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Rory Hobble and the Voyage to Haligogen
Eleven-year-old Rory Hobble has it tough: he gets upsetting thoughts all the time and they won't go away – 'Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)', the head doctors call it. His mum hasn't been very well for a long while either. Perhaps it's his fault... Maybe that's why she doesn't always feed him; maybe that's why she screams at him. At least Rory has his telescope – gazing at the unchanging stars keeps him calm. But, one night, Rory sees something impossible in the sky: mysterious lights – artificial and definitely not of earthly origin.
When his mum is abducted by the shadowy Whiffetsnatcher, Rory – accompanied by his space-faring, care-experienced social worker, Limmy – travels beyond the Earth, chasing those mysterious lights to the frozen ends of the Solar System. Along the way he must outwit a breakaway human civilisation living on a Martian moon; survive the threat of otherworldly monsters; and learn to speak to alien whales.
But his greatest challenge left Earth with him and it will take all the courage he has not only to overcome his OCD, but to decide whether he wants to rescue an abusive mother if he gets his chance…
When his mum is abducted by the shadowy Whiffetsnatcher, Rory – accompanied by his space-faring, care-experienced social worker, Limmy – travels beyond the Earth, chasing those mysterious lights to the frozen ends of the Solar System. Along the way he must outwit a breakaway human civilisation living on a Martian moon; survive the threat of otherworldly monsters; and learn to speak to alien whales.
But his greatest challenge left Earth with him and it will take all the courage he has not only to overcome his OCD, but to decide whether he wants to rescue an abusive mother if he gets his chance…
320 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 8, 2021
1 person is currently reading
11 people want to read
About the author
Maximilian Hawker
3 books10 followersMaximilian Hawker is a 30-year-old writer who lives in Croydon, South London, with his wife and two daughters. He is author of the novel Breaking The Foals, published with Unbound in April 2018. An alumnus of Kingston University, he has a postgraduate degree in English Literature and has worked in education, editorial and design. Currently, he works in frontline children's social care for Croydon Council, providing a service for care leavers and also runs a YouTube channel for looked after children and care leavers called formeR Relevant, which he aims to eventually promote at a national level. He has had poetry and short stories - occasionally nominated for awards - appear in publications run by Dog Horn Publishing, Kingston University Press, Arachne Press and Rebel Poetry, among others. He also aims to see the word 'asparagi' added to the English Dictionary, as its absence troubles him.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 21, 2021
𝗥𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗛𝗼𝗯𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗼𝘆𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗼𝗴𝗮𝗻 𝗕𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝘅𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗛𝗮𝘄𝗸𝗲𝗿
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
*SYNOPSIS*
Eleven-year-old Rory Hobble has it tough: he gets upsetting thoughts all the time and they won't go away – 'Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)', the head doctors call it. His mum hasn't been very well for a long while either. Perhaps it's his fault... Maybe that's why she doesn't always feed him; maybe that's why she screams at him. At least Rory has his telescope – gazing at the unchanging stars keeps him calm. But, one night, Rory sees something impossible in the sky: mysterious lights – artificial and definitely not of earthly origin. When his mum is abducted by the shadowy Whiffetsnatcher, Rory – accompanied by his space-faring, care-experienced social worker, Limmy – travels beyond the Earth, chasing those mysterious lights to the frozen ends of the Solar System. Along the way he must outwit a breakaway human civilisation living on a Martian moon; survive the threat of otherworldly monsters; and learn to speak to alien whales. But his greatest challenge left Earth with him and it will take all the courage he has not only to overcome his OCD, but to decide whether he wants to rescue an abusive mother if he gets his chance.
*MY REVIEW*
Firstly a big thank you to @annecater14 for my #gifted copy of this book for @randomthingstours
Now I'm new to sci-fi and it can be hit and miss for me, but I LOVED this book! This was so easy to read in regards to the sci-fi element. The main part is basically abucted by aliens, awesome space ships, scary-creepy monsters and some adorable Muktuks (or an alien whale to me and you!) It is self explanitory and the world building was done so well, that I understood the environment and all the planets. I'd say this is a fabulous starter to sci-fi and with it being YA certainly an easy fun read.
I love books that have rep in and Rory Hobble has just that. We have rep of OCD but certainly not how I'm accustomed too. I'm so used to OCD being a cleaning not Rorys. Learning about Rorys OCD was an eye opener for me, I learnt that there's more ways of the disorder, not just the obvious one we're told about. You can tell that Max knows about OCD (being a sufferer himself) and also about social workers too. With that background knowledge Rorys story is done so beautifully, heartwarming and sensitivity. I really liked that this book focuses on social workers, to me they have been given a lot of bad rep and to read something positive in a book at what they do to help, makes me hope people/children wouldn't be afraid of them.
I love Rory, he really is a tough young lad. Going through his OCD, to being bullied and pretty much looking after himself. I feel bad for him that his mother is in a dark place and can't step up. I understand she has her own problems but it does make you want to shake her and say come on, be his mum. Love him care for him, feed him! It really shows how poverty really can affect peoples lives and it's something that really needs to be sorted out. No-one should have to suffer. Limmy is a quirky and eccentric human and I adore her. She is so good with Rory, you can already tell from get go in this book that these two have a bond. I love that Limmy is a social worker but also is the Captain of the Scuabtuinne, definitely did not see that coming! And lastly the gorgeous muktuk, Gary. Omg an alien whale guys, who farts non stop! I just love this bizarre creature and I want one myself. I genuinely want to see Gary as fan art as I don't think my brain can do the creature justice. I just love Gary and the connection he and Rory have. It's clear as the story goes on that Rory finally has friends, I'd even stretch it to family.
This book is funny and quirky. Action-packed and other wordly. It's fascinating and adventurous and I thoroughly loved the planets and aliens. Spaceships and monsters. But ontop of all that we have a ownvoices story. A story that portrays OCD brilliantly, which will make children/teens with the disorder, feel like they're finally being seen and heard. Also we learn about self discovery and what we deserve. It's about acceptance and forgiveness and also grief and letting things go.
This is such an insightful story and for children who are in Rorys shoes, you can see from his story, that these children finally feel seen, accepted and feel valued. For a book to do that makes it exceptionally magical. For people like me, we see a brilliant, well written book that I'll happily read and read again. Definitely a must read.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
*SYNOPSIS*
Eleven-year-old Rory Hobble has it tough: he gets upsetting thoughts all the time and they won't go away – 'Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)', the head doctors call it. His mum hasn't been very well for a long while either. Perhaps it's his fault... Maybe that's why she doesn't always feed him; maybe that's why she screams at him. At least Rory has his telescope – gazing at the unchanging stars keeps him calm. But, one night, Rory sees something impossible in the sky: mysterious lights – artificial and definitely not of earthly origin. When his mum is abducted by the shadowy Whiffetsnatcher, Rory – accompanied by his space-faring, care-experienced social worker, Limmy – travels beyond the Earth, chasing those mysterious lights to the frozen ends of the Solar System. Along the way he must outwit a breakaway human civilisation living on a Martian moon; survive the threat of otherworldly monsters; and learn to speak to alien whales. But his greatest challenge left Earth with him and it will take all the courage he has not only to overcome his OCD, but to decide whether he wants to rescue an abusive mother if he gets his chance.
*MY REVIEW*
Firstly a big thank you to @annecater14 for my #gifted copy of this book for @randomthingstours
Now I'm new to sci-fi and it can be hit and miss for me, but I LOVED this book! This was so easy to read in regards to the sci-fi element. The main part is basically abucted by aliens, awesome space ships, scary-creepy monsters and some adorable Muktuks (or an alien whale to me and you!) It is self explanitory and the world building was done so well, that I understood the environment and all the planets. I'd say this is a fabulous starter to sci-fi and with it being YA certainly an easy fun read.
I love books that have rep in and Rory Hobble has just that. We have rep of OCD but certainly not how I'm accustomed too. I'm so used to OCD being a cleaning not Rorys. Learning about Rorys OCD was an eye opener for me, I learnt that there's more ways of the disorder, not just the obvious one we're told about. You can tell that Max knows about OCD (being a sufferer himself) and also about social workers too. With that background knowledge Rorys story is done so beautifully, heartwarming and sensitivity. I really liked that this book focuses on social workers, to me they have been given a lot of bad rep and to read something positive in a book at what they do to help, makes me hope people/children wouldn't be afraid of them.
I love Rory, he really is a tough young lad. Going through his OCD, to being bullied and pretty much looking after himself. I feel bad for him that his mother is in a dark place and can't step up. I understand she has her own problems but it does make you want to shake her and say come on, be his mum. Love him care for him, feed him! It really shows how poverty really can affect peoples lives and it's something that really needs to be sorted out. No-one should have to suffer. Limmy is a quirky and eccentric human and I adore her. She is so good with Rory, you can already tell from get go in this book that these two have a bond. I love that Limmy is a social worker but also is the Captain of the Scuabtuinne, definitely did not see that coming! And lastly the gorgeous muktuk, Gary. Omg an alien whale guys, who farts non stop! I just love this bizarre creature and I want one myself. I genuinely want to see Gary as fan art as I don't think my brain can do the creature justice. I just love Gary and the connection he and Rory have. It's clear as the story goes on that Rory finally has friends, I'd even stretch it to family.
This book is funny and quirky. Action-packed and other wordly. It's fascinating and adventurous and I thoroughly loved the planets and aliens. Spaceships and monsters. But ontop of all that we have a ownvoices story. A story that portrays OCD brilliantly, which will make children/teens with the disorder, feel like they're finally being seen and heard. Also we learn about self discovery and what we deserve. It's about acceptance and forgiveness and also grief and letting things go.
This is such an insightful story and for children who are in Rorys shoes, you can see from his story, that these children finally feel seen, accepted and feel valued. For a book to do that makes it exceptionally magical. For people like me, we see a brilliant, well written book that I'll happily read and read again. Definitely a must read.
July 28, 2021
An engrossing and enjoyable science fantasy saga for children and teenagers. Protagonist Rory Hobble is eleven years old and having a hard time at home and at school, not helped by the intrusive thoughts he experiences as a symptom of his OCD. However a series of unexplained, otherworldly events and a social worker who is a lot more than she appears soon catapult Rory from Croydon to the depths of the solar system on a dangerous mission.
The universe building here is bold and complex, worlds overlaid on our own familiar one which give everything a rich fascinating history. Unfamiliar, outlandish creatures, planets, societies and technologies that have remained hidden for over a century, all of which share the same tenor; far more natural and organic than might be expected from a tale of space travel. This gives the novel a unique atmosphere.
Rory himself is a likeable and sympathetic boy; a person that the reader will instantly find themselves rooting for. The symptoms of his OCD are described in such a way as to make the instantly familiar to those who also experience the condition as well as an eye opener and myth buster for those who don't - this is not an obsession with being tidy and neat.
This is an important book, giving children with OCD representation - but most of all it is an enjoyable one that is bound to enthral all young minds and engage their imaginations.
The universe building here is bold and complex, worlds overlaid on our own familiar one which give everything a rich fascinating history. Unfamiliar, outlandish creatures, planets, societies and technologies that have remained hidden for over a century, all of which share the same tenor; far more natural and organic than might be expected from a tale of space travel. This gives the novel a unique atmosphere.
Rory himself is a likeable and sympathetic boy; a person that the reader will instantly find themselves rooting for. The symptoms of his OCD are described in such a way as to make the instantly familiar to those who also experience the condition as well as an eye opener and myth buster for those who don't - this is not an obsession with being tidy and neat.
This is an important book, giving children with OCD representation - but most of all it is an enjoyable one that is bound to enthral all young minds and engage their imaginations.
June 26, 2021
I received an early digital copy for review from the author. Full review to follow, ahead of publication.
Due to be released 8th July
Due to be released 8th July
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews