So you want to be a wizard by Diane Duane

Bibliographic Information:
Duane, D. (1983). So you want to be a wizard. New York, NY: Harcourt, Inc.
ISBN# 0152047387

Plot Summary:
Nita is bullied. In order to escape the bullies she ducks into the library and starts looking for a book. She finds a series of career books entitled, So you want to be … Nita takes the acumen test and discovers that she has what it takes to be a wizard. So she checks the book out and goes to practice the spells. While practicing she notices another person who is also performing spells. She meets Kit and together they use spells and find Fred, a white hole. With Fred’s help they learn that there is a missing book, Book of Night with Moon, which needs to be recovered. In practicing some of the spells they travel to different universes. In one of these universes they discover that the Prince of Darkness is out to consume every world and every universe. They must prevent him from coming to their universe. This is an epic battle between good and evil with evil being an all-powerful, very knowledgeable being against two young teens just learning how to use magic.

Critical Evaluation:
This is a great book, the first in a series. Most teens will relate to the concept of being bullied. In addition, all of us from time to time just want to escape. So the idea of escaping into a library will probably strike a chord for most readers. Furthermore, most of us have wished that we had magic. We could perform spells, if not to get back at/get away from our tormentors, than to at least make our lives better. These are some of the concepts in Duane’s book that many teens will understand. Teens will also be drawn to this book for the fantasy/ science fiction of the story. There are other worlds and universes out there. Not only can you visit them, but you can have an impact on them. Duane’s characters are quite believable. They aren’t perfect, they aren’t also understood, but they try to do their best. Most teens will understand and relate to these concepts.

Reader's Annotation:
Nita and Kit find themselves working together to become wizards, find the missing Book of Night with Moon, and keep the Prince of Darkness from coming into this world.

Information about the author:
Duane states in the afterward of this book’s twentieth-anniversary edition that she and Nita share some of the same characteristics. She started writing when she was eight mostly because she was bored. The books that were out there didn’t quite cover what caught her interest. She was interested in other worlds and universes and created many in her own mind. Duane was also very interested in science. She states that she has read a wide variety of not only science fiction and fantasy, but also science information. In her books she tries to get the science correct. If it is incorrect it is either because she had to change it for the sake of the story (which she states happens infrequently) or she made the mistake unintentionally (which she states happens frequently.) Duane grew up in New York, lived on the west coast and currently lives in Ireland with her husband and a large assortment of cats.


Genre: Fantasy/ Science Fiction

Curriculum Ties: Language Arts

Booktalking Ideas:
• Have you ever lost yourself in a book?
• Have you ever wished that you could do magic?
• How are Nita and Kit alike? How are they different?
• What draws both of them to magic?
• Would you take on the task of being a wizard? Why? Why not?

Reading Level/Interest Level:
The widest age range, according to the reviews, is 10 – young adult.

Challenge Issues:
Bullying; magic

If the book is challenged:
• Listen calmly to the complainant.
• Ask if s/he has read the entire novel.
• Show positive reviews of the novel.
• Show the selection policy.
If the complainant still has issues with the book:
• Request that the complainant read the entire book if this has not already occurred.
• Have the complainant fill out a reconsideration form.
• Set up a reconsideration meeting.
• Provide the reconsideration meeting members with:
o Positive reviews
o Selection policy
o Reconsideration policy

Selection Process:
I did a search on Children’s Literature Comprehensive Database with the following criteria: Award winner, reviews available, and age range from 15 – 18.

Four positive reviews

Awards/ Best Books Lists:
• Appears on one Best Books List

Reading/Interest level, selection process information, reviews, and Awards/Best Books Lists were accessed using the Children’s Literature Comprehensive Database at http://clcd.odyssi.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/cgi-bin/member/search/f?./temp/~gvXcqO:1 accessed through SJSU and not available to everyone.