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.

Reviews

"I found "Year of the Griffin" filled with splendors and delights, sparkling plays of wit, and high flights of fancy -- in short, Diana Wynne Jones at her best."-- Lloyd Alexander"Diana Wynne Jones chooses the most outlandish subjects and treats them with such aplomb that the reader never blinks. She always gives you characters you believe in from top to bottom and a world whose details you recognize inside and out. Her prose is transparent without ever being ordinary. Her humor is deft. All the worlds that Jones creates have her trademark integrity."-- Megan Whalen Turner"I "love" Diana Wynne Jones. Read this book. Read all the other ones, too."-- Robin McKinley"Readers who want more substance in character and plot of fantasy novels are advised to turn to the underrated novelist Diana Wynne Jones."-- Andrew Ogus, Letter to the Editor, "New York Times"

Gr 6 Up-It has been eight years since Mr. Chesney's Pilgrim Tours ended, and wizard Derk's world is still recovering from the devastation described in Dark Lord of Derkholm (Greenwillow, 1998). Derk's griffin daughter Elda has just begun her studies at Wizard's University, without her father's permission and despite his belief that the university is no place to learn anything. In fact, several members of Elda's class are attending without their families' knowledge, and the misdeeds ensuing from various attempts to retrieve or retaliate against the young wizards provide most of the dramatic thrust for this hilarious ensemble piece. Jones cleverly intertwines elements of humor, fantasy, and character development, as in the case of Crown Prince Lukin, who accidentally makes large holes in the ground whenever he does magic. Lukin's jinx produces some of the book's funniest moments, but it also reveals much about the young man himself. Readers new to the series will enjoy Year of the Griffin without first reading the previous book, though they will certainly want to backtrack to learn more about Elda, her family, and the Pilgrim Tours. The foreshadowing is so deft that the rather complicated climax makes perfect sense, while still leaving plenty of room for another sequel.-Beth Wright, Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, VT Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.

"I found "Year of the Griffin" filled with splendors and delights, sparkling plays of wit, and high flights of fancy -- in short, Diana Wynne Jones at her best."-- Lloyd Alexander"Diana Wynne Jones chooses the most outlandish subjects and treats them with such aplomb that the reader never blinks. She always gives you characters you believe in from top to bottom and a world whose details you recognize inside and out. Her prose is transparent without ever being ordinary. Her humor is deft. All the worlds that Jones creates have her trademark integrity."-- Megan Whalen Turner"I "love" Diana Wynne Jones. Read this book. Read all the other ones, too."-- Robin McKinley"Readers who want more substance in character and plot of fantasy novels are advised to turn to the underrated novelist Diana Wynne Jones."-- Andrew Ogus, Letter to the Editor, "New York Times"