The Horse Who Bit a Bushranger

Animal Stars #5

by Jackie French

A story of survival, second chances ... and a dance with danger. Young Billy Marks is a pickpocket, transported to the penal colony of New South Wales. He and his mate reckon they'll become bushrangers - but that's before Billy's had a chance to see the bush up close. And when he buys the big white brumby stallion, covered with scars but refusing to bend to any man's will, he knows he made the right choice. Billy's daughter Mattie Jane thinks her father can ride any horse who ever lived ... and so can she! But when tragedy strikes, the Marks clan, including Mattie and her beloved horse, Rebel Yell, will need all the courage they can find to keep the family together. The deeds and disputed stories of Jackie French's own ancestors inspire another novel - a novel of proud and gutsy horses, trailblazing farmers and their resilient wives, and desperate men forced to break the law to survive.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Animals, Young Adult

288 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2010

About the author

Jackie is an award-winning writer, wombat negotiator and the Australian Children’s Laureate for 2014-2015. She is regarded as one of Australia’s most popular children’s authors, and writes across all genres - from picture books, history, fantasy, ecology and sci-fi to her much loved historical fiction. In her capacity as Australian Children’s Laureate, ‘Share a Story’ will be the primary philosophy behind Jackie’s two-year term.

Reviews

[mush · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very enthralling book about Jackie frenches ansestors, Billy and his journey and new life travelling to Australia in around 1830 as a convict. Billy is willing to start a new life as a busheanger but when his path takes him to the horse sales and he meets with a young wild brumbie who no one can control, his decision of how he will live his life changes. This book shows the life of an English convict moving to Australia meeting the most wild brumby, finding love and living life to the full. It is a good book because it shows the brumbies point of view as well as other characters that come into the story later on. I would recommend this book for 9-14 year olds because it is easy to understand and but it does use slang Australian words.

[Margret Klippet · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love this book i love how the story is based on jackie frenche's ancestors it is very sad though with people hurting horses

[Rebecca Fung · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book - why isn't this book better known? I picked it up at random and of course I've heard of the name Jackie French. This book is fantastic, much better than some of the stuff that gets more attention out there nowadays.

A historical fiction and an animal story. It's written from the horses' points of views and humans' points of views but you don't get them mixed up, it works really well.

There are 2 distinct parts and I liked the first part best. The first part is about the horse Conservative and how it came to be with Billy Marks, and how Billy met Annie.

Billy is a convict who makes something of himself, Annie is a free woman with native background trying to rise up against the prejudices that go with her darker skin. Conservative is the horse that can't be tamed ... well except sort of with apples and kindness.

It's a beautiful and exciting story about animal spirit, animal kindness, and surviving in a harsh colony in historical times.

The second part is later on where we concentrate on Billy's daughter Mattie and Conservative's descendant Rebel Yell, and we have a scene with the well-known bushranger Ben Hall. Many people will have heard of Ben Hall so this is interesting to many Aussies. It's not as bright and hopeful as the first part but still well written and intriguing, and Rebel Yell is a good horse but I prefer Conservative.

Jackie French also has a whole section at the back devoted to historical notes as this book is based on some parts of things in her family, plus her own research. She explains sections well. This is very well worth reading and it's intriguing to find out how she structured the story. The notes are perfectly pitched - not boring or fussy, in fact they are almost as good as the story!

Jackie has exceeded herself this time. What's more, I've been recently contacted by a few youngsters telling me they love horses and horse books so I know what I'm going to recommend them to read next. :)

[Lisa Denford]

I didn’t love the main character. His focus in life was lying stealing and cheating.

[Eddo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read it when I was 10, reread it. IT DIDNT HAVE TO MAKE ME CRY AGAIN!! And why was everyone so smart and stuff. Also I wanna write a book about my ancestors now

[Leila S · Rating 5 out of 5]

All of Jackie French's books are amazing, loved it

[Autumn George · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so sad! I loved Billy Marks- and I wanted Mattie Jane to marry Ben Hall.

[Riverina Regional Library]

Members of Riverina Regional Library reserve your copy now

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

very interesting :)

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story of life in the colony of New South Wales

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book again to my youngest son.