A well-written novel for young horse enthusiasts—notable for its empathy and equine knowledge.
A young girl and her beloved horse overcome myriad challenges in this middle-grade novel.
Stories for horse lovers make up a sizable subgenre in the field of children’s literature, and this moving novel about what happens when Gracie, a young girl, forms an unbreakable bond with Gallant, a foal, is a welcome addition. This series opener begins as a true story (told in the third-person) about “a horse named Gallant and the girl who loved him” by the grown-up Gracie and her husband, Jack, to their great-grandchildren. Eckard, well-versed in horse care and behavior, draws readers into Gracie and Gallant’s idyllic first years on the family’s pear farm in Scotts Valley, California. Their connection is portrayed with playfulness and warmth. When a shocking accident separates them, seemingly for good, each must adjust to being without the other. As they grow, Gracie and Gallant unknowingly share a common endeavor: competitive endurance racing, depicted in vivid detail.(Information for readers interested in exploring the sport can be found in the author’s foreword and in a back-of-book list of resources.) WhetherGracie, now 13, will be reunited with her beloved horse, however, depends on Gallant’s owner and rider, 15-year-old Jack, who also loves Gallant fiercely. Eckard’s understanding of her human and equine characters shines throughout the pages, underscored by Gallant’s thoughts—his doubts, fears, and triumphs. The villains of the story include an abusive horse buyer and a stallion named Flash, made vicious by cruel treatment. (What gives Flash his bitter motivation to survive abuse is both chilling and heart-rending.) The text, complemented by artist Mann’s expressive, realistic pencil illustrations, is followed by the author’s poem “The Last Battle Cry,” paying tribute to “The horses who loved us and chose to be with us / when green fields were calling and friends were nearby.” The series will continue in 2022 with Gallant: The Call of the Mustangs.
A well-written novel for young horse enthusiasts—notable for its empathy and equine knowledge.Pub Date: Sept. 28, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-66282-614-6
Page Count: 300
Publisher: Mill City Press, Inc.
Review Posted Online: Oct. 13, 2021
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A troubling depiction of an unhealthy relationship.
A battered girl and an injured rugby star spark up an ill-advised romance at an Irish secondary school.
Beautiful, waiflike, 15-year-old Shannon has lived her entire life in Ballylaggin. Alternately bullied at school and beaten by her ne’er-do-well father, she’s hopeful for a fresh start at Tommen, a private school. Seventeen-year-old Johnny, who has a hair-trigger temper and a severe groin injury, is used to Dublin’s elite-level rugby but, since his family’s move to County Cork, is now stuck captaining Tommen’s middling team. When Johnny angrily kicks a ball and knocks Shannon unconscious (“a soft female groan came from her lips”), a tentative relationship is born. As the two grow closer, Johnny’s past and Shannon’s present become serious obstacles to their budding love, threatening Shannon’s safety. Shannon’s portrayal feels infantilized (“I looked down at the tiny little female under my arm”), while Johnny comes across as borderline obsessive (“I knew I shouldn’t be touching her, but how the hell could I not?”). Uneven pacing and choppy sentences lead to a sudden climax and an unsatisfyingly abrupt ending. Repetitive descriptions, abundant and misogynistic dialogue (Johnny, to his best friend: “who’s the bitch with a vagina now?”), and graphic violence also weigh down this lengthy tome (considerably trimmed down from its original, self-published length). The cast of lively, well-developed supporting characters, especially Johnny’s best friend and Shannon’s protective older brother, is a bright spot. Major characters read white.
A troubling depiction of an unhealthy relationship. (author’s note, pronunciations, glossary, song moments, playlists) (Romance. 16-18)Pub Date: Nov. 28, 2023
ISBN: 9781728299945
Page Count: 626
Publisher: Bloom Books
Review Posted Online: Oct. 21, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2023
An entertaining visit to the ballpark.
A high school baseball player fights for his dream of pitching in the major leagues.
Lazarus “Laz” Weathers—so named because he almost died while being born—is a pitcher living in Jet City, a trailer park in Seattle. With a speech impediment and a learning disability, Laz believes that baseball might be the only path available to him after high school. His half brother, Antonio, is 18 months younger and also likes baseball—but lately, Antonio has been hanging out with Garrett, a small-time drug dealer, which worries Laz. After the baseball program closes at North Central High, it’s announced that Jet City will be demolished by developers, and his mother decides to move out of the city. Laz receives the opportunity of a lifetime: transfer to Laurelhurst High, which has the city’s top team, and live with the family of their star player. Knowing he’ll get better training and more exposure to college scouts in Seattle, Laz must decide whether to leave his family and chase after his dream. Deuker (Gutless, 2016, etc.) weaves an interesting plot dealing with socio-economic inequality and drug use into a cast of varied characters. Unfortunately, the secondary characters at times prove to be more interesting that the protagonist, whose characterization falls flat. With few physical descriptions or cultural markers, ethnicity is difficult to determine.
An entertaining visit to the ballpark. (Fiction. 12-18)Pub Date: April 7, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-358-01242-9
Page Count: 368
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2020
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