Hobby: The Young Merlin Trilogy, Book Two

by Jane Yolen

Overview

The story of the young Merlin’s coming-of-age continues in this thrilling sequel to Passager. “An enjoyable introduction to Arthurian fantasy.”--The Horn Book

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780547995038
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	09/15/1996
Sold by:	HARPERCOLLINS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	104
Sales rank:	1,011,983
Lexile:	770L (what's this?)
File size:	139 KB
Age Range:	6 - 9 Years

About the Author

Jane Yolen is a highly acclaimed author who has written hundreds of books for children and adults and has won numerous awards. She and her husband divide their time between Massachussetts and Scotland.

Editorial Reviews

Gr 3-6This second entry in the trilogy begins with the 12-year-old Merlin burying his foster family after they perish in a fire. Devastated by guilt because he had not understood a prophetic dream, he leaves the ruined farm. As he wanders toward a nearby village, he continues dreamingand the dreams keep coming true, albeit in an oblique and frightening fashion. After a narrow escape from a would-be kidnapper, the boy falls in with a traveling magician and his companion. The man nicknames him Hobby, after a small hawk species. Together, the three journey to Carmarthen, where the lad ends up relating one of his dreams to an audience at the palace. The magician interprets the dreams to a positive end, but the boy knows he has prophesied the duke's death. Later, abandoned by his companions, Hobby gets the chance to tell the truth, but the duke refuses to heed him, and Hobby continues alone upon his life's path. Though little information about Merlin's childhood appears in legend, this tale weaves in names and details that appear in adult versions of the wizard's story: Ambrosius (the magician); Vortigern (the unnamed duke); the vision of fighting dragons. The characters are well drawn and appealing. However, the action moves along so quickly that readers barely get to know them. At 104 pages, this title is maddeningly short. An additional purchase for libraries that own Passager (Harcourt, 1996) (the first installment) or with strong Arthurian collections.Mary Jo Drungil, Niles Public Library District, IL

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