The Magician's Apprentice
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3.5 • 2 Ratings
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
From award winning author Kate Banks, and with pictures from Caldecott Honor illustrator Peter Sis, a magical parable for readers who ask big questions
Baz has always dreamed about following his two older brothers out of his dusty little town, so when a stranger comes to his family's home and asks him to be a weaver's apprentice, Baz is eager to start his journey. But when he reaches the village of Kallah and starts his apprenticeship, Baz learns that his master is very cruel. And when the master trades Baz to a magician for a sword, Baz expects no better from his new owner.
But as Baz travels with this kind-hearted and wise magician, their journey takes him across the desert, up a mountain, and into the depths of life's meaning. He learns to re-examine his beliefs about people, the world, and himself, discovering that the whole world is connected and no person can ever be owned.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Banks's (This Baby) allegorical fable stands out in this genre for its understated tone and lack of pretension. Sixteen-year-old Baz, a realistic mix of fearful and brave, accepts an unknown visitor's invitation to leave his village and become a weaver's apprentice. However, the abusive weaving master to whom he is delivered trades Baz for a sword to a wandering magician, Tadis, who dispenses magic and wisdom with equal alacrity. " Intention does not come from the mind, though the mind thinks it does. Intention comes from here.' Tadis pointed to his heart." Traveling with Tadis and his cart of tricks, Baz embarks on a long physical and spiritual journey to find his true destiny. Set in an unnamed Middle Eastern land and filled with vivid descriptions of earthquakes and sandstorms, as well as physical discomforts and homesickness, the book gently traces Baz's growing understanding of the universal truths Tadis imparts. S s's distinctive, diminutive line drawings appear throughout as spot illustrations, perfectly complementing the understated yet rich voice in which Baz's story is told. Ages 10 14.
