Fourteen-year-old Ozzy lives near Portland, Oregon, and is desperate for help. His scientist parents have been kidnapped after discovering a formula that enables mind control. Their work was so top secret that Ozzy is afraid to go to the police, but without help, he fears he’ll never find his parents.
Then he chances on to a classified advertisement 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—also known as Rin—he is even more skeptical.
Sure, Rin dresses like a wizard, but the short robe and high–top tennis shoes seem unorthodox, as does Rin’s habit of writing notes on his shoes and eating breakfast for every meal. Plus, Rin doesn’t even cast any magic spells, which means that the unexplained coincidences that start happening around Ozzy are just that—coincidences.
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.
Obert Skye is not who you think he is—unless you think he’s a bestselling author of over thirty books. Also, if you think he’s not great at whistling, or that he’s discovered cures, or that he once broke his collarbone while walking, then he’s exactly who you think he is, and you’re psychic. Among the books he’s written are the Leven Thumps series, The Pillagy, The Creature from My Closet, Geeked Out, and Mutant Bunny Island. Among the cures he’s discovered are the cure for boredom, a cure for ignorance, and a half-decent recipe for the curing of a ham. Obert is also a presenter and champion of both words and paper. If you have time on your hands you might look in on some of the other things he’s done at ObertSkye.com. If you’re out of time, then take comfort in the fact that you spent your last few moments reading something worthwhile.View all by Obert Skye
