Wizard for Hire (edición 2018)

This is a book I gave my grandson and he wanted us to read it together. He loved it. I thought it was a fun middle grade story.

The story is about a boy named Ozzy whose parents are abducted. He lives alone for several years except for the company of a metal bird that talk (think robot AI of sorts). The bird, Clark, was built by Ozzy's father, thus is has special signification, and becomes his friend. Eventually Ozzy hires a wizard to help him find his parents and thus starts a big adventure.

I found the story to be silly in places, strange in others and totally unrealistic. Yet, it worked. Just the right amount of weird to fun. Looking forward to book two. ( )

Wizard for Hire
By: Obert Skye
Narrated by: Kirby Heyborne
This book is a fantastic middle grade book! Full of scary adventure, fun and silly situations, unusual characters, tense moments, tender moments, and extraordinary moments! A boy's family is kidnapped and he is left alone in the Oregon wilderness! He has a house, food, books, and his brains. He lives there years until he decides he needs to find his parents. This is his story and how he ended up hiring a Wizard! Loads of crazy fun!
Terrific narration! ( )

Wizard for Hire is an entertaining read, once you suspend some of your disbelief. Not about the idea of a wizard living in Oregon, or a young boy searching for his parents. The idea that Ozzy, the main character, survived from age 7 to 14, alone, in the woods, in Oregon, without starving, succumbing to illness or disease, or hypothermia in the winter was almost too much for me to handle. But I let it slide, and enjoyed the story that unfolded. There is a lot to admire in Ozzy and his mechanical pet bird Clark, as well as in the wizard Labyrinth. The struggle to find Ozzy’s parents, which is really a struggle for Ozzy to learn the truth about himself and life, was well done, if a bit melodramatic at times. A fun, light read.

I listened to the audiobook version of the book, and my only complaint on the performance was that during dramatic moments (and there were a lot of those) the narrator would yell at the top of his lungs, which was very annoying and a bit painful on my ears at times. Otherwise, I had no problem with the production of the audio. ( )

Ozzy, a boy surviving on his own in rural Oregon, enlists the help of an eccentric man named Rin, who calls himself a wizard. Ozzy is trying to locate his parents, who were kidnapped years earlier, and piece together their involvement and discoveries in a mysterious experiment. Complete review at http://cynthiaparkhill.blogspot.com/2018/01/wizard-for-hire-by-obert-skye.html

This is a charming read. My nephews will enjoy this book. Although, it felt like the author held back on this book being the first one. As if to not give away too much. Yet as the saying goes, "The first impression is the most important". In this case, my first impression was a bit luke warm. There was not a lot happening for movement in regards to Rin solving the mystery of Ozzy's parents. Like why were they kidnapped and who took them. Additionally, I wanted to see Rin's skills in action.

Who I did like was Clark, the mechanical raven. He had wits and personality. Sometimes you never knew what Clark was going to say. This is what made him interesting. Although, this book did not have a lot of action, it did help to pave the way for the net book with the lay of the land. So, that in th =e next book, I hope that the action can just begin and not stop. With Ozzy's inquisitive mind, Clark's wits, and Rin's skills; these three will make a good team. ( )