written and illustrated by Anne Sibley O’Brien

Magic, mystery, and honor—Hong Kil

Dong is a leader for all people.

Hong Kil Dong is the low-born son of a yanban (noble) father. His mother is a commoner, so Kil Dong cannot be acknowledged as his father’s son, inherit wealth, or serve his country as a nobleman. Suffering further injustice, Kil Dong becomes the target of a plot against his life. Armed with spirit, intelligence, and talent, Kil Dong escapes to the mountains where he studies with a mysterious monk to discover his fate. Kil Dong masters the martial arts, sword play, magic, and the wisdom of the Book of Changes. Still he is not accepted by his father. How will Kil Dong become the man he is meant to be?

Young readers intrigued by graphic novels and the martial arts code of honor will be
amazed at The Legend of Hong Kil Dong—an ancient Robin Hood tale of Korea. Based
on a seventeenth-century novel—the first story ever written in the Korean language—
Kil Dong’s adventures with bandits, assassins, and the wise king Se Jong will open
young minds to an ancient culture in this modern form of storytelling.
Anne Sibley O’Brien’s action-packed illustrations capture the imagination and make this
unique story one to be read and re-told over and over—as it has been through the ages.
Backmatter details the author’s creative process and includes notes about fifteenthcentury
Korean culture and society.

Anne Sibley O’Brien is a writer, illustrator, and performer who grew up bilingual and bicultural in South Korea. She has illustrated more than 20 picture books, including the Jamaica books (Houghton Mifflin) by Juanita Havill and the Talking Walls books (Tilbury House) by Margy Burns Knight. This is her first graphic novel and her first book for Charlesbridge. Anne lives on an island in Maine with her husband and her cat.