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
More science than adventure, this is a challenging addition to the Science in the Field series.
Ospreys, severely affected by DDT in the 1960s, now serve as indicators for the success of pollution remediation on a Superfund cleanup site.
Scientists from the Montana Osprey Project invite the public to share their enthusiasm for these amazing raptors, bringing young people to visit the nests and maintaining two webcams while carrying on the work of collecting and analyzing samples of blood and feathers from osprey chicks along the Clark Fork River. Patent introduces the birds and the project, explaining environmental issues resulting from mining in the Clark Fork area, various dangers for ospreys, and the research. A chapter of osprey observations done through Web cameras, watching two pairs raise their chicks, is followed by an explanation of the problem of mercury and then a description of the attachment of transmitters to these birds to research migration patterns. There’s a great deal of information crammed into this title; many sidebars and special sections interrupt the exposition. Readers without a solid science background may have difficulty following the steps of data analysis. Libraries still holding Patent and Muñoz’s Ospreys (1993) will find that simpler title a helpful overview of the species, but this one demonstrates how studying these birds may help address some knottier scientific problems.
More science than adventure, this is a challenging addition to the Science in the Field series. (Nonfiction. 12-16)Pub Date: June 2, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-544-23268-6
Page Count: 80
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: March 31, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2015
Although values clearly steer the plot of this sequel, they don’t drive it into the ground.
An attack on the feral residents of Ankle Snap Alley prompts further heroism and cleverness from resourceful young raccoon Kit, first met in series opener The Wild Ones (2015).
When a coyote grifter and his band of rough otters seize both hostages and the alley’s winter seed stores, it looks like curtains for the ragtag community. But, inspired by stories he hears of the legendary, protective Moonlight Brigade, Kit resolves to strike back with an elaborate con. Pulling it off, though, is going to require not only further tricking Flealess (i.e., house pet) arch rival Titus into a ritual Dog’s Duel, but—perhaps more difficult for the proudly self-reliant raccoon—coming to terms with the necessity of enlisting help. Characters and setting fleshed out in the 2015 opener are only sketched in here, as London crafts a plot in which events are treated as opportunities to explore themes of loyalty, friendship, understanding other (animal) cultures, and the power of collective action. So, once Kit comes truly to understand his new school’s motto, “All of One Paw,” the triumph to which he ultimately leads a motley array of allies (“I’m not a hero,” he tells them, “but we can be”) seems almost incidental to his personal progress.
Although values clearly steer the plot of this sequel, they don’t drive it into the ground. (Fantasy. 11-13)Pub Date: Aug. 30, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-399-17100-0
Page Count: 272
Publisher: Philomel
Review Posted Online: April 12, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2016
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