The Evil Wizard Smallbone

In a hilarious tale reminiscent of T. H. White, a lost boy finds himself an unlikely apprentice to the very old, vaguely evil, mostly just grumpy Wizard Smallbone.

When twelve-year-old Nick runs away from his uncle€s in the middle of a blizzard, he stumbles onto a very opinionated bookstore. He also meets its guardian, the self-proclaimed Evil Wizard Smallbone, who calls Nick his apprentice and won€t let him leave, but won€t teach him magic, either. It€s a good thing the bookstore takes Nick€s magical education in hand, because Smallbone€s nemesis€"the Evil Wizard Fidelou€"and his pack of shape-shifting bikers are howling at the borders. Smallbone might call himself evil, but compared to Fidelou, he€s practically a puppy. And he can€t handle Fidelou alone. 

Wildly funny and cozily heartfelt, Delia Sherman€s latest is an eccentric fantasy adventure featuring dueling wizards, enchanted animals, and one stray boy.