Kirkus Star
THE KIRKUS STAR
Awarded to Books of Exceptional Merit

BROWSE BOOK REVIEWS




Great Horse Books for Teens


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Cover art for FINDING SOMEWHERE
CHILDREN'S
Released: Nov. 8, 2011

"Horse story, road trip, coming-of-age tale: It's any and all of these, but mostly a tender and authentic voyage into the mind of a wise, funny and wholly likable protagonist. (Fiction. 11 & up)"
Two teenage girls and a noble, aged horse on a road trip. What could beat that? Read full book review >
Cover art for THE SCORPIO RACES
CHILDREN'S
Released: Oct. 18, 2011

"Like nothing else out there now. (Fantasy. 13-18)"
The bestselling author of Shiver (2009) and Linger (2010) turns the legend of the water horse into a taut, chilling, romantic adventure. Read full book review >
Cover art for GHETTO COWBOY
CHILDREN'S
Released: Aug. 9, 2011
by G. Neri, illustrated by Jesse Joshua Watson

"Cole doesn't ride off into the sunset here, but he does, at least, ride off to a better future. (Fiction. 10-14)"
Twelve-year-old Cole has messed up one too many times, and now his mother has taken him from Detroit to Philadelphia to live with his father, whom Cole doesn't know. Read full book review >
Cover art for HOUSE OF THE STAR
CHILDREN'S
Released: Nov. 9, 2010

"A fast-paced book for horse lovers and not-yet-sophisticated readers of high fantasy. (Fantasy. 10 & up)"
When Princess Elen of Ymbria unwillingly arrives at summer camp on a magical horse, she brings three things with her: a talisman, a book of maps and centuries of hostility toward the rival world of Caledon. Read full book review >
Cover art for DREAM OF NIGHT
CHILDREN'S
Released: May 4, 2010

"Another impressive book by the author of Here's How I See It—Here's How It Is (2009). (Fiction. 8-14)"
Once Dream of Night was a champion racehorse, but by the time Jess DiLima gets him he's nearly dead from starvation and pneumonia, and his thin hide is covered in scars. Read full book review >
Cover art for YEAR OF THE HORSE
FICTION
Released: Oct. 1, 2009

"Exciting, original update of the ripping-yarns formula."
Allen (Slaves of the Shinar, 2007) sends the 14-year-old son of Chinese immigrants into the western territories of post–Civil War America. Read full book review >
Cover art for THE GEORGES AND THE JEWELS
CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 8, 2009
by Jane Smiley, illustrated by Elaine Clayton

"It's the minute details of work with the horses that make this book sing, and horse-mad readers will snap it up. (Historical fiction. 10-14)"
Abby's father names all the male horses that come through their farm George and all the female horses Jewel, and Abby knows it's to keep the family from becoming too attached to them. Read full book review >
Cover art for ANOTHER KIND OF COWBOY
CHILDREN'S
Released: Dec. 1, 2007

"Teens will happily embrace this refreshingly holistic gay teen character, built on cute quirks, humor and pathos rather than farce and flamboyance. (Fiction. YA)"
Alex's passion for riding, grooming and showing horses keeps his compartmentalized life orderly and his homosexuality at bay. Read full book review >
Cover art for BANG!
CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 1, 2005

"Powerful—and disturbing. (Fiction. YA)"
In a neighborhood where random death walks onto your front porch and kills you or your innocent little brother, Mann and Kee-lee become increasingly convinced that they'll die before reaching 17. Read full book review >
Cover art for I RODE A HORSE OF MILK WHITE JADE
CHILDREN'S
Released: April 1, 1998

"While there are some brave moments and dramatic scenes, readers will lose patience with the limping narrative and obvious moral. (glossary) (Fiction. 11-13)"
"Bad luck," plagues 12-year-old Oyuna and her family. Read full book review >