book

So you want to be a wizard

Name: So you want to be a wizard
Author: Diane Duane

Diane Duane · 1983

Explore the age guidance, content cautions, positive qualities, and supporting notes for So you want to be a wizard by Diane Duane. This book is recommended for ages 12+; content notes include Frightening scenes, Death of a character, Religious themes; positive qualities include Courage & resilience, Creativity & curiosity.

Ages 12+Source checked

Why this age? Content-guidance estimate derived from the complete published caution profile. It does not measure reading difficulty and is not a safety guarantee; family context may differ.

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At a glance

Recommended age12+

Strongest cautions

Frightening scenes4/5
Death of a character3/5
Religious themes3/5

Strongest positives

Courage & resilience5/5
Creativity & curiosity5/5
Kindness & empathy5/5

What’s in it?

Death of a character3/5

Why this rating?

Fred sacrifices himself by blowing apart his quanta to create moonlight; the sacrifice is emotionally significant, though not graphically depicted.

Graphic injury1/5

Why this rating?

Injuries and a piece of metal lodged in a car are mentioned, but graphic blood or bodily detail is minimal.

Strong language1/5

Why this rating?

Occasional mild name-calling from bullies, but no strong or offensive language.

Religious themes3/5

Why this rating?

The story uses wizardly oath-taking and explicit angelic, biblical, and cosmic good-and-evil imagery, including Michael and the Lone Power.

Romance1/5

Why this rating?

The relationship between Nita and Kit is a developing, wholesome middle-grade friendship with very faint hints of a future bond.

Frightening scenes4/5

Why this rating?

Includes a frightening alternate Manhattan, supernatural minions, a dragon, cosmic evil, pursuit, and threats to unmake the universe.

Violence3/5

Why this rating?

Nita is cornered and beaten by bullies; the heroes face attacks and pursuit by supernatural forces, though violence is not graphically described.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience5/5

Why this rating?

Courage is defined as performing necessary, often frightening actions in the pursuit of good rather than mere bravado.

Creativity & curiosity5/5

Why this rating?

The system of magic is deeply inventive, involving language, quantum physics, and creative problem-solving.

Diverse representation2/5

Why this rating?

The central partnership includes Nita and Kit Rodriguez, with varied human and nonhuman characters given agency; broader representation is less central.

Educational value2/5

Why this rating?

It encourages curiosity about astronomy, physics, language, and ethics, but its primary purpose is imaginative fantasy rather than instruction.

Kindness & empathy5/5

Why this rating?

Radical empathy, even toward enemies, is presented as the most powerful form of magic and the key to solving the main conflict.

Positive messages5/5

Why this rating?

Central focus on empathy, the importance of hard choices, and the idea that one's morality is a constant, ongoing decision.

Good role models4/5

Why this rating?

Nita and Kit show loyalty, responsibility, empathy, and courage while learning to use power wisely, despite being inexperienced children.

Family discussion

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Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.

What did courage look like in this story? Was being brave always the same as being fearless?
Which moment felt most tense or frightening? What helped the characters handle fear?
Which choice in So you want to be a wizard would you have made differently, and why?
Who changed the most in So you want to be a wizard, and what caused that change?

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