Author: Troon Harrison
Published: Bloomsbury (August 7, 2012)
Genre: Historical Fiction, Middle-Grade
Rating: 5/5
Let's face it. If there's a horse in a story I will read it. It doesn't matter what age range the book was targeted for. Since graduating from SNHU's MFA writing program this past summer I haven't read many equine related novels. Instead I went through this alternating pattern of reading Japanese literature, historical fiction, and homosexual romance novels. When I saw this novel was slated for release I knew I had to read it.
Kallisto is an exceptional equestrian at the age of 13 and her mother has some of the finest Ferghana horses in central Asia. They are considered "heavenly horses" by the Chinese Emperor who wants them. He wants them so much he sends an army to invade Ferghana to take these horses. Kallisto suddenly finds herself in charge of saving her own horse, her family's horses, and her family's well being. How far will she pushed and what hidden elements will she discover within herself in a time of such extremes?
What I loved best about Harrison's writing was ability to ground me into place and setting from the first page. This is truly a tool and talent historical writers need to draw in her readers and Harrison has nailed it. Her descriptions and ability to establish the setting through scene are some of the best I have read in a middle-grade novel in the past few years.
One a side note: this novel is inspired by an actual historical event. Emperor Wu of Han China sent 40,000 men to Ferghana in 104 BC to try and obtain the Ferghana horses. You know those horses in Chinese art and sculpture you see at museums? Those are Ferghana horses which the Chinese did eventually get through a trade agreement in 103 BC after he sent 60,000 men after the first attempt failed. Back then, a country's power was in their blood stock of horses and the fineness of their cavalry. For myself, I can can understand the level of sacredness at which the Asiastic cultures held these horses. It is believed the Ferghana's are the ancestors of today's Akhal-Teke horse breed.
Resource: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferghana_horse
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