Macadoo of the Maury River

Gr 4–6—From the time he was a colt, Macadoo, a strong Belgian horse, has known that his life's purpose is to help others. He takes this role very seriously: he protects his mother from an attack by a stallion, he saves a filly from being sold into the wrong hands at an auction, and he comforts a human boy who has lost his mother. When he is sold and taken to live at a different stable, Macadoo's distress at being separated from his loved ones is so great that he believes that he will not be able to continue on as a helper and a protector. However, with the encouragement of his new companions-both horse and human-he discovers that he can find friendship in new places, and he embarks on a new journey as a therapy horse. Told from the horse's point of view, this story gives readers the history of one of the minor characters in Amateau's Chancey of the Maury River (Candlewick, 2008). Though the plot is predictable (especially to those who have read Chancey), Macadoo's response to his struggles will resonate with readers, and this volume will likely find a ready audience among lovers of horse stories.—Sarah Reid, Broome County Public Library, Binghamton, NY