Wizard at Work
by Vivian Vande Velde


From the author of such magical titles as The Rumpelstiltskin Problem, A Well-Timed Enchantment, A Hidden Magic, and Tales from the Brothers Grimm and the Sisters Weird, comes this quick little novel-in-the-form-of-short-stories about an unnamed, young Wizard who runs a school for young wizards, disguised as a bearded ancient. He reverts to his youthful form during the summer holidays, when he wants to putter in his garden, go fishing, and do little projects around his tower home, but people will keep coming around asking for wizardly favors. And a witch may or may not have put a curse on the Wizard: he will not find true happiness until he learns to see beyond appearances.

And so a succession of cracked fairy tales follows, in which the wizard learns a lot about seeing beyond appearances. A beautiful princess begs the Wizard to break a ridiculous but nasty curse. A plague of rebellious, yearling unicorns has to be stopped before things really get out of hand. A too-honest magical mirror, a dragon, and a princess who refuses to be rescued, combine in one squirm-inducing lesson in seeing beyond skin-deep. A castle needs to be rid of a dripping, inhuman ghost. And finally, the Wizard devises a quest to make a man worthy of the hand of a tomboyish princess-a quest involving a dwarf king's magic cucumbers.

The stories go by swiftly, but they are full of charm and laugh-aloud humor, spirited adventure, and the logic of mini-mysteries. They are also very instructive, as well as bracingly un-romantic. Sort of a tonic to the worst effects of having fairy tales on the brain.

Robbie Fischer
Arizona USA

Recommended Age: 10+

If you would like to contact Robbie, you may do so here.






Translate


MuggleNet is an unofficial Harry Potter fan site. Please email us if you have any questions or concerns. MuggleNet's original layouts were designed and created by Navy. All subsequent layouts by Dylan Spartz.

© 1999-2009 MuggleNet.com. All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy | COPPA Policy | Feedback | Credits
Random Addresses

408 muggles currently online







Poll
Is Dumbledore right that Hogwarts sorts its students into Houses too soon - while the kids are too young?

Updates
Today's Updates
· Updated Ultimate Edition DVD section [November 21]
Recent Updates
· Updated Crazy Caption Contest [November 15]
· Updated the Half-Blood Prince DVD info page [November 10]
· Updated Crazy Caption Contest [November 8]
Mail

Quotes
It's lucky it's dark. I haven't blushed this much since Madam Pomfrey told me she liked my new earmuffs.

Dumbledore
Sorcerer's Stone, Chapter 1, Page 11

See Another Quote
Big News
(10/01) - Happy 10th Birthday, MuggleNet!
(9/30) - HBP breaks $300 million mark in US
(9/25) - JK Rowling is now a Twitter user!
(9/17) - SS and COS Ultimate Editions arriving December 8th too
(9/17) - HBP DVD to hit U.S. stores on December 8
(9/15) - Wizarding World to open Spring 2010, rides confirmed
Release Dates
The Exhibition,
Boston opening:

October 25th, 2009
Half-Blood Prince DVD:
December 8th, 2009
Wizarding World:
Spring 2010
Deathly Hallows, Pt 1:
November 19th, 2010
Deathly Hallows, Pt 2:
July 15th, 2011

Advertisement