The creator of the Wayside School and Hole series, Louis Sachar, has written children’s books for almost fifty years. And his new book, The Magician of Tiger Castle, was initially intended to carry on that tradition.
It is set in the Kingdom of Esquaveta in the sixteenth century. A bad prince from a rival kingdom is engaged to the young Princess Tullia. She had fallen in love with Pito, a guy her father imprisoned in the cell.
Anatole, however, comes next. Princess Tullia confides in and is close to the middle-aged potions guy. Anatole was only the oddball narrator in the early drafts. However, according to Sachar, he simply took over the entire plot, “and you can’t really have a children’s book with a 40-year-old main character.”
When Sachar wrote Sideways Stories from Wayside School, his debut book, he was in his early twenties. He claims that although he is in his seventies and no longer feels as connected to the children, he still feels a connection to the people who read his novels as children. Therefore, it is my hope that you will experience the same level of enjoyment, delight, and enthusiasm when reading this book as you had while attending Holsor Wayside School.
Tiger Castle is a lot of fun to be had. Anatole does a lot of crazy things with his brews and mixtures, but his success rate isn’t 100%. He was completely bald after one of his experiments, for example, “so throughout the book, you never know if something is going to go really horribly wrong with any of his experiments,” Sachar explains. There is also some wish fulfillment in this bit of characterization because Sachar, who is now in his 70s, quips that he hates the hair coming from his nose and ears.
Writing entertaining stories was Sachar’s only goal when he initially began writing for children, “to get kids to realize how much and how enjoyable reading can be.” He believed at the time that he would just create one children’s book before turning into a “serious writer.”
His words, “That was then,” “I don’t downplay how important writing children’s books is. However, I did at the time.
Sachar claims that he was acutely aware of the gravity of that task while on his book tour for Tiger Castle. Adults informed him that before they read his works, they didn’t enjoy reading. Additionally, he received messages from educators informing him that his novels are being taught in their schools. “You can’t ask for anything more than that,” he replies.
Dedicated to his high school pals, “The Cool Breezers,” Sachar wrote The Magician of Tiger Castle. The Cool Breezers are closer than ever today after losing contact over the course of the last 20 years or so.
This book is like reconnecting with an old acquaintance for a certain generation. A little more shrewd. Perhaps a little more worried about nose and ear hair. Just as excellent of a hang, though.
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