hoosgracie's review against another edition
4.0
Nita and Kit separate and work on separate projects. Nita grieves over her mother's death, while Kit helps a young autistic wizard.
rhiannoncs's review
3.0
I enjoyed this book much more than I did the fifth book in the series, which I thought was kind of plodding at times. That said, this doesn't really capture the magic and the detailed worldbuilding of the first few books. What I loved about those books was her blending of magic with scientific principles and the loving way she detailed ecosystems and physics and made them fascinating to a very non-science-minded reader like myself. I feel like she didn't continue with that in these latter books, focusing more on alternate worlds (something I feel like I can get in a lot of other fantasy novels).
However, I do love the way the characters have been visibly growing up throughout this series. Nita and Kit have to deal with magic and saving the world, but they also have to deal with families and death and everything that real teenagers go through, also, and I think Duane captures that perfectly.
I don't want to risk spoilers for those who haven't read this or the earlier books in the series, but this book is worth reading alone for any scene with Ponch in it.
However, I do love the way the characters have been visibly growing up throughout this series. Nita and Kit have to deal with magic and saving the world, but they also have to deal with families and death and everything that real teenagers go through, also, and I think Duane captures that perfectly.
I don't want to risk spoilers for those who haven't read this or the earlier books in the series, but this book is worth reading alone for any scene with Ponch in it.
justytoo's review against another edition
I like the changes Diane Duane has made in the NM edition, subtle but good. I love the way she has updated the conversations around autism in the new edition to reflect a more current understanding of how people with autism can perceive the world.
eowyndoodles's review
5.0
I really loved this book. I would read the New Millennial Editions though, preferably though, especially for this one of the series. Because regarding the autism stuff on this book, there is some sort of sketchy interpretation in the original edition that is vastly improved on in the NME version.
novelinsights's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this as another installment in the series. Like A Wizard's Dilemma, it followed Kit and Nita at home, which I appreciated. Again, it felt a lot more like a genuine follow-up to So You Want To Be A Wizard than second through fourth books in the series to me. The emotional gloominess experienced by all the characters dragged it down a little for me, but it made sense in the context of the story, so I can't really complain.
An autistic character was introduced in this story, which is an idea that I liked, though I was a bit underwhelmed by the execution. I have heard that Diane Duane rewrote the book to update her portrayal of autism with a more modern understanding of it, and the edition I read was definitely the original, so I can't speak one way or another as to whether I like her new representation. All I can say about the original was that the way other characters' viewed Darryl, the autistic character, was strange to me. For one, Kit viewed him for a brief moment or two and knew instantly that he was autistic, which seemed strange for me. As someone who worked at a center for people with developmental disabilities, a person could act like Darryl did in that scene for a variety of reasons, not all of which are autism, so the fact that Kit instantly landed on that diagnosis and no one questioned it seemed a little odd. I was also a little skeptical at the idea that Darryl couldn't understand the concept of other people; I've never met anyone, autistic or otherwise, who seemed completely incapable of understanding that other people existed. Aside from that, however, I don't think Darryl's autism was represented much, at all, because no one ever really interacts with him normally in this book. He is seen very briefly from afar, and every subsequent scene he is in takes place within his own mind. Nita and Kit don't meet him in real life until the end of the book, at which time he is no longer autistic.
These comments aside, I wasn't bothered by all of the things that other people are criticizing in their reviews. One of the biggest issues that people seem to have with this book was that Darryl got rid of his autism at the end of it. I don't find that too unreasonable, and it kind of annoys me a bit that this is so taboo to some people. I can totally respect that there are people out there with autism who are completely content to remain the way they are, but I'm certain that there are also people out there who would prefer not to have it, and the attitude that it's ableist to even consider finding a way to get rid of it for people who want to just seems like it would hold society back. Darryl wanted to get rid of it, and he did. That should be empowering, should it not? I didn't see anywhere in the book where Darryl was told he would be less of a person if he chose to keep it.
Another issue that a lot of people seem to have is the fact that Darryl is both autistic and an abdal, but I don't think these things are necessarily related. Nowhere in the book does it say that Darryl's autism caused him to be an abdal. In fact, I doubt that's true, as I was under the impression an abdal is something you are born to be, while the book implied that Darryl wasn't always autistic. Also, he remains an abdal even after he is no longer autistic; therefore, the condition can't have been a cause of his being an abdal.
Therefore, while I'll admit that Diane Duane's portrayal of autism is far from perfect in the original version of this novel, I also think people have been a bit oversensitive about it, as well. Either way, I definitely enjoyed this book and look forward to continuing the series.
An autistic character was introduced in this story, which is an idea that I liked, though I was a bit underwhelmed by the execution. I have heard that Diane Duane rewrote the book to update her portrayal of autism with a more modern understanding of it, and the edition I read was definitely the original, so I can't speak one way or another as to whether I like her new representation. All I can say about the original was that the way other characters' viewed Darryl, the autistic character, was strange to me. For one, Kit viewed him for a brief moment or two and knew instantly that he was autistic, which seemed strange for me. As someone who worked at a center for people with developmental disabilities, a person could act like Darryl did in that scene for a variety of reasons, not all of which are autism, so the fact that Kit instantly landed on that diagnosis and no one questioned it seemed a little odd. I was also a little skeptical at the idea that Darryl couldn't understand the concept of other people; I've never met anyone, autistic or otherwise, who seemed completely incapable of understanding that other people existed. Aside from that, however, I don't think Darryl's autism was represented much, at all, because no one ever really interacts with him normally in this book. He is seen very briefly from afar, and every subsequent scene he is in takes place within his own mind. Nita and Kit don't meet him in real life until the end of the book, at which time he is no longer autistic.
These comments aside, I wasn't bothered by all of the things that other people are criticizing in their reviews. One of the biggest issues that people seem to have with this book was that Darryl got rid of his autism at the end of it. I don't find that too unreasonable, and it kind of annoys me a bit that this is so taboo to some people. I can totally respect that there are people out there with autism who are completely content to remain the way they are, but I'm certain that there are also people out there who would prefer not to have it, and the attitude that it's ableist to even consider finding a way to get rid of it for people who want to just seems like it would hold society back. Darryl wanted to get rid of it, and he did. That should be empowering, should it not? I didn't see anywhere in the book where Darryl was told he would be less of a person if he chose to keep it.
Another issue that a lot of people seem to have is the fact that Darryl is both autistic and an abdal, but I don't think these things are necessarily related. Nowhere in the book does it say that Darryl's autism caused him to be an abdal. In fact, I doubt that's true, as I was under the impression an abdal is something you are born to be, while the book implied that Darryl wasn't always autistic. Also, he remains an abdal even after he is no longer autistic; therefore, the condition can't have been a cause of his being an abdal.
Therefore, while I'll admit that Diane Duane's portrayal of autism is far from perfect in the original version of this novel, I also think people have been a bit oversensitive about it, as well. Either way, I definitely enjoyed this book and look forward to continuing the series.
99radishes's review
3.0
I just listened to the audiobook version of this title, and I think it was recorded from the 2002 original release, before the book was updated to be more sensitive to relevant information about the autism spectrum.
I trust and admire Diane Duane to handle complex topics with great sensitivity, so my rating here is not a judgement of her, more my own experience of the discomfort of reading something that has aged into being problematic. I wish I had known that the book had been updated and read the updated version on the page, because other reviews here indicate that it was greatly improved.
The storyline and plot are well done, and all discussion of Nita and her family grieving is excellent. This book contains comforting humor, delicate seriousness, and the balm of good triumphing over evil. I’m interested in what changes were made to the re-released text. I’d consider this a solid story, with a major trigger warning for ableism and the mentality of “fixing” a non-neurotypical character, the original publication specifically.
I trust and admire Diane Duane to handle complex topics with great sensitivity, so my rating here is not a judgement of her, more my own experience of the discomfort of reading something that has aged into being problematic. I wish I had known that the book had been updated and read the updated version on the page, because other reviews here indicate that it was greatly improved.
The storyline and plot are well done, and all discussion of Nita and her family grieving is excellent. This book contains comforting humor, delicate seriousness, and the balm of good triumphing over evil. I’m interested in what changes were made to the re-released text. I’d consider this a solid story, with a major trigger warning for ableism and the mentality of “fixing” a non-neurotypical character, the original publication specifically.
daniwantsalibrary's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0