What do you think?
Rate this book
The Wandering Adventures at Hobart Mill
Eleven-year-old Malachi's life immediately shifts after a horrible accident, and he must relocate from New York City to the other side of the world. Now, residing in Tasmania on an isolated beach outside of town, Malachi must make a new home with his outgoing and adventurous great-grandmother, Granny Annie.
One day, when Malachi decides to journey deeper into the Tasmanian forest than ever before, he discovers an abandoned mill. Curious, he steps across the threshold of the eerily high iron gates and stumbles upon a group of other-worldly characters. Together, they magically transport to a foreign land where the line between imagination and reality is blurred-where legends, folklore, and mythology come to life-and the promise of returning home is not guaranteed.
The Wandering Adventures at Hobart Mill is an adventurous debut novel exploring the mysteries of childhood and imagination, coping through grief and loss, travel and intercultural relationships, and finding and establishing trust amongst your tribe.
One day, when Malachi decides to journey deeper into the Tasmanian forest than ever before, he discovers an abandoned mill. Curious, he steps across the threshold of the eerily high iron gates and stumbles upon a group of other-worldly characters. Together, they magically transport to a foreign land where the line between imagination and reality is blurred-where legends, folklore, and mythology come to life-and the promise of returning home is not guaranteed.
The Wandering Adventures at Hobart Mill is an adventurous debut novel exploring the mysteries of childhood and imagination, coping through grief and loss, travel and intercultural relationships, and finding and establishing trust amongst your tribe.
240 pages, Hardcover
Published March 18, 2024
1 person is currently reading
9 people want to read
About the author
Dustin C. Kinard
1 book10 followersDUSTIN C. KINARD was born and raised in the Lowcountry of South Carolina, on the outskirts of Charleston. He has always loved English and the arts and started his early career as his high school’s yearbook editor, designer, and journalist. After graduating from an international leadership college, he worked as a non-denominational associate pastor, where he wrote and developed children’s curriculum and plays. During this time, he began creating some of the characters still used in his writing today.
Dustin has lived abroad in Sydney, Australia, and has traveled to places like India, Colombia, and Bali for months. He travels and explores the world often, collecting art and gathering stories for himself and his readers. He loves all forms of storytelling, including a particular interest in puppetry. Travel remains his greatest muse.
As a traveler, Dustin enjoys immersing himself in culture, often off the beaten path, where he stays in homes with local families, joins in on religious ceremonies and experiences, and feasts on the traditional cuisine around a dinner table. A common theme in his writing is that he draws influence from native lore, spirituality, mythology, tall tales, and his favorite artists and stories.
Dustin resides in New York City with his husband, Erik; their cats, Brea and Emmet; and their golden retriever, Cub. He spends his days at the dog park, enjoying Broadway shows, and catching his favorite musicians’ concerts-when he's not traveling the world.
Dustin has lived abroad in Sydney, Australia, and has traveled to places like India, Colombia, and Bali for months. He travels and explores the world often, collecting art and gathering stories for himself and his readers. He loves all forms of storytelling, including a particular interest in puppetry. Travel remains his greatest muse.
As a traveler, Dustin enjoys immersing himself in culture, often off the beaten path, where he stays in homes with local families, joins in on religious ceremonies and experiences, and feasts on the traditional cuisine around a dinner table. A common theme in his writing is that he draws influence from native lore, spirituality, mythology, tall tales, and his favorite artists and stories.
Dustin resides in New York City with his husband, Erik; their cats, Brea and Emmet; and their golden retriever, Cub. He spends his days at the dog park, enjoying Broadway shows, and catching his favorite musicians’ concerts-when he's not traveling the world.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 3, 2025
The Wandering Adventures at Hobart Mill is a charming and heartfelt tale that follows young Malachi Halladay as he is uprooted from New York and placed into the care of his eccentric and endlessly adventurous great-grandmother, Granny Annie, in the wilds of Tasmania. After the tragic loss of his parents, Malachi embarks on a journey of healing, discovery, and wonder. The narrative weaves his real-world grief with magical and mysterious elements, from a mischievous Tasmanian devil named Fern to a curious and long-forgotten estate called Hobart Mill. With a cast of quirky characters and an ever-growing sense of curiosity, Malachi’s story is part adventure, part emotional awakening.
What really stood out to me was the sincerity in Kinard’s writing. He doesn’t shy away from portraying the rawness of grief through Malachi’s eyes, but he balances it beautifully with warmth and humor. Granny Annie is a scene-stealer—skydiving, rock-climbing, storytelling—she’s a whirlwind of vitality and love. And then there’s Fern, a Tasmanian devil who becomes a literal and emotional companion to Malachi. Their bond feels real, honest, and surprisingly moving. The narrative’s pace is gentle but never dull, and Kinard’s prose, though simple, is surprisingly powerful in the way it captures feelings and places. The dialogue can sometimes be a little too polished for kids, but it never loses its heart.
The book leans into nostalgia and sentimentality. Some scenes play out with an almost movie-like sheen—idealized, even dreamlike. The secrets of Hobart Mill are tantalizing, but they’re teased more than they’re revealed. Still, that sense of wonder—of something just around the corner—is part of what makes the story so engaging. Kinard’s use of real-world geography mixed with fantasy elements gives the whole book an almost timeless feel, like a modern-day Narnia with a dash of Roald Dahl’s mischief.
All in all, I’d recommend this book to middle-grade readers and families looking for something cozy yet adventurous. It’s a gentle read that touches on deep themes without becoming heavy. Readers who’ve lost someone might find solace in Malachi’s journey, and kids who love exploration will adore the quirky mysteries that unfold.
What really stood out to me was the sincerity in Kinard’s writing. He doesn’t shy away from portraying the rawness of grief through Malachi’s eyes, but he balances it beautifully with warmth and humor. Granny Annie is a scene-stealer—skydiving, rock-climbing, storytelling—she’s a whirlwind of vitality and love. And then there’s Fern, a Tasmanian devil who becomes a literal and emotional companion to Malachi. Their bond feels real, honest, and surprisingly moving. The narrative’s pace is gentle but never dull, and Kinard’s prose, though simple, is surprisingly powerful in the way it captures feelings and places. The dialogue can sometimes be a little too polished for kids, but it never loses its heart.
The book leans into nostalgia and sentimentality. Some scenes play out with an almost movie-like sheen—idealized, even dreamlike. The secrets of Hobart Mill are tantalizing, but they’re teased more than they’re revealed. Still, that sense of wonder—of something just around the corner—is part of what makes the story so engaging. Kinard’s use of real-world geography mixed with fantasy elements gives the whole book an almost timeless feel, like a modern-day Narnia with a dash of Roald Dahl’s mischief.
All in all, I’d recommend this book to middle-grade readers and families looking for something cozy yet adventurous. It’s a gentle read that touches on deep themes without becoming heavy. Readers who’ve lost someone might find solace in Malachi’s journey, and kids who love exploration will adore the quirky mysteries that unfold.
April 17, 2025
super fun can't wait for the next one! my daughter loved it
April 18, 2025
Such a wonderful story! Full of inspirational lessons and beautiful descriptions of Fiji! Can’t wait for Malachi’s next wandering adventure!
April 9, 2024
This book takes the reader on a tremendous journey! It is a truly inspiring adventure story about a young boy and his new friends who soon become quite the tribe of explorers. Each character is developed so thoroughly that everyone can find a character they can relate to. The importance of spirituality and folklore are magically personified and presented in such a delightful way for the young reader. Although marketed as a middle-grade book, I know people of all ages will enjoy reading this adventure story! I'm now interested to see if this new group of friends finds themselves on more magical quests!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews