SO YOU WANT TO BE A WIZARD

So You Want to Be a Wizard begins with bullies in the real world of a 13-year-old girl who refuses to fight and her classmate who is goaded because of his Hispanic accent. Having been separately drawn to a book of magic and spells, these young folks find friendship and a common goal as they're drawn into a bleak futuristic world where bullies abound. Christina Moore shares Nita's cautious excitement, sense of adventure and strength of conviction, and she does equal justice to the life and character of Fred, a ball of light and energy. Kit's accent is actually pretty mild and comes across as more "New York" than Hispanic, but it's consistent and doesn't overshadow him or the other characters. J.E.M. © AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/SEP 99]