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Howl's Moving Castle

By Diana Wynne Jones
Series: World of Howl
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Sophie Hatter, the eldest of three daughters, is cursed by the Witch of the Waste and transformed into an old woman. Her only hope to break the spell lies within the ever-moving castle of the enigmatic Wizard Howl. Sophie must navigate magical bargains, confront powerful beings, and unravel mysteries both around her and within herself in this captivating fantasy tale where nothing is quite as it seems.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$3900

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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

Ideal for children and young readers who enjoy imaginative fantasy adventures with strong characters and magical intrigue. Fans of classic fantasy and Diana Wynne Jones’ other series will find it especially rewarding.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

Hayao Miyazaki's Academy Award-nominated film introduced the Wizard Howl to new fans. Now the classic novel and its companion, "Castle in the Air," are back in these new editions featuring new cover art.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A true original. --Katherine Rundell, bestselling author of Impossible Creatures

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 Howlβ€”and herselfβ€”than first meets the eye. What will happen to Sophie Hatter when she enters Howl's castle?

In this giant jigsaw puzzle of a fantasy, people and things are never quite what they seem. Destinies are intertwined, identities exchanged, lovers confused.

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.

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 Diana Wynne Jones include the Chronicles of Chrestomanci and the Dalemark Quartet.

Series: World of Howl

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  • House of Many Ways
    House of Many Ways
    In this sequel to the international bestseller Howl's Moving Castle, bookish Charmain finds herself smack in the middle of magical court intrigues... and dealing with the dashing Wizard Howl. When Charmain Baker agreed to look after her great-uncle's house, she thought she was getting blissful, parent-free time to read. She didn't realise that the house bent space and time, and...
    By Diana Wynne Jones
    Paperback
    $3500
    Available
    Ships in 2-3 weeks
  • Howl's Moving Castle
    Howl's Moving Castle
    A true original. --Katherine Rundell, bestselling author of Impossible Creatures 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...
    By Diana Wynne Jones
    Paperback
    $3900
    Available
    Ships in 2-3 weeks
  • Castle in the Air
    In this stunning sequel to Howl's Moving Castle, Diana Wynne Jones has again created a large-scale, fast-paced fantasy in which people and things are never quite what they seem. There are good and bad djinns, a genie in a bottle, wizards, witches, cats and dogs (but are they cats and dogs?), and a mysterious floating castle filled with kidnapped princesses,...
    By Diana Wynne Jones
    Paperback
    $3500
    Available
    Ships in 2-3 weeks

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780061478789

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Inc

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 22 April 2008

Country: United States

Imprint: HarperCollins Publishers

Audience: Children

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 25.0mm

Width: 131.0mm

Height: 192.0mm

Weight: 295g

Pages: 448

Collections

Children's Books Children's Fiction Children’s, Teenage and Educational Diana Wynne Jones Series: World of Howl Studio Ghibliverse Young Adult

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. Her books, published to international acclaim, have earned a wide array of honors, including two Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Honors and the British Fantasy Society's Karl Edward Wagner Award for having made a significant impact on fantasy. Acclaimed director and animator Hayao Miyazaki adapted Howl's Moving Castle into a major motion picture, which was nominated for an Academy Award.

Also by Diana Wynne Jones

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  • Howl’s Moving Castle 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition
    β€˜One of the greatest ever writers for children’ – Garth Nix β€˜A true original’ – Katherine Rundell β€˜Truly magical … Guaranteed to leave you gasping’ The Bookseller β€˜She is the best writer of magical fantasy for children’ Evening Standard In this beloved modern classic, young Sophie Hatter from the land of Ingary catches the unwelcome attention of the Witch of...
    By Diana Wynne Jones
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  • Charmed Life
    One of the wittiest, sharpest children’s fantasies ever written – Katherine Rundell Glorious new rejacket of a Diana Wynne Jones classic award-winning favourite, featuring Chrestomanci – now a book with extra bits! Everybody says that Gwendolyn Chant is a gifted witch with astonishing powers, so it suits her enormously when she is taken to live in Chrestomanci Castle. Her brother...
    By Diana Wynne Jones
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    $1999
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  • House of Many Ways
    A chaotically magical sequel to Howl’s Moving Castle. β€˜One of the greatest ever writers for children’ – Garth Nix β€˜A true original’ – Katherine Rundell β€˜She is the best writer of magical fantasy for children’ – Evening Standard Charmain Baker is in over her head. Looking after Great Uncle William's tiny cottage while he's ill should have been easy, but...
    By Diana Wynne Jones
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  • The Ogre Downstairs
    Diana Wynne Jones at her finestβ€”family feuds and chaos, magic with hilarious results, and some of the most original ideas ever to appear between the covers of a book. Casper, Johnny, and Gwinny get a big shock when their mother Sally marries the Ogre. He is large, stern, and not at all interested in children. His first wife left him...
    By Diana Wynne Jones
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    Elsewhere:
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  • Howl’s Moving Castle
    Quite simply the best writer of magic there is – Neil Gaiman Truly magical … Guaranteed to leave you gasping – The Bookseller She is the best writer of magical fantasy for children – Evening Standard In this beloved modern classic, young Sophie Hatter from the land of Ingary catches the unwelcome attention of the Witch of the Waste and...
    By Diana Wynne Jones
    Paperback
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    Elsewhere:
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  • Charmed Life
    "One of the wittiest, sharpest children’s fantasies ever written" – Katherine Rundell Glorious new rejacket of a Diana Wynne Jones classic award-winning favourite, featuring Chrestomanci – now a book with extra bits! Everybody says that Gwendolyn Chant is a gifted witch with astonishing powers, so it suits her enormously when she is taken to live in Chrestomanci Castle. Her brother...
    By Diana Wynne Jones
    Paperback
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    In Stock
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  • The Howl’s Moving Castle Trilogy Box Set
    β€˜Quite simply the best writer of magic there is’ Neil Gaiman β€˜Truly magical … Guaranteed to leave you gasping’ The Bookseller β€˜She is the best writer of magical fantasy for children’ Evening Standard Howl's Moving Castle In this beloved modern classic, young Sophie Hatter from the land of Ingary catches the unwelcome attention of the Witch of the Waste and...
    By Diana Wynne Jones
    Box Set
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    Elsewhere:
    $5500
    In Stock
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  • Conrad’s Fate
    Glorious new rejacket of a Diana Wynne Jones Chrestomanci novel – now a book with extra bits! Conrad’s Fate follows the story of Conrad, a young boy with a good heart, who is seemingly plagued by bad karma. So much so, that his future appears to hold nothing but terrible things. In order to change his fate, Conrad must alter...
    By Diana Wynne Jones
    Paperback
    $1800
    Elsewhere:
    $1999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Fire and Hemlock
    In the mind of a lonely, imaginative girl, who can tell where fiction ends and reality begins? An epic fantasy, spanning nine years... The fire and hemlock photograph above Polly’s bed sparks memories in her that don’t seem to exist anymore. Halloween; nine years ago; she gatecrashed a funeral party at the big house and met Thomas Lynn for the...
    By Diana Wynne Jones
    Paperback
    $1800
    Elsewhere:
    $1999
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  • Mixed Magics
    Glorious rejacket of the story collection set in the worlds of Chrestomanci. The stories featured in this collection are: Warlock at the Wheel Stealer of Souls Carol Oneir’s Hundredth Dream The Sage of Theare Everybody’s favourite nine-lifed enchanter makes a guest appearance in each tale. Plus many favourites from the Chrestomanci novels – and a cast of thousands! With illustrations...
    By Diana Wynne Jones
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    $1800
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  • The Magicians of Caprona
    Glorious new rejacket of a Diana Wynne Jones favourite, featuring Chrestomanci – now a book with extra bits! The Dukedom of Caprona is a place where music is enchantment and spells are as slippery as spaghetti. The magical business is run by two families – the Montanas and the Petrocchis – and they are deadly rivals. So when all the...
    By Diana Wynne Jones
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  • The Lives of Christopher Chant
    Glorious new rejacket of a Diana Wynne Jones favourite, exploring the childhood of Chrestomanci – now a book with extra bits! Discovering that he has nine lives and is destined to be the next Chrestomanci is not part of Christopher’s plans for the future: he’d much rather play cricket and wander around his secret dream worlds. But he soon finds...
    By Diana Wynne Jones
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