The Island Horse

Gr 3–5—After her mother dies, nine-year-old Ellie has to leave her beloved Nova Scotia home so that her father can take a job on isolated Sable Island. Even though he tries to reassure her by telling her about the wild horses there, Ellie is miserable about leaving the only place she has ever known. Just a few families live on the island in the early 1800s, and although there is a girl her age, she is reluctant to return Sarah's overtures of friendship. While her father is patrolling the coastline for ships in distress, Ellie starts to explore the area and discovers a small herd of horses. As she comes to know them, especially the stallion, some of her loneliness starts to fade, and when she finds out that they are in danger, she knows that she must act to save them and gets some unexpected help from Sarah. Accompanied by detailed, finely drawn black-and-white illustrations, this is a well-told, simple story that will keep young horse lovers interested because of the lure that surrounds the idea of living among wild horses. Ellie is a sympathetic character dealing with some difficult issues, and Sarah is a free-spirited creature like the wild horses themselves. The history of the island is subtly woven into the story, and an author's note provides additional background.—Carol Schene, formerly at Taunton Public Schools, MA