Wizard for Hire

Fourteen-year-old Ozzy Toffy has been on his own for the last seven years.  When he was just a kid, his scientist parents packed up everything in a rush and moved to a house in the secluded forest outside Portland, OR.  Then, men in green showed up and dragged his parents away leaving Ozzy alone.  He hasn't seen them since.

He's spent his time reading books and living off preserved food stockpiled by his parents.  One day while digging through some boxes, he finds a strange mechanical bird, stacks of cash, and several cassette tapes.  After a few moments of sun exposure, the bird (named Clark) wakes up and starts talking!

Clark is one of Dr. Toffy's inventions, created to keep him company in the lab.  Along with the cassette tapes, Ozzy finds a solar-powered cassette player.  That's how he gets the first taste of his father's voice in seven years.

With Clark's encouragement, Ozzy decides it's time to venture out, maybe attend school for the first time and start looking for his parents instead of just waiting for them to return.  That's how he finds the add, "Wizard for Hire."  Ozzy isn't sure if magic is real or not.  He's lived alone since he was a little kid with only books as a guide, and Harry Potter seems pretty real to him.  He decides to call the number, and that's how he meets Rin, short for Labyrinth.

Rin is strange looking to be sure.  His robe looks too short (better for hiking and action), high top sneakers, a wizard hat, and a long beard.  But he never seems to want to perform magic.  He does, however, agree to help Ozzy look for his parents, and the three of them (Ozzy, Rin, and Clark) delve into the mysteries of his parents' work and disappearance.

Obert Skye's new book is tongue in cheek mystery that may or may not be a fantasy, that is never quite clear.  Is it magic or coincidence?  This is book one, so maybe subsequent adventures will answer the question.  The relationships and the madcap nature of the story were fun, but the experiments and "science" behind the mystery didn't quite work for me.  I think it's one of those times when you just have to go with it.  Skye's fans with definitely enjoy this one.