So You Want to Be a Wizard

Young Wizard Series, Book 1

By: Diane Duane

Narrated by: Christina Moore

Length: 7 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

Because she insists on fighting with words instead of her fists, 13-year-old Nita is regularly tormented by a gang of classmates. One day, running to escape their blows, she hides in the only safe place nearby: the library. When a book about wizardry catches her eye, Nita finds the help she needs in its pages. As she moves from chapter to chapter, Nita learns more sophisticated spells. Soon, stepping through a worldgate, she enters a shadowy city swirling with vicious taxicabs and carnivorous fireplugs. What begins as a simple quest quickly becomes a struggle to keep a powerful and ominous force from passing back into Nita's world.

Ranked with the best of Madeleine L'Engle and Diana Wynne Jones, Diane Duane's magical tale of wizardry and wisdom has become a modern fantasy classic. Christina Moore's delightful narration captures all the excitement and danger in this thrilling fantasy adventure.

You can listen to Diane Duane's entire Young Wizard series.

©1983 Diane Duane (P)2002 Recorded Books, LLC

Excellent listening!

I am 29 years old and I loved this book! The narration is excellent and brings this wonderful series to life. Diane Duane's "The Young Wizards" series ranked 4th in a recent online article about books that are better than the Harry Potter series.

a must read

What made the experience of listening to So You Want to Be a Wizard the most enjoyable?

I have read this book in paperback, and enjoyed listening to it to prepare myself to listen to the new book Diane has out in the series.

What other book might you compare So You Want to Be a Wizard to and why?

This book is commonly compared to Harry Potter in some aspects; however, the only common thing is magic. How Dianne explains how the magic works is worth the read.

Reviewing In Gratitude

I'm writing this to say: thank you, Diane Duane. I was a lonely youngster. I felt like an outsider. I found 'so you want to be a wizard' when I was twelve. The relatable magic, deep courage, true friendship and stalwart hope got me through the bad days. In college, I got the audiobooks. I was going to class by day and working nights. Listening to this series got me through the bad days once again. And now I'm a thirty-six year old business owner, still listening to this series every other summer or so, and happily entertained and deeply validated every time.
Thank you for this work. Thank you for offering something to a lost girl and teaching me to call everyone 'cousin'. Thanks for the wit, the wisdom. And thanks, most of all, for the image of a universe that has goodness in it.

Re-read

What did you love best about So You Want to Be a Wizard?

You get immersed into the story right from the beginning as Nita is running from her bullies, jumping into the library, and proceeding to the 'Young Adults' section where this story unravels. This was a book I read when I was younger and had to run through it another time. Well worth it, too.

What other book might you compare So You Want to Be a Wizard to and why?

The "Uglies" series is another well put together series that younger and older people alike can delve into. Both of these series really put your social awareness, or how you perceive social situations, through the ringer and make you rethink who we are as a humanity.

What about Christina Moore’s performance did you like?

Ms. Moore's performance was pretty well acted out. I especially enjoyed her accent for Kit's persona. Very good.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This read makes you laugh and cry, smile and furrow your brow, giggle and cringe all throughout (especially if you go on in the series). This story is very well constructed and you feel like you are a part of the adventure the whole way through.

So you want to read a really good book?

Lots of action, wonderful characters, and we really enjoyed it- start to finish. A must read for sure- all ages!

Clean fun entertainment

This story was filled with fun, drama, and suspense. I really enjoyed listening to it.

Before Harry Potter

Before Harry Potter there was Nita and Kit. This story is wonderfully diverse and does an outstanding job of explaining just how magic and wizards might exist in our own reality. Well worth the listen, for both children and adults.

The most memorable book of my pre teen years!

If you could sum up So You Want to Be a Wizard in three words, what would they be?

Better than Potter

Who was your favorite character and why?

In this book I'd have to say Kit. He compliments Nita in so many ways. Both are outcast, both need friends and both bond over wizardry where they may have spent years in the same school system never knowing eachother more than passing glances.

Have you listened to any of Christina Moore’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have listened to her narrate other books in this series. I love a good Brooklyn accent and she hits Carl on the head perfectly as I imagined as a child.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

I hope they never ruin the sanctity of this book with a movie, unless Diane writes and she and her husband have strict control over how it's made.

The Harry Potter before the Harry Potter

I remember reading this book in middle school around the same time as Harry Potter in the early 2000s. While waiting for J.K. Rowling to release her 5th book, I went browsing around the bookstore, searching for something similar and stumbled upon this. While not my most favorite in the entire Young Wizards series, I was immediately hooked! I love how it doesn't really fall into the usual fantasy tropes of having our young heroes going to a magical school, rather, they take the oath, become wizards, and just practically learn things on the go. The adult wizards are very off-hand, and the kids are forced to understand that being wizards isn't all just glamour and games, but a real responsibility and a privileged to hold off Entropy, the eventual death and destruction of the universe. There is a mixture of fantasy with sci-fi, as well as religious concept, the latter being referred to forces such as the Power That Be and the Lone Power. I also love that this book already dealt with things such as death and sacrifice.

As an adult, revisiting these books via audio-book is a real treat and a great trip down memory lane. Christina Moore narrates the book beautifully and I'm glad she always come back to voice the rest of the books. I just wished this series had gotten more recognition. It is seriously underrated and deserved as much love as the Harry Potter or the Percy Jackson series.

i kinda like this one

i found it to be a enjoyable story.
its hard for me to find a good story i like and got lucky with this one.
try the simple and see if that will help you any.
everyone has there own likes and dislikes.
i always read the reviews and then try the simple to try and get a good ideal what its like.
hope this help you... enjoy.. :)