Wizard for Hire

Gr 4–6—When Ozzy Toffy's family moves to the Oregon woods, the frightening kidnapping of his parents leaves him alone in a remote cabin. Years later, the 14-year-old has survived on his own, teaching himself from the collection of books and papers his parents left and eating from a well-stocked pantry of canned food. But after the discovery of a collection of tapes from his parents and a mechanical talking bird named Clark, Ozzy ventures out into the world to find his family and experience life outside the secluded cabin. He attends school, tries fast food, and buys new clothes for the first time before requesting the help of a breakfast-loving "wizard" named Rin. Ozzy's orphan story is a trope that many readers will have seen before, but his charisma and quick wits make his interaction with a world familiar to most readers—school and restaurants especially,—more interesting. Characters grow and change throughout, and dialogue is delightful, especially between Rin, the eccentric wizard who performs no magic, and Ozzy. While readers might expect resolutions via impressive magic, it's strokes of luck, quick thinking, or fast-talking that often save the day.