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Jane Yolen

Wizard's Hall Kindle Edition

by Jane Yolen (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

77 ratings

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An inept wizard-in-training is the only one who can save his classmates from the terrible sorcery that threatens to devour their magical school

Acclaimed master fantasist Jane Yolen imagines an academic world of wonders where paintings speak, walls move, monsters are made real, and absolutely anything can happen—as she introduces readers to a hero as hapless as the legendary Merlin is powerful.

It was Henry’s dear ma who decided to send him off to Wizard’s Hall to study sorcery, despite the boy’s apparent lack of magical talent. He has barely stepped through the gates of the magnificent school when he is dubbed Thornmallow (“prickly on the outside, squishy within”). Still, regardless of his penchant for turning even the simplest spell into a disaster, Thornmallow’s teachers remain kind and patient, and he soon has a cadre of loyal, loving friends. But there is something that no one is telling the boy: As the 113th student to enroll in the wondrous academy, Thornmallow has an awesome and frightening duty to fulfill—and failure will mean the destruction of Wizard’s Hall and everyone within its walls.

Reading age

8 - 12 years
Print length

148 pages
Language

English
Grade level

3 - 6
Publisher

Open Road Media Teen & Tween
Publication date

October 27, 2015
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Marvelously inventive.” —Fantasy & Science Fiction

“Wizard’s Hall has it all: fairy tale wonder, baffling mystery, captivating magic, edge-of-the-seat suspense, wry humor and a well-taught moral. This captivating package is neatly tied up by the marvelous bow of Yolen’s masterful prose.” —Publishers Weekly

“Briskly told, with plenty of engaging humor and wordplay—plus a unique, truly gruesome beast . . . Good, imaginative fun.” —Kirkus Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Henry is a small fellow, thin as a reed, without much talent for magic. But he tries. He really, really tries. And, as it turns out, that's the most important thing. Upon entering Wizard's Hall, the school for young wizards in training, Henry is promptly given a new name: Thornmallow--prickly on the outside, squishy within. And although his curses tend to "splatter or dribble around the edges," and he's not quite mastered his changes or spells, and he simply cannot chant on the dominant, Thornmallow is bound and determined to do the best he can. As the 113th student to arrive at Wizard's Hall, he quickly learns that he has a mysterious extra burden of responsibility that no one will explain. The horrifying secret? The future of Wizard's Hall depends on him, regardless of his magical bumbling.

Prolific, award-winning author Jane Yolen has a delightfully witty and dynamic way with words. This touching, funny, and exciting tale reminds maladroit magicians and mortals alike of the wisdom of an old adage: If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Yolen's other magical adventures include Passager and The Dragon's Boy. (Ages 8 to 12) --Emilie Coulter

--This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-6-- An experienced storyteller blends wizardry and enchantment in fluid, graceful prose. Young Thornmallow, "prickly on the outside and squishy within," leaves his "dear Ma" and follows his smudgy nose to Wizard's Hall, where walls move, portraits talk, and clothes clean themselves. Disconcerted by the atmosphere of enchantment, Thornmallow nevertheless makes friends with his fellow apprentices; struggles with such classes as Cursing, Spelling, and Names; and ponders his destiny as the 113th student at Wizard's Hall. It is evident that he is inept and without talent, although he means well and he tries. Yet the Magisters welcome Thornmallow as their last hope to defeat the evil Master Nettle, who threatens Wizard's Hall with his terrifying Quilted Beast. While the happy ending is never in doubt, readers will share Thornmallow's surprise at the discovery of his own unique strengths. This school of wizardry is a jollier, warmer place than LeGuin's Roke Island in A Wizard of Earthsea (Parnassus, 1968) and less competitive than McCaffrey's Harper's Hall in Dragonsinger (Atheneum, 1977). Drawing familiar ingredients from the cauldron of story, Yolen serves up a light, palatable brew that will satisfy younger readers with a taste for entertaining fantasy. --Margaret A. Chang, Buxton School, Williamstown, MA
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

From Publishers Weekly

The instant Henry casually "mentions wizardry to his dear ma," she packs him off to Wizard's Hall, with little more than a change of clothes and the advice that, whatever he might encounter, "it only matters that you try." Once at Wizard's Hall, Henry discovers that his magical talents are at best limited, but that even so, he must fulfill an ancient prophecy and help overthrow a powerful, evil wizard. Although he wants to give up, Henry--now dubbed Thornmallow--perseveres and tries his hardest. Wizard's Hall has it all: fairy tale wonder, baffling mystery, captivating magic, edge-of-the-seat suspense, wry humor and a well-taught moral. This captivating package is neatly tied up by the marvelous bow of Yolen's ( Owl Moon ; Dove Isabeau ) masterful prose, with a few lilting verses thrown in. Ages 8-12.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

About the Author

Jane Yolen is a highly acclaimed children's author who has written hundreds of books for adults and children and has won numerous awards. She and her husband divide their time between Massachussetts and Scotland. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

From Kirkus Reviews

Latest and 113th recruit at a school for wizards, Henry is given a new name (Thornmallow: prickly outside but ``squishy within'') and is soon making friends and discovering that-- despite a becoming humility and lamentable tone-deafness--he has an unusual, as yet uncharted, power to make magical things occur. This is fortunate, because the school is under threat from a disaffected wizard who used to be the 14th ``magister'' (teacher) and his monster, a patchwork dragon constructed from negative traits and entire personalities. Piecing together information from the library with his other scant knowledge, Thornmallow manages to stop the beast just before it adds him to its grisly bulk, then rescue the rest of the already-devoured school. Yolen skillfully blends the traditions of fantasy and school story, giving her theme a special twist: Thornmallow is not the expected powerful enchanter but an ``enhancer'' who makes his contribution as a catalyst for others' magic and whose heroism consists of trying hard and not giving up. Briskly told, with plenty of engaging humor and wordplay--plus the unique, truly gruesome beast (splendidly colorful on Trina Schart Hyman's jacket, but not nearly so scary as in the text). Good, imaginative fun. (Fiction. 9-12) -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

From AudioFile

At the age of 11, Henry finds himself enrolled as the 113th pupil at a school for wizards. Henry, who is renamed Thornmallow (he's prickly on the outside and squishy on the inside), is rather inept at wizardry, but he does try-and he does become the key figure in saving Wizard's Hall from the evil that threatens to take over the school and his homeland. Master storyteller Jane Yolen gives her novel a spellbinding reading. Her clear, softly dramatic voice and perfect timing deliver the magic, humor and wisdom of her fantasy in full measure. C.R.A. An AUDIOFILE Earphones Award winner. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01543FEIA
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Open Road Media Teen & Tween (October 27, 2015)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 27, 2015
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 1579 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 148 pages
Lending ‏ : ‎ Enabled

Best Sellers Rank: #424,445 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #1,737 in Children's Fantasy & Magic Adventure
- #6,296 in Children's eBooks (Kindle Store)
- #10,734 in Children's Fantasy & Magic Books

Customer Reviews:
77 ratings

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Jane Yolen

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5 star		76%
4 star		16%
3 star		4%
2 star		4%
1 star		1%

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Top reviews from the United States

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H.L.C.

This Book Changed My Life

Reviewed in the United States on July 22, 2013

Verified Purchase

I recommend this fairytale-style book for anyone, but especially disability students. As one myself, this book was one of the greatest influences on my life growing up.
The main theme of this book is "talent doesn't matter; just try". The main character Henry, nicknamed Thornmallow, isn't the top student in the magic school; in fact, he cannot perform well enough to expect anything from himself. The teachers cannot even remember his name. Then, one day the villains known as the Master and the Beast arrive and no one even tries to oppose them because they don't think they're capable of winning. But when it comes to be Henry's turn and he remembers his mother's words: "talent doesn't matter; just try", so he tries. In the end, this was all anyone really had to do: just try.

6 people found this helpful

Helpful

AntiochAndy

A Good Story, But...

Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2001

Verified Purchase

My daughter and I read "Wizard's Hall" together. She likes Harry Potter a lot and I must admit that I find the Potter books entertaining, too. But we had already read all the Harry Potter books available to date and were looking for something to fill the void. "Wizard's Hall" is about a boy named Henry who becomes the 113th student at a training school for young wizards. He isn't a very promising student. His curses don't work quite right, and his spell chanting is off a tone. But his mother had taught him to keep trying and that lesson serves him well. He also discovers that the school is threatened by a fierce monster, and it turns out that it is up to him to save it.
Some reviewers here have said that "Wizard's Hall" is better than the Harry Potter stories. Sorry, but not so. This is a good story and it is well written, but neither the story line nor the characterers are anywhere near as well developed as those in the Potter series. My daughter's comment was that she liked this book, but it was short. This isn't meant as a criticism. "Wizard's Hall" is a clever and interesting story and stands very well on its own. We recommend it. Just don't expect another Harry Potter, because it simply doesn't have that kind of depth. Four stars.

9 people found this helpful

Helpful

Me-Myself-I

Charming

Reviewed in the United States on August 25, 2016

Verified Purchase

This story is not terribly deep but it has a good heart. Thornmallow vows that "he will try." I kept thinking of Yoda telling Luke to "Do or do not." So I'd say this book is aimed at young grade school students. It's not a Harry Potter type book. But it's interesting to compare with several other magic themed books.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

James M. Skipper

Before There Was Harry Potter

Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2005

Verified Purchase

Before there was Harry Potter, there was Henry, a boy who decided to become a wizard. Henry travels to the Wizard school were he meets up with a red-headed friend and other young wizards, then is called upon to save the school from an evil wizard.

Shorter and with less depth than the massive Harry Potter books, Wizard's Hall is a good book for young readers with a clear message. Anyone who likes the Harry Potter books should by a copy of this.

3 people found this helpful

Helpful

Kindle Customer

Want to read about a boy wizard?

Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2018

Verified Purchase

If you'd like to read about a boy wizard and his friends learning his skills at a pretty neat wizard school, here's a great book to read.

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Reanna

This is a great book for young readers

Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2015

Verified Purchase

This is a great book for young readers. The story is easy and fun to follow, along the way the characters learn some important lessons and the tone is very heartfelt. It is a favorite of mine from childhood and was very happy to receive this book as a present.

Helpful

Lynne

Must read. A+

Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2017

Verified Purchase

Very sweet book.

Helpful

Lattieb

Quick service, great product!

Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2010

Verified Purchase

This product arrived quickly and was in excellent condition! Thanks so much...I'd definitely buy from this seller again!