Unfortunately, this book wasn't for me. The plot and characters didn't keep me interested. I really wanted to like the book but just couldn't get into it.

This is a great series for kids and teens. The fact that the main character is skeptical of magic is an interesting viewpoint, too.

Comparisons of Wizard for Hire to Harry Potter would be very appropriate. Especially the first two Harry Potter books that are a little lighter next to the ones later in the series. Obert Skye takes us on a journey to follow a child who is left alone after his parents are taken away. There are some perhaps stretched imagination things that happen at first for our young boy to survive but I quickly got over any of those as I got caught up in the story.

Characters
The absolute best part of Wizard for Hire is the various characters. They are quirky, odd and have very unique personalities. It's difficult to create character who jump off the page from the first moment you meet them; but Skye manages to do just that. Now maybe it's because there are nods to Frodo meeting Aragon (as the Ranger) that happen in the scene that introduces our young boy to a kindly old wizard; but irregardless of a little inspiration for setting I felt like it was just perfect. I love our young gal who gets involved as the story progresses as well! But let's face it the story is all about our young boy and his quirky friend the wizard in the end. Kind of like Harry Potter can be dumbed down to being about Harry and Dumbledore at it's core.

Magic
There are sooo many clever 'magical' things that happen! I don't want to share any of them as they are just too special to spoil. But let's put it this way; things may seem magical from one perspective, and yet from another just be a very clever adult tricking a child. And yet... we do have a talking bird right off the bat which means some magic has to be real right?

<b>Plot</b>
There's a fair bit of plot in this first novel of the series. Not unlike in Harry Potter, Skye has to set-up the reasons for the parents being gone, the way the boy is surviving, and subsequently bring in a factor that forces our young lad to venture into the world. However at no time did I ever think this was too much or overwhelming. It felt well paced and there was never any info dumping which I greatly appreciated!

Harry Potter
If you think I've mentioned Harry Potter too many times you may be right. But trust me I haven't said it near as many times as it's referenced in Wizard for Hire. Our young boy has a copy of the books and so there are many, many times where the 'magic' of his world is compared to a concept in Harry Potter. The wizard even goes so far as to say that Rowling got "some things right." but other things "very wrong". Implying that perhaps Rowling built her world of magic off a 'real' magical world.
I think this is very cute; but I did find it tiresome after awhile. That said I was an adult when Harry Potter came out; so I could see someone loving all the references and nods who experience Potter as a child.

Overall
This is a very fun and clever book. It's written for 9-11 children but I think it's worthy of anyone in any age group reading. It could easily be a book where a parent reads it to a child one chapter at a time (just like Harry Potter). I am really looking forward to the next installment and hope that we can learn a little more about 'magic' in this world and what may or may not be real.
There's a lot to still discover in this world. Skye has done a brilliant job of keeping the reader eager for the next book!

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

I loved this book! The full review will be posted soon at kaitgoodwin.com/books! Thank you very much for this wonderful opportunity to connect books to their readers!

Wouldn't you like to hire a wizard? Need an A on that exam coming up this week? How about a clean house? Or perhaps you need sleep or wake up faster to get to work on time. In a pickle and need magic to help you out? I know there are many times I could have used a wizard there to help me through something difficult situation or the knowledge to use magic. But would you like to be abandoned at 7 years old in a thick, forest in a small cabin on huge land all alone with no human interaction at all.

That is exactly what Ozzy is faced with as his parents are taken from him. Luckily his parents came to the area with lots of canned food so he can eat food. While exploring the house he discovers Clark the mechanical bird that is solar powered that can fly and also talk to Ozzy. Clark was invented by Ozzy's dad, and he has a crush on other birds and also all metal things. Ozzy eventually decides to explore the forest and beyond the creek nearby. He comes to discover a beach and a young attractive girl named Sigi. With limited communication skills due to his isolation, he doesn't really say much to her.

This discovery leads Ozzy to seek out more ways to interact with other kids his own age. He then discovers that there is a place called school where there are other kids his own age. So then he tries to find a way to get to school. Once he gets to school he finds that Sigi who also goes to school there.

Ozzy still wants to find his parents and from reading mystery books he knows that the police should be able to help him. So he goes to the police to see if they can help, but he is not fully honest because he is afraid if they find out he has no parents that he will not be able to go back to the cabin in the woods. Or cloaked house as he likes to call it. But as the police start asking questions Ozzy does not want to answer he runs out of the police station.

Ozzy then finds a paper that has an ad for a wizard. He believes that the wizard who has magic will be able to help him on his quest to find his parents. The wizard's name is Rin and at once Ozzy and his bird Clark are unsure of his methods or if he really is a wizard. Maybe he is just a crazy old man. He wears a felt hat like a wizard but also wears a short bath robe and he seems to really love breakfast.

As the story progresses the interactions between Ozzy, Clark, and Rin become more intertwined. With some funny humor and a very interesting cast of characters the story whizzes by. And as Ozzy gets closer to the truth about his parents things become rather dangerous. It seems Ozzy's parents had a major breakthrough with a science experiment and hid to escape the consequences of what their experiment could bring about.

"Sorry- Clark sort of gets a crush on anything bird-related or made of metal."
"Sort of?" Clark said with disgust. "This could be a grown-up relationship."
"It's a trash can."
"Don't tell me who to love."



A fun fantasy novel that has some interesting and well developed characters. The story takes the reader on a journey of mystery, adventure, and danger. I recommend this book to fans of Harry Potter and those who like adventure/fantasy novels. I think boys might like it better than girls, but I think there is stuff girls might enjoy as well.

I didn't know what to expect when I started reading this book.  As a reader, Middle Grade novels are interesting. Sometimes they are bland and boring, and other times you stumble on a fun  book. This is one of the fun ones.

All the characters fit into place, which is something I liked.  My favorite character was Clark, the robotic raven. He's awesome. He has some of the best lines, is fluent in two languages (English and Chirp), and has a fondness for metal. His quest for romance, and his flare for taking care of problems are some of the comedic moments in the story.

I received an ARC  from Shadow Mountain.

Wizard for Hire by Obert Skye is a young adult novel. Fourteen-year-old Ozzy lives near Portland, Oregon, and is desperate for help. His scientist parents have been kidnapped and he has been on his own since he was seven. Ozzy is afraid to go to the police, but without help, he fears he'll never find his parents. Then he stumbles across a classified ad in the local newspaper that says "Wizard for Hire. Call 555-SPEL." Ozzy has read about wizards in books like Harry Potter, but wizards couldn't actually exist today, could they? After Ozzy meets the wizard Labyrinth--aka Rin--he's even more skeptical. With the help of a robotic-talking raven invented by Ozzy's father, a kind and curious girl at school who decides to help Ozzy, and, of course, a self-proclaimed wizard who may or may not have a magical wand, Ozzy begins an unforgettable quest that will lead him closer to the answers he desperately seeks about his missing parents.

Wizard for Hire is and great read for young adults, and some middle grade readers. The story opens with Ozzy at seven, just after his family has moved to the cloaked house in the woods from New York City. HIs adjustment and the kidnapping of his parents are the way readers to to know and understand Ozzy. For seven years Ozzy just survives- but reading fiction, the discovery of the mechanical bird, and starting to explore the world has lead Ozzy to want to understand more about the outside world, and start the hunt for his missing parents. Sigi, the only kid at school that seems willing to get to know him, and later the "wizard" Rin are the only people that seem more willing to get to know him and look beyond his oddities. I love the ambiguity about magic and Rin's abilities, or lack thereof. He does things that seem impossible, but could just be luck. Through the entire book readers are left wondering if the magic is real, or if Rin just had a breakdown and is just a little different now. I enjoyed the journey of Ozzy and friends as they seek more information on his parents, and how things often go a little sideways, but rarely completely wrong. I also like that the story is a great adventure with significant emotional growth and challenges for all of the characters. I enjoyed the journey with Ozzy as a slightly unreliable narrator, since he rarely looked deeper than the surface or payed attention to things that stuck out to me as important. I greatly enjoyed the ride, and am hoping that this turns into aa new series, or that some of the characters pop up in another story from the author in the near future. It was also just a fun, enjoyable read that I did not want to end.

Wizard for Hire is a fun, quirky read that also has significant character growth and development. I would love to continue this story with more about Ozzy, Rin, and Sigi.

Oh man! What a bundle of fun this book was! Funny, magical, adventurous, you name it. I certainly hope this will be a series.

Soon after seven-year-old Ozzy moves with his parents to a cottage deep in the woods, some men appear, kidnap his parents, and leave Ozzy to die. But Ozzy doesn't die. Now, at fourteen, he's ready to find some answers.

With the help from a mechanical bird and a hired wizard, Ozzy sets out to crack the case on his missing parents.

First off, this book was hilarious. The wizard had me cracking up at every turn. And Clark, the mechanical bird, was also a great source of laughs. But this book isn't just about the gut-busting moments. It's an adventurous story about a boy who survives on his own for years before growing old enough and bold enough to seek answers.

Funny, adventurous, and perfectly magical, I highly recommend this book to middle grade and younger YA readers. You'll especially love this book if you enjoyed the other books by this author like Leven Thumps and the Pillage series.

Content: Clean, but there are some perilous situations.

Source: NetGalley.

A decidedly odd read, but worth it for those who like quirky and different. If you are looking for the latest Patterson or an adventure which will end just where you expect it, keep on looking this is not the book for you. It is odd and different in all the best ways.

Right off the bat I was not sure what to think of this book. It was a little slow to start off for my taste, but I loved it. I even posted a couple of passages on instagram. They were so true and so hilarious, that I could not resist. The reader cannot tell through the whole book if Rin is in fact a wizard or if he is crackers crazy walking around in a short robe and a pointed hat. I loved reading about the family connections and relationships. The end of the book was very satisfying and unexpected. I am super excited for the next one. I did not get to this book until after it was published, however, I did get my library to order this and I am looking forward to seeing it check out.

A lovely and charming protagonist.
I enjoyed the mixture of scientist parents with the Wizard. I also liked the slightly meta aspect of a character who knows about wizards because of the books he’s read.
I’d recommend to maybe 8-11/12 years, mostly males readers. Those currently reading the Land of Stories or similar would enjoy this one

The characters of Wizard for Hire are full of sass and wit. It was so enjoyable to read all the interactions. The storyline was fun and interesting. I stayed up late to finish it.

Without giving away any spoilers, I will say I could see most of the twists and turning points coming. I'm not actually a middle grader, though, so I'm not sure if that's just because I'm "too old" for the book.

This is a fun read for middle grade kids and teens. When Ozzy was 7 years old, he and his parents, who were scientists, moved away to live in the woods far away from anyone. Then, his parents are kidnapped and he is left alone. He survives and most of the story takes place when Ozzy is 14 years old and re-enters society and goes to high school and finds an ad for a wizard named Rin, and hires him to find his parents. Along with a sentient mechanical bird made by his scientist parents, Ozzy and Rin search for his parents. Is Rin really a wizard? The reader must decide.

I love the cover so much I made it larger. I just felt like Rin was so Hagrid like :)
Ozzy's parents mysteriously move the family to a deserted area near Portland, OR when he was about 7. Shortly after they moved however they were taken by some men and Ozzy was left alone. Fortunately his parents had stockpiled canned foods, he knew how to read, and he was able to survive. Over the years he found tapes that his father had recorded and a mechanical bird his father had invented. But he became curious and started venturing out - to the surrounding area and eventually to school. Finally, he decided to really start looking for his parents, and after seeing an ad in the local flyer about a Wizard for Hire, he met Rin.
Just who is Rin? A real wizard or a delusion man? It didn't really matter because together they were able to track down what happened to Ozzy's parents and why. Along the way Ozzy also made friends with Rin's daughter and learned some important lessons.
This was a fun book. Rin was a hoot - again Hagrid like - and Ozzy's innocence and efforts were awesome. Clark the bird was also great. I really enjoyed this. A sequel is hinted at but not necessary.

4.5 stars. Spectacularly bizarre! I don't know if I have ever read anything quite like this. It's smart, funny and quirky. The characters are awesome. I was hooked from page one. I think this works for upper elementary/middle school students, but I think it will also work for older teens who love unusual stories with terrific characters.

I loved this book!

It’s a cross between Harry Potter and A Series of Unfortunate Events. There were lots of Harry Potter references in this book. Since Ozzy lives in a cabin in the forest, he hasn’t had much contact with the outside world. Most of the things he knows about school, he learned from Harry Potter, such as that schools are closed on weekends and holidays. The way that his parents disappeared under suspicious circumstances reminded me of the Beaudelaire children’s parents in A Series of Unfortunate Events.

The wizard, Rin, was a great character. His magical abilities are questionable, because he doesn’t do any spells and the information he finds for Ozzy can also be found on the Internet. Ozzy is suspicious of how much of a wizard Rin really is, but he’s the perfect adult companion for a child who has lived in a forest for most of his life. They are both clueless on many topics, so it made the story funny. For example, Rin gave Ozzy some verbal instructions on how to drive a car for the first time, which didn’t end well for the car.

I loved this story! It’s great for readers of all ages.

Not a book for me. I love the cover and I hope that one day my daughter will read it but I just don't think it was the right book for me. I just wasn't connecting with the character like I had hoped.

I didn't care for Wizard all that much.

Pros:
It was well written and we'll edited. Dialogue flowed easily.
easily

Cons:
The plot never quite came together for me. One thing I particularly disliked were the scenes meant to reinforce the MC's lack of exposure to society. His ignorance about money, not even slightly believable. Even seven year olds have a basic understanding of money. For him to pay $100 for a $9 meal just showed he'd never learned any math. And every kid knows that red and green are Christmas colors.
The writing style felt a little slapsticky.
The author didn't make me really care about the characters. I skimmed a lot of the second half.

To be fair, I'm not part of the target demographic. Middle school and junior high level readers will probably love this and find it hilarious.

*ARC via netgalley*

This new YA book from Obert Skye is very different from most YA books I've read these past 20 years.  Most books have this fantastic, magical journey that is jam packed with action from start to finish.  This book, on the other hand, has the adventure, but it also has the emotion of loss and loneliness throughout the entire book.

While I usually do a short description of what happened in the book, this time I am going to share only my thoughts.

The title leads one to believe that this book is about magic, I believe it is more about facing reality.  While it seems unbelievable that a child could go seven years without human contact, caring only for themselves, could it indeed happen?

When we take stories like Harry Potter into account, we see children diving into the world of magic without parents, but truthfully there are always adults around.  A teacher, parent or guardian is nearby willing to help the kids.  In this story, there are no adults for seven years.  Just a seven year old boy who is on his own with no electricity, a cellar full of food and everything he could possibly need to survive on his own.

When Ozzy is introduced to his new non-human friend, a talking mechanical bird with a sentient mind, the story starts to push Ozzy outside of his comfort zone and into the world.  It is in the world where synchronistic moments begin to happen, from meeting his first human to asking a wizard to help him.

I never could quite figure out if Rin was a real wizard or not.  Maybe there was some magic, but this is the real world.  Does magic even exist?  That is the question that is posed throughout the book.  While there are no wizarding schools like Hogwarts in our world today, could magic still exist?

The answers Ozzy is looking for do not turn out well.  He discovers truths that could cost him his life.  His faith and trust in new friendships, and even in a little bit of magic is what saves him.

This YA book is not like any other YA novel I've read in the last 2 decades.  In other YA books, you don't question whether you believe in magic.  You just do, because books are designed to transport you to new places of wonder, where you can escape reality.  Skye instead transports you to reality and makes you ask yourself if magic is real in our world.

The answer to that question is in this book.  I know it makes me look at the world very differently now.

For fans of the epic “Leven Thumps” series and “Pillage” trilogy, look no more!

When his parents are taken away from him at a young age, Ozzy Toffy learns to fend for himself in the forest with only the tape recordings of his parent’s voices for company. One day, Ozzy finds a secret key that unlocks a box holding one of his father’s greatest inventions: Clark a robotic, talking, and independently, thinking raven with an affinity for metallic objects.

With newfound company, Ozzy begins to explore the world around him, and as the years pass, he is determined to find out what happened to his parents. So Ozzy enrolls in school where he tries to research more about his parents, and even makes friends with a girl his own age, Sigi. Through a stroke of fate, Ozzy and Clark see an ad stating ‘Wizard for Hire.’ With high hopes, Ozzy finds an unexpected friend in Rin a wizard who has more powers than the eye can see and ally with Sigi.

So the team embarks on a quest of high speed chases, magical moments....and an unexpected revelation!

In this comedic, original work only Obert Skye could create, readers are taken along on a fantastic adventure where you go from the first to last page in a matter of moments (it’s magic really!). Overall, to use an analogy fellow fans of the “Leven Thumps” series can appreciate, this book is FOO-tastic!