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Staff Pick
Howl's Moving Castle (World of Howl #1)

Howl's Moving Castle (World of Howl #1)

Current price: $11.99
Publication Date: April 22nd, 2008
Publisher:
Greenwillow Books
ISBN:
9780061478789
Pages:
448
Charter Books
On hand, as of Apr 20 1:22am
(Middle Grade (9-12))
On Our Shelves Now

Staff Reviews

In a world where fairy tale rules apply, Sophie (the eldest of 3) has resigned herself to a boring life in her father's hat shop. So, no one is more surprised than her when she finds herself cursed by a witch and suddenly employed as a housekeeper to the most dangerous wizard in the land. Diana Wynne Jones is an absolute master storyteller, and while this has been turned into a movie, the books is very different (and way better!)

— Amy

Description

This entrancing classic fantasy novel is filled with surprises at every turn. An international bestseller, this much-loved book is the source for the Academy Award nominee for Best Animated Feature.

Sophie has the great misfortune of being the eldest of three daughters, destined to fail miserably should she ever leave home to seek her fate. But when she unwittingly attracts the ire of the Witch of the Waste, Sophie finds herself under a horrid spell that transforms her into an old lady. Her only chance at breaking it lies in the ever-moving castle in the hills: the Wizard Howl's castle.

To untangle the enchantment, Sophie must handle the heartless Howl, strike a bargain with a fire demon, and meet the Witch of the Waste head-on. Along the way, she discovers that there's far more to Howl—and herself—than first meets the eye.

In this giant jigsaw puzzle of a fantasy, people and things are never quite what they seem. Destinies are intertwined, identities exchanged, lovers confused. The Witch has placed a spell on Howl. Does the clue to breaking it lie in a famous poem? And what will happen to Sophie Hatter when she enters Howl's castle?

All fans of classic fantasy books deserve the pleasure of reading those by Diana Wynne Jones, whose acclaim included the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement. As Neil Gaiman stated, she was "quite simply the best writer for children of her generation."

The three books in the World of Howl are:

  • Howl's Moving Castle
  • Castle in the Air
  • House of Many Ways

Other beloved series from Dianna Wynne Jones include the Chronicles of Chrestomanci and the Dalemark Quartet.

About the Author

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.