Jayme Bartz

Good Magic

Young adult fantasy novels are often not taken very seriously even though there are a lot of really good ones available. There are many young adult fantasy novels that deal with magic. So, an interesting category to look at in the fantasy genre is novels concerned with wizards or magicians. This category is relevant because usually the wizard or magician in each book is an adolescent who is learning how to use magic properly. The proper use of magic and being able to tell the difference between good and evil are important aspects of many fantasy novels. Plus, there is always the struggle between good and evil and characters need to learn the difference between the two.

Of course, real adolescents cannot actually do magic. However, adolescents do need to learn good morals. Wizards and magicians are really learning good morals while they learn to handle magic properly and in decent ways. This makes the following books very relevant to adolescents and also very helpful for adolescents forming new ideas about the world and themselves. Plus, the books listed often show adolescents growing and developing into better people overall. Perhaps the most significant part of all of these books is that while the main characters may have help, they all have to discover the best lifestyles for themselves in the end, just like all adolescents need to. Also, the most important decisions are left up to the adolescents to make.

The works in this annotated bibliography are all young adult fantasy novels that are based around wizards and magicians dealing with moral issues and the struggle between good and evil. The main characters in these books are usually fighting against evil, whether it be internal or external evils. The methods used to find these books include internet searches for young adult fantasy, looking through the book Adolescents in the Search for Meaning, and going through personal collections of fantasy novels.

Most of the books listed are not usually taught in classrooms to adolescents. That could be because of tradition or merely because of lack of knowledge about fantasy novels. Even so, every book in this list is worthwhile to read and definitely relevant to the lives and moral issues of adolescents.

Duane, Diane. So You Want to be a Wizard. New York: Magic Carpet Books, 2003.

Summary: The first book in a large series is about Nita, a lonely young girl who is simply trying to escape the bullies in her life. She finds a book called So You Want to be a Wizard, and it changes her life. Through learning to be a wizard Nita experiences adventures and makes strong friendships.

Application: This book is a perfect example of good versus evil. It even has some of the evil shown as bullies, who can be found in many adolescent�s lives as well. Through adventure, friendship, and courage Nita learns how to protect herself and enjoy her life. She may be bullied, but good morals never leave Nita�s mind. She does not sink down to the evil level of others.

Jones, Diana Wynne. Howl�s Moving Castle. New York: Harper Trophy, 1986.

Summary: This is a story of a young woman, Sophie, who has a curse put on her by an evil witch and she turns into a very old lady. Sophie leaves home and finds a wizard named Howl who she moves in with. Together they face the witch that cursed Sophie.

Application: Howl is a very troubled wizard and it is only because of Sophie�s kindness and strength that Howl does not fall apart. Sophie herself does not have any magical powers, but the book is filled with magic. Plus, Sophie has to decide what magic is truly evil and how to help out those who have good powers but do not use them properly.

LeGuin, Ursula K. A Wizard of Earthsea. Berkeley: Parnassus Press, 1968.

Summary: This first book in a four book series is about a young boy named Sparrowhawk who discovers that he is a wizard and that his destiny is actually far greater and more important than he ever knew. This is a coming of age novel showing how Sparrowhawk becomes a young man while dealing with a change of name and identity.

Application: Sparrowhawk is a wizard who has never dealt with magic before, but he is thrown into a world full of wizards. There is a great deal of importance based on names and how everything in the world is named. Names hold a lot of power. Sparrowhawk has to learn not to abuse his powers, which are very strong. He even fights what could be considered his own shadow, eventually overcoming evil and discovering how to use good morals and hold off the bad.

Lubar, David. Wizards of the Game. New York: Puffin Books, 2003

Summary: A fun story about an eight-grade boy, Mercer, who enjoys playing a fantasy role-playing game called Wizards of the Warrior World. His life is turned upside down when a group of real wizards turn up looking for his help. Soon, Mercer learns to be a real wizard as well.

Application: Throughout this book Mercer is faced with many difficult decisions. Many of his friends do not believe that real wizards exist and it is hard for Mercer to make his voice heard. Eventually, Mercer puts his good morals to use, sticks up for himself, and helps out his friends with the aid of the wizards.

MacLachlan, Patricia. Tomorrow�s Wizard. New York: Magic Carpet Books, 1996.

Summary: Tomorrow�s Wizard receives a new apprentice called Murdoch. Murdoch is a young wizard, but he seems to know more about people than magic. Together the wizards listen to people�s wishes and try to help as many as possible.

Application: Murdoch helps Tomorrow�s Wizard understand people and their feelings much better, as Tomorrow�s Wizard helps Murdoch understand the art of wizardry better. This is a warm tale of two wizards helping other people and each other at the same time. Good morals are important, especially to Murdoch as he tries to show his good side to Tomorrow�s Wizard and others as well.

Pierce, Tamora. Circle of Magic: Sandry�s Book. New York. Scholastic Paperback, 1999.

Summary: Four adolescents are brought to the Winding Circle Temple, which is a place for training in magic and crafts. All of the teens are outcasts in their own home cities. However, at the temple they are each respected for their individual special powers. Eventually, the adolescents have to put their powers to use to try to save themselves and the temple.

Application: The adolescents in this book are respected and accepted for the first time in their lives in this book. They form friendships that will last and they learn how to use their unique powers properly and intelligently. The correct and good use of magic is emphasized, just as good morals should be for all adolescents.

Rowling, J.R.R. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. London: Bloomsbury, 2003.

Summary: In the fifth book of the series, Harry Potter finds himself involved with a secret organization called the Order of the Phoenix. Plus, he is full of adolescent hormones and worries. Probably the darkest of the series so far, this novel is a coming-of-age story and Harry finds that even his heroes can have problems.

Application: Through all of the troubles in Harry�s life he still has to find a way to be happy and to use his good sense. In a big way his friends help him, like they usually do in the series. Harry is at a point in this novel where he feels ready to face Voldemort and he simply wants finish things off. This book really shows that the line between good and evil is somewhat unclear, but that individuals can still have good morals and be strong people.

Velde, Vivian Vande. Magic can be Murder. New York: Puffin, 2002.

Summary: Nola is a seventeen-year-old witch who has to hide her powers so as not to be killed for witchcraft. She works with her mother and places a spell on a bucket to read what are called shadowforms. However, she is fired before the spell can be broken and later Nola witnesses a murder through the spell.

Application: In trying to make sure that she is not suspected of murder Nola continues to cast more and more spells, each of which creates more trouble for her. Nola has to learn how to protect herself and her mother properly. She works hard and in the end good prevails.

Yolen, Jane. The Wizard�s Map. New York: Magic Carpet Books, 2002.

Summary: A brother and sister are taken to Scotland for the summer where they start to notice odd things happening. They find an old map and soon the owner of the map, an evil wizard, shows up and takes away the brother. The sister, Jennifer, has to save her brother.

Application: Jennifer is confronted with magic for the first time and she begins to use it to get her brother back. This is another classic example of good versus evil. Jennifer has the help of several magical creatures, but she still has to rely on herself and what little magic she knows. Jennifer is a girl who really knows the difference between right and wrong and who uses her morals, courage, and luck to defeat an evil wizard.

Zambreno, Mary Frances. A Plague of Sorcerers. New York: Hyperion, 1996.

Summary: Fifteen-year-old Jermyn becomes a wizard�s apprentice in this book. He is faced with many challenges including personal struggles, relationships, and the continual fight of good versus evil.

Application: Jermyn has to learn how to use and control his new powers. He is put up against powers much stronger than his own, but with the help of his teacher he fights against evil. He is somewhat insecure about himself and his magic at first. However, in the end Jermyn learns how to trust himself and others and also how to use his powers for good.