this one in hardcover, if you like it as much as I did, a paperback spine won't withstand all the re-reading :)
October 13, 2010
I remembered really liking this book when I was younger and recently picked up a copy. I read the first book (this is an omnibus edition with the first three books in the series) and was kind of disappointed that it wasn't as good as I remembered, and no where near as good as Harry Potter.
That being said, Fred is a remarkably cool character. I'll probably go back soon and finish the other two books in the omnibus, mostly because I remember there being a really cool shark in "Deep Wizardry."
That being said, Fred is a remarkably cool character. I'll probably go back soon and finish the other two books in the omnibus, mostly because I remember there being a really cool shark in "Deep Wizardry."
June 4, 2011
I bought this beaten up book (with torn pages & no bookcover) at a garage sale for like 10 cents when I was in Jr High & it has always been on of my favorites. It was actually the first wizard/magic book I ever read. I remember thinking 'that is so awesome I wish I was a wizard' lol.
Even if you can't remember the specifics, you always remember how a good book made you feel :)
Even if you can't remember the specifics, you always remember how a good book made you feel :)
February 3, 2008
This is like a Harry Potter book before there was a Harry Potter. I first read this when I was 12 years old and loved it! If you're a fan of magic and science fiction, you'll like this book. It's a great kids book and a fun read.
November 24, 2014
Nita Callahan began involved with magic by accident. Hiding from some bullies at the library she found a book called So You Want to be a Wizard and cast her first spell. This sent her into an alternative Manhattan.
July 8, 2016
I've only read the first book of this omnibus, but I wanted to shelve the edition that I actually read. It was okay, and I hadn't yet gone through my children's book resurgence, so maybe I'd enjoy it more now.
November 3, 2007
This is an amazing book that I read for hours on end. I recommend this book to anybody who loves wizardry.
February 1, 2008
Among the best young adult fantasy books, period. A complex system of magic put to creative use, with a sense of humor.
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August 8, 2008Young Wizards #1-3 Omnibus
July 29, 2010
SOOOOOOO much better than that Harry Potter series.
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