Thirteen-year-old Nita, tormented by a gang of bullies because she won't fight back, finds the help she needs in a library book on wizardry which guides her into another dimension.

This is an excellent book about two young teens who are having a hard time fitting in at school and suddenly embark upon a strange journey where their wits are tested. ( )

The title and cover of this book were so intriguing that I bought this book on a whim instead of reading it first-big mistake. This book was so dull and slow that I didn't even finish it (I ended up giving it away!) The book starts out great, a girl who loves to read is in the library when she sees a book on the shelf she's never seen before: 'So You Want to be a Wizard'. The book pretty much goes downhill for me after that--she learns how to do magic (which in this book is very boring and complicated to do), and then she meets another kid training to be a wizard, and yea the book got so boring I put it down after that. I tried very hard to keep reading to see when we get to meet some dragons (like on the cover) or SOMETHING exciting, but i just couldn't do it. ( )

In a twisted version of Manhattan, Nita finds a library book giving career guidance entitled So You Want to Be a Wizard. After following the books guidelines, she finds herself in another dimension caught up in a battle between good and evil. Both humor and suspense form the basis of the Young Wizards series, of which this is the first title.

I just finished So You Want to Be a Wizard By Diane Duane. Its a pretty good read, aimed at the Tween Crowd (10 - 14 or so). I believe it even won a few awards, or at least thats what the cover proclaims. Its a pretty typical Modern Kids find Magic and save the world bit. This genre has grown hugely with the success of the Harry Potter Series, but this book was first, well at least before the hype.

It starts off with 13 year old Nita running away from a pack of bullies intent on beating her to a pulp. She runs into the library to hide and finds a book titles So You Want to Be a Wizard. She checks it out on a whim, and takes her first step into wizardry. Along the way, she meets Kit, another lonely kid with a book teaching him magic. Together, they find that they can do magic that they can't do alone. In search of a missing NASA pen that writes upside down, they summon a white hole who's curious about planets. Together, Fred, Kit, and Nina trek into an alternate planet where the great destroyer is intent on destroying the universe. Its up to them to find the Book of Night With Moon, and thwart the Destroyer.

I think I've been reading too many of these types of books. Its well written, aimed at kids, with a very distinct Good vs Bad Message. As typical with books like this, the parent figures are mostly out of the picture, and the kids have to figure everything out themselves. I think my biggest concern with the book is how easy Magic came to them, It took just a few days for them to be magic beginners to be fully fledged magicians. Also, there was no guidance from other older, experienced wizards. Everything they did came from a book. The ending also seemed a bit rushed, not the way the world was saved, but in the wrap up at the end.

So to wrap it up, its a well written book, and would be a good book to give to a young Harry Potter Fan who has read it all, or as introduction to the world of fantasy. I think adults will appreciate it, but not necessarily find it that great. I will not read this again, or any of the other books in the series, but I plan on giving it to my niece when she is older and will appreciate a good fantasy. ( )