About the Novel
Tired of being teased about his name and his stutter, 12-year-old Hobart sets out to do a few heroic deeds and earn a place in Knight School. But the local damsels all know marital arts. The bull he tries to capture wears him like a hat. And don’t even ask about the ogre. Desperate, Hobart finally sets out on the most daring quest he can think of—he will slay a dragon. Or that's his plan anyway.
The Legend of Hobart is a lighthearted adventure for the would-be-hero in all of us.
Recommended for ages 8 and up.
Praise for The Legend of Hobart
“Mullaly’s middle-grade fantasy will effortlessly charm readers both young and old. . . Succinct and marvelously told; a middle-grade fantasy for everyone.” – Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“The Legend of Hobart by Heather Mullaly is an exciting children's adventure with heart. This one is truly a story that will hold up for many years to come and has the potential to become a modern children's classic . . . I can't think of a better book for a children's book club or recommended reading list.” -Readers’ Favorite
“A winning combination of fantasy action and . . . an overlay of humor . . . keep this quest story vivid through and through. The Legend of Hobart is highly recommended as a standout over competing one-dimensional quest tales for this age group.” -The Midwest Book Review
“Hobart takes readers on a journey that is entertaining and inspiring.”- The Children’s Book Review
Free Map
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Character Interviews
Click on the name below to read the character’s interview.
Kirkus Starred Review
“A would-be hero sets off on a quest to prove himself worthy in this middle-grade fantasy.
Twelve-year-old Hobart Septavious of Finnagen wants to be a knight. But he must be nominated to the King’s School for the Education of Future Knights by May Day or he’ll have surpassed the age limit to enroll. He leaves the family’s pig farm determined to perform heroic feats, and his mother says, “Have fun playing dragon slayer.” Hobart visits Mildred the Wise, who points him toward the last local dragon at Castle Flamegon. She also gives him an error-ridden almanac, an endless bag of turnips, a spool of unbreakable string, and Albert the talking horse. Though receiving a sword would have been nice, Hobart hits the road and soon encounters a wolf. After inadvertently chasing the beast away, he finds that he’s saved a boy named Tate of Fair Oaks. The boy joins Hobart’s quest to repay him, and eventually, they’re challenged by an elderly knight named Sir Danton of Mortico. A girl named Hero arrives and explains, “My grandfather gets confused.” When Sir Danton believes himself “bested,” he offers Hobart his sword, Guardian. Hero also joins the quest to face the dragon, which will be like nothing the teens have imagined.
Mullaly’s middle-grade fantasy will effortlessly charm readers both young and old. Hobart has a stutter and is bullied by Lord Finnegan’s nephew, William the Tormentor, yet he chases his dream of knighthood. Clean prose bolsters dry humor, like when Hobart isn’t sure that having a talking horse is a good idea: “By the end of the day, I was sure. It was a bad thing.” During the adventure, each of Mildred’s seemingly useless gifts proves urgently needed in a particular situation, like the turnip bag that feeds starving villagers. One character tells the adventurers, “When we are young, we think we are immortal, but the years will pass...too quickly.” Mullaly’s message that compassion should supersede personal gain unfolds subtly and beautifully. Her cast exits the stage quickly, sure to make fans crave more.
Succinct and marvelously told; a middle-grade fantasy for everyone.”