Wizard's Hall is a 1991 fantasy novel by Jane Yolen.

The Harry Potter series, which began publishing six years later, has many similarities.

At the Hall he is renamed Thornmallow, suggesting that he is prickly on the outside yet soft inside.

He becomes quite conspicuous as he covers a classroom in snow, yells during an orientation speech and has other embarrassing moments.

He soon learns that he is one of 113 students who are being prepared to confront the evil wizard Nettle and his huge Beast.