I Am a Gay Wizard

By: Atiya Irvin-Mitchell

What’s the worst that could happen if you decide to use magic to seek revenge on a group of bullies? In I Am a Gay Wizard by V.S. Santoni, Johnny and Allison get the answer in a number of painful ways. In Santoni’s novel readers get a dark take on what it’d mean to go off to magic school the duo learn that magical powers don’t necessarily make high school any less brutal.

After suffering a homophobic and transphobic attack, a shaken, bruised, and angry Johnny and his best friend Allison decide to use a spell to summon a monster to punish their assailants. Johnny the skeptic participates just to humor his friend, but then the two realize magic is all too real. In most stories where the scrappy outcasts are given magic, they gain more power; however, in this story getting on the supernatural world’s radar takes all your choices away. Once it’s revealed you are a wizard, in the dead of night you’re extracted from your home, any memories your loved ones have of you are erased and you can’t leave the Institute (the wizard school) until you’re eighteen years old. Where Santoni succeeds in creating endearing and distinctive characters audiences can empathize with, sometimes his execution leaves something to be desired.

The novel’s strengths and weaknesses offer a host of contradictions. Within the story Santoni creates a distinctive world; however, the magic system is sometimes confusing. The pacing zig-zags between being fast and slow. While Johnny and Allison have a very real desire to escape the Institute, they are also two lonely teens who aren’t immune to wanting the cute boys at their new school to like them and other relatable insecurities. Santoni isn’t afraid to make his suffer in gut-wrenching ways but simultaneously the narrative sometimes solves their problems too easily.

Part of what sets this book apart from others in the YA fantasy genre is that most fantasy lovers would gladly go to Narnia or Middle-Earth. Very few people would voluntarily go to the Institute due to its prison-like undertones and high personal cost. It should also be said that this is likely not the right book for a reader seeking comfort or escapism. Santoni approaches the struggles openly gay Johnny and transgender Allison face inside and outside of the Institute with brutal and heart wrenching honesty, making it not for the faint of heart.

I Am a Gay Wizard is a story with appealing characters and a premise wrought with potential. Whether or not that potential will be reached remains to be seen in future works, but on its own the novel is an adequate read. The ending includes enough unanswered to set up the sequel, but enough hope that readers can feel like the kids will be alright.