WIZARD'S HALL
Illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman
Harcourt Brace 1991
ISBN# 0-15-298132-2 Harcourt hardcover
ISBN# 0-590-45811-6 Scholastic paperback
ISBN# 0-15-298132-2 Harcourt paperback

Another book that started with a dream, this story predates the Harry Potter books by eight years. A young inept wizard who turns out to be in some ways the most powerful of them all, my hero is named Henry (not Harry) but renamed Thornmallow when he gets to the Wizard's Hall. The Hall is a school, with teacher's pictures that move about, and a wicked wizard who used to teach there. (Is this all beginning to sound familiar?) There is a horrible quilted beast and a variety of spells. Scholastic dropped their paperback edition just a year before they began publishing Harry Potter. Harcourt then reprinted Wizard's Hall. There is an Audiobook, which I narrated. There is a Thai version.

The book was a 1992-93 Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Award nominee.

       In print in the Harcourt paperback edition.

Recording: There is an audio recording of WIZARD'S HALL narrated by me, from Listening Library (ISBN# 0-8072-7568-9). An AUDIOFILE Earphones Award winner.

What reviewers have said: "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." -- Kirkus Reviews

[Of the recording] "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." -- AudioFile

"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 ) masterful prose, with a few lilting verses thrown in."--PW

"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. . .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 and less competitive than McCaffrey's Harper's Hall in Dragonsinger. 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". --School Library Journal

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