Dickens & Rumi

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So you want to be a wizard

Age rating, content warnings & parent guide

Diane Duane · 1983

Is So you want to be a wizard appropriate for your child? See the reviewed age guidance, content cautions, positive themes, and supporting evidence below.

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+Book 1 · Young WizardsSource 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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10-second decision

Is this likely to fit your family?

Age guidanceAges 12+
Strongest cautionsFrightening scenes 4/5 · Death of a character 3/5 · Religious themes 3/5
Strongest positivesCourage & resilience 5/5 · Creativity & curiosity 5/5
Series positionBook 1 · Young Wizards
Recommendation5/5

Courage & resilience; strongest caution: frightening scenes.

This is the quick scan. Open the evidence and methodology below for the basis behind each rating.

Quick context

What parents should know

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. Courage & resilience; strongest caution: frightening scenes.

Readiness snapshotAge guidance: 12+Main watch-out: Frightening scenes 4/5
Recommendation 5/5

Editorial rating

How this review was built

Dickens & Rumi editorial
Source checkedPublication method
14Scored categories
14Evidence notes
0Explicit 0/5 checks
Nov 1, 2026Last updated

Dickens & Rumi describes what is present; families decide what matters to them. Community reactions are kept separate from official content ratings.

How ratings workReport a rating or series issue
Review depth14 scored categories14 evidence notes
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Quick view

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

Reading order

Series progression

All known volumes are shown. Reviewed books include age guidance and cautions; books still being reviewed are clearly marked.

Next volumeBook 2 · Deep Wizardry (digest)Strongest cautions: Death of a character 4/5 · Frightening scenes 4/5Open next review →
  1. Book 1 · So you want to be a wizardAges 12+
    Frightening scenes4/5Death of a character3/5Religious themes3/5Violence3/5Graphic injury1/5Romance1/5Strong language1/5
    Starting point
  2. Book 2 · Deep Wizardry (digest)Ages 13+
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes4/5Religious themes3/5Violence3/5Romance2/5Graphic injury1/5Strong language1/5
    Gets more intense
  3. Book 7 · Wizard's HolidayAges 11+
    Frightening scenes3/5Religious themes3/5Death of a character2/5Romance2/5Violence2/5Strong language1/5
    Gets gentler
  4. Book 8 · Wizards at WarAges 12+
    Death of a character3/5Frightening scenes3/5Religious themes3/5Violence3/5Romance2/5Graphic injury1/5Strong language1/5
    Gets more intense
  5. Book 9 · A wizard of MarsAges 12+
    Death of a character3/5Frightening scenes3/5Violence3/5Religious themes2/5Romance2/5Strong language2/5Graphic injury1/5
    About the same
  6. Book 10 · Games wizards playAges 12+
    Frightening scenes3/5Violence3/5Romance2/5Strong language1/5
    Gets gentler

Keep going

What should you do next?

One review should lead naturally to the next useful choice.

Lower cautionsTry something gentlerA Prisoner in FairylandOpen review →Similar fitCompare another titleSCARY STORIESCompare →Keep browsingSearch for another bookUse age, interests, vibe, or content preferences.Search →

Similar, with lighter cautions

Want something gentler?

These reviewed titles have overlapping age guidance and a lower total caution score than So you want to be a wizard. Open each review for the details.

BOOKA Prisoner in FairylandAlgernon Blackwood · 1913Ages 10+9 points lighter on published cautionsBOOKA Yankee Girl at Fort SumterAlice Turner Curtis · 1920Ages 9+7 points lighter on published cautionsTHE ACCIDENTAL APPRENTICEAmanda FoodyAges 9+5 points lighter on published cautionsSKANDAR AND THE PHANTOM RIDERA.F. SteadmanAges 10+3 points lighter on published cautions

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

Talk about it

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

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

What families noticed

Community signal

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These content notes are a starting point, not a guarantee. Review the evidence and use your own judgment before choosing a title.

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