An outstanding debut novel for young people by retired amateur steeplechase jockey Hambleton, who uses her knowledge of horses and the equestrian world to tell of the tragedies and triumphs that befall a thoroughbred racehorse—from the horse’s point of view.
Reminiscent of Anna Sewell’s 19th-century classic, Black Beauty, in its deeply felt narrative as voiced by a thoroughbred racehorse, this first-time novel for ages 11 and up is written with empathy and a vivid sense of drama by Hambleton, a lifelong equestrian and former amateur steeplechase jockey. Raja, a promising foal of distinguished lineage, bears the “Mark of the Chieftain” on his forehead. Bedouin legend has it that such a mark predicts either “great glory” or “great despair” for a horse, and Raja assumes that his road to glory is assured after triumphs on the track as a 2-year-old lead to early Kentucky Derby buzz. But the world of racing has a dark side. An injury, sparked by Raja’s fear of thunderstorms, drops the sensitive horse into obscurity and worse. What follows is a colorful succession of owners and riders (good and bad), a brush with horse drugging and the ugly reality of “kill buyers,” who purchase former racehorses for their meat. Friends and enemies, both human and equine, appear and reappear in Raja’s life as fate takes him far from his pampered youth. Along the way, the elegant horse learns dressage, Cossack trick riding, the exhilarating art of steeplechase—and the depth of his own courage. Hambleton’s compelling prose—deftly interwoven with technical realities and the emotional investment inherent in horse training, racing, care and ridership—is accompanied by a glossary of horse-world terms and evocative pencil drawings by Margaret Kauffman, a professional sculptor and horsewoman. Lifelong equestrian Hambleton makes an impressive outing as a first-time author of juvenile fiction, weaving her knowledge and love of horses, horsemanship and the world of competitive racing into a moving narrative that will keep fellow horse-loving readers of any age enthralled.
Pub Date: Dec. 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0615540290
Page Count: 261
Publisher: Old Bow
Review Posted Online: Jan. 9, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2012
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
An entertaining and even educational read.
A rebellious young nighthawk sets out to see the world and lead his flock to the Arctic promised land in this animal adventure.
When a fire forces Wisp from his school-top home and separates him from his family, Wisp flies south in search of the Refugium, the nighthawks’ winter home. Like any curious teenager, Wisp picks up tricks and tales from the other birds he befriends on the way, though his first journey is regrettably glossed over. Rather than admire Wisp’s adaptability or rejoice at his arrival, the other nighthawks at the fascistic Refugium demand that Wisp accept his place as a Plebian Navigator for the larger and bullying Guardians—the one role he cannot fulfill. After escaping from the enclave, Wisp flies north for the legendary Tundra, accompanied by his whiny sister Willo and Gonzo, a voracious crow with a stereotypical Hispanic accent, and pursued by the megalomaniacal Guardian, Flare. Bastedo portrays Wisp as all bird, complete with animal behavior, but relies on trans-species omniscience and human teenage slang to tell the tale, making for a sometimes disconcerting but ultimately satisfying blend of science and action.
An entertaining and even educational read. (Adventure. 12 & up)Pub Date: March 30, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-88995-455-7
Page Count: 246
Publisher: Red Deer Press
Review Posted Online: Jan. 15, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A wrenching piece with a wisp of hope for the protagonists if not for the rest of their world.
With severe drought, child enslavement, and multiple shootings of people and dogs, this slim volume isn’t for the faint of heart, though it repays those who soldier on.
In an unspecified African “place of dust and death,” in a story somewhere between realism and fable, Nandi the dog narrates an opening scene in which Sarel sees her parents gunned down. The gunmen, failing to find a water source, set the house afire and depart, leaving Sarel orphaned on her desert homestead. An underground grotto with a well sustains Sarel and her pack of dogs—fully family to her—while they recover from smoke inhalation and bullet wounds. In a nearby city, Musa sits in chains, taken outdoors only when gunmen (those who shot Sarel’s parents) need a dowser—Musa hears a buzz in his skull when water’s nearby. One generation ago, there were faucets and lawn sprinklers; now, gangs kill for a water bottle. When Musa escapes and Sarel’s well runs dry, the tale’s fablelike nature makes their meeting inevitable, even in the desert. The narration uses primarily Sarel’s and Musa’s perspectives, describing nature sparely and vividly. Thirst and heat are palpable as kids and dogs fight fatal dehydration. Occasionally, Nandi narrates, in broken English more distracting than doglike.
A wrenching piece with a wisp of hope for the protagonists if not for the rest of their world. (Fiction. 12-14)Pub Date: June 4, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-547-97651-8
Page Count: 160
Publisher: Harcourt
Review Posted Online: April 14, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2013
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