Heather lives with her parents at Castlemaine and her parents are also the caretakers and tourguides of Castlemaine. Heather would love to live at Castlemaine if it wasn't for every Summer many tourists come. To get away from all tourists and noise, Heather heads off to one of her secret spots in the castle only to find more tourists there.Heather goes off upset and to the only other secret spot she knows. The mound near the woods, and she has been told that is the grave of Wild Robert, who was a magician 350 years ago. When Heather gets to the mound she calls out for Wild Robert and asks for help to get rid of the tourists. This is a book you can read in one sitting, but it is a very fun read. Altough it seems that there might be more to this story. Maybe one day there will be a sequel to this book, who knows. But it is a very enjoyable short story that is full of laughs. I know I really liked it.
Wild Robert is a wonderful story but it ends at an odd point. The main character is a bored girl who's parents manage a historical castle, she accidentally awakens from a magical sleep a former resident of the castle. He causes trouble and she works to control and understand him. The story abruptly stops at the end of the day but it feels like there should be more.I was reminded of Eight Days of Luke which has the same sort of beginning but is a more complete story. A good fast read that I'd only recommend to someone who knows Wynne Jones as its her writing but feels incomplete.
It's stories like these that make me sad that Diana Wynne Jones died. I wish she just could exist forever, writing really awesome fantasy novels for the rest of time. The story ends quite abruptly and without any real resolution - it feels as though a series or at least a sequel was intended, and Wild Robert doesn't have the same sort of neat ending that most of her novels do. Apart from that, it is still a charming novella full of her trademark humour and magic, all wrapped together. A story I think much younger readers would definitely love.
—Mariah Drakoulis
Honestly, this felt like half a book. By the end, Heather has realized Wild Roberts story, but she doesn't really have that much of a plan for how she could right the wrongs that have been done to him. Still an enjoyable quick read, complete with quirky magic and what person in charge of maintaining a place for the public hasn't wanted to have them attacked by their own littered trash? :) Content notes: No swearing that I recall; no sensuality except teenagers making a nuisance of themselves by kissing on the grounds of the castle; no present violence, though Wild Roberts manner of death is mentioned and slightly disturbing (view spoiler)[heart cut out, implied that he was still alive when it happened (hide spoiler)]
—Lydia
