Islands of Chaldea

Description:

How are you supposed to turn into a Wise Woman if your powers don't show up?

When Aileen and Aunt Beck are sent on a secret--and suspicious--quest across all the Islands of Chaldea, Aileen worries she'll only be in the way. Her aunt Beck may be the most powerful magicworker in Skarr, but Aileen's powers still haven't shown up.

But the quest is not at all what it seems, and Aileen must puzzle out her own way after Aunt Beck angers another formidable sorceress. With the help of a (mostly) invisible cat, a (surprisingly) wise parrot, and a ragtag band of allies, Aileen will see her magic bloom. And she might even rescue her missing father and save a lost prince while she's at it.

Brief description:

In a career spanning four decades, award-winning author Diana Wynne Jones (1934-2011) wrote more than forty books of fantasy for young readers. Characterized by magic, multiple universes, witches, and wizards--and a charismatic nine-lived enchanter--her books are filled with unlimited imagination, dazzling plots, and an effervescent sense of humor that earned her legendary status in the world of fantasy. Her books, published to international acclaim, have earned a wide array of honors, including two Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Honors and the British Fantasy Society's Karl Edward Wagner Award for having made a significant impact on fantasy. Acclaimed director and animator Hayao Miyazaki adapted Howl's Moving Castle into a major motion picture, which was nominated for an Academy Award.

Review Quotes:

"The best children's writer of the last 40 years." - Neil Gaiman, author of Coraline

Praise for Earwig and the Witch: "This funny story updates fairy tale conventions while highlighting Jones's subversive wit. ... A fine introduction to the author's more complex YA novels." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Earwig is a plucky, albeit bossy, heroine, and the story is packed with wit and humor." - School Library Journal

"Readers are treated to a nonstop plot, memorable characters, and signature DWJ touches. ... For younger readers, a worthy introduction to the delights of the late, lamented master fantasist." - The Horn Book

"Only in an unorthodox children's book does a girl hope that she won't be ... taken away from the orphanage. But then, Earwig isn't your typical orphan. ... An amusing story in which it takes hard work as well as magic and cleverness to bring about a happy ending." - Booklist

"In the realm of other-world fantasy, this season's gem is the late Diana Wynne Jones's The Islands of Chaldea, completed by Ursula Jones. Humour, wisdom and inventive genius suffuse the tale . . . challenging readers' minds while creating a full world of sympathetic characters." - Toronto Star

"Beautiful and intricate...A strong, elegant fantasy [that] will linger with readers." - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books