Gabriel's Horses

Racing to Freedom #1

by Alison Hart

In the first book of this engrossing middle-grade trilogy set during the Civil War, a young Kentucky slave dares to pursue his dream of becoming a jockey.

The year is 1864 and twelve-year-old Gabriel hopes to one day become a famous jockey. Although he is a the son of a free black father and a slave mother-making him a slave as well-he loves to help his father, one of the best horse trainers in Kentucky, care for the thoroughbred racehorses on Master Giles's farm.

But the violence of war disrupts the familiar routine of daily life on the farm. One-Arm Dan Parmer and his band of Confederate raiders are threatening area farms and stealing horses. When Gabriel's father enlists in a Colored Battalion to help the Union Army and earn enough money to purchase freedom for his wife and son, Gabriel is both proud and worried. But the absence of his father brings the arrival of Mr. Newcastle, a white horse trainer with harsh, cruel methods for handling horses...and people.

Now it is up to Gabriel to protect the horses he loves from Mr. Newcastle and keep them safely out of the clutches of One-Arm Dan and his men.

Author Alison Hart mines the complex relationships between white and black, slave and master, Unionist and Confederate, and old and young in this gripping work of historical fiction. Young readers will experience the danger and drama of a time when war split the country and human beings were segregated into the owners and the owned based on the color of their skin. Background historical material and photos are included.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, Childrens, Horses, Fiction, Young Adult, Civil War

161 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2007

About the author

Alison Hart is a pseudonym for writer Alice Leonhardt

A Virginia author of over twenty mysteries and historical fiction novels for children and teens, loves “writing books that keep young readers glued to the pages.” At the age of seven she wrote, illustrated and self-published The Wild Dog, a book which she shows to readers to make the point that it is never too early to be an author.

Reviews

[maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read-aloud for a 'mature' 5th grade class. It was slow going at first, but turned out to be a great read. Suspense, horses, civil war... just about every kid had a connection! About a third of the way through the class was begging me not to stop reading and now they are hounding the librarian to order the rest of the series!
PS- Texas Bluebonnet nominee

[Christoper · Rating 4 out of 5]

i didn't really think that its book was going to be that good, but I stand corrected. The book goes into the life of a young slave boy. The book talks about how he could buy his freedom from his master and how to understand and to take care of the horses.

[Rivkah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A student gave this book to me as a going away present and it was quiet good! It was well written and had excitement as well as historical accuracy. Granted, it's a young adult read so everything is okay at the end, but it also plays around with what qualifies as a "good guy" and a "bad guy" and what freedom really is and how it's acted out. A great read.

[Cristine Braddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read aloud, my boys and I LOVED reading this together.

[SFrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

The amount of research that Allison Hart apparently performs makes all of her books a worthwhile reading journey.

[Lindsey Mizelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary: Gabriel Alexander is a young slave who works on a Kentucky ranch. He and his Pa take care of the thoroughbreds and train them for horse racing. Gabriel dreams of becoming a famous jockey. All of this takes place during the Civil War, and Gabriel’s dream seems to become more complicated. With Pa joining the Union army, the ranch getting a new horse trainer and jockey, and the threat of confederate soldiers, Gabriel fears he may never achieve his dream. Read Gabriel’s Horses to learn about a young slave whose passion and love for horses might just turn him into a hero.

Evaluation: I read this book with my 5th grade guided reading group, and I really liked it. My students and I agreed that the story started out as boring but quickly became an action-packed story that made me and my students excited to discuss in guided reading each day. This book provided great opportunities for deeper discussions about slavery and freedom for me and my students. We were able to connect with a boy who lived a very different life than us and understand why he was felt the way that he did throughout the book. By the end, we were all cheering on Gabriel as he fought for his dream of becoming a jockey.

Teaching Point: I would recommend using this book as guided reading book for advanced readers. There are several changes in the story that can make comprehension difficult for lower readers. This book is great for teaching how to make predictions based on text because each chapter ends on some kind of cliffhanger.

[Jessica Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book at a local birdhouse in the park, Take A Book Leave A Book. I give this book 3 stars as an alright/good read. This is quite the story of young Gabriel and his love for horses like his Pa. When his Pa goes off to join the Union Army, he is left to stay with his Ma who is with child and Pa has gained his freedom along with Ma's. However, Gabriel is still owned by Mister Giles. Gabriel races a horse TenPenny and is almost caught by the Raiders and One Arm. He gets away but later at the farm when Gabriel is asked to race one of the stable horses the Raiders show up. Gabriel is spooked and takes the horses to one of the barns. Mister Giles meets up with One Arm and Gabriel turns out to be quite the hero in the end gaining his freedom from Mister Giles with his heroism. The story is amazing and adventurous so I recommend it to anyone who has a heart for horses and a history to learn about freedom.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a read aloud in conjunction with HOD’s Revival to Revolution curriculum set. This book was a disappointment. The bones of a good story are here, but the execution is lacking. I often felt like I was reading someone’s narrative journal of daily experiences. The plot lacks clear forward movement, so I often lost interest in reading.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son loved this book. We used it as a read-aloud book for school. Historically accurate and yet a very entertaining read. He wants to read the remaining two books of the trilogy now!

[Roberta Eagleston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute little story.
My granddaughter brought it home from her school library that they wanted to get rid of.
She knows I read so she wanted me to have it🥰

[Everet Redman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book Gabriel’s Horses, by Alison Hart, is about a young slave boy who wants to be a jockey. I found this book because I was looking for a book that is 150 pages long, which was the minimum that was needed for an independent reading book in literature class. The story takes place in Kentucky, where Gabriel lives with his parents. The main characters of the book are Gabriel, his Ma, his Pa, and his owner, Master Giles.

Throughout the book, Gabriel faces lots of challenges, such as his father leaving to go to war without Gabriel even knowing. When his father leaves, Gabriel is met with a very strict horse trainer named Newcastle. Gabriel's Pa was said to be one of the most caring and best horse trainers in Kentucky. Newcastle teaches his horses through pain and Gabriel cannot stand this. One day, when Gabriel hears that Newcastle is going to whip his favorite horse, Aristo, he tackles Newcastle to the ground and punches him in the face. Gabriel feels that he is all on his own because even though his Ma bought her freedom, she stays and takes care of Mistress Jane because she is old and cannot care for herself anymore.

The ending linked well with everything leading up to the point and overall felt like a very good ending. Gabriel was finally able to fulfill his dream and become a hero while doing it. The part that makes the ending the best is when Master Giles gives Gabriel his freedom. Master Giles explains to Gabriel that his horses mean just as much as life to him and Gabriel saved all of them, and for that, Gabriel gets his freedom and can now do whatever he wants to.

My personal opinion on the book is that it definitely was not the best book that I ever read because I do not have personal experience with horses. This book is however very educational in the sense that it teaches you a lot of horse terms as well as how to take care of a horse. I would recommend this book to anyone who rides horses or is interested in horses because I feel the book would be far more entertaining.

[Leah Good · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Pa shows me something, I take note. Pa's the best horseman in Kentucky, and I aim to follow in his path.

Horses and horse racing are Gabriel's life. He is the son of a freedman and a slave woman, making him a slave. He enjoys jockeying for his master and learning about horses from his father. He is happy until war sends his world spinning. His father leaves and a new horse trainer with harsh training methods arrives. To top things off, Confederate soldiers begin stealing horses. Gabriel must make sense of his new life while trying to protect the horses he loves.

This is the first book in the Racing to Freedom Trilogy. I read the trilogy several years ago. My library purchased the second book in the trilogy. After reading that book, I begged the librarians to buy the first and third book to add to their collection. They did and I enjoyed all three books. The story is fast paced and provides an unusual look at a popular period of history.

Read More Of My Book Reviews

[Sue Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gabriel's Horses ia a wonderful book which shares the story of a 12 year old slave, Gabriel, and his dreams of being a jockey. His father has modeled how to care for horses so they develop a trust for their trainer/jockey. Once his father enlists in the Union Army, another horse trainer is employed by Gabriel's master, and this trainer and the new jockey, use an entirely different method of training horses, and Gabriel stands up to Newcastle and Flanagan. Gabriel is also very brave in his effort to save Woodville Farm's horses during an attack by Confederate Raiders.

This book certainly speaks about the life of a slave, but yet, it is inspiring to see the strength of such a young boy and his family as they strive to become Free! As information about life during the Civil War is shared throughout this book, it is refreshing to see the love and compassion exhibited by the characters in the story.

[Desirea Fulton · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title of the book is Gabriel's horse. The author of this book is Alison Hart. This book is a good book. The book is about a boy named Gabriel, he wants to be a jockey horse rider. One day he got a letter saying that he was aloud to race. The next day the race occurred and during the race a rider kicked him off. So Gabe had to race. What do you think is going to happen? Is Gabriel going to race? READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT!

I think that this is a good book for other people to read. The reason I think this is a good book for other people to read because it is a good book. War is in the book.

My option for this book is that this is a good book for other people to read. The reason I think that is the book has war and fore girls it has a horse. The book is about a slave earning his freedom. This book is backed on a true story.

[Rakean · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. Historic fiction isn't usually what is on my shelves, but this one was good. I don't usually understand too many books set up during the civil war, but this one, I did. I started reading this for the sole purpose of a city battle of the books competition, but when I started reading it, I got kind of excited about it. I felt the unfairness of civil war and how hard it was to be free. Alison Hart actually captured the meaning of freedom in it. The work Gabriel had done and his relationship with his horse... Outstanding. This is a book that won't leave you until a very long time.

[Haley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Texas Bluebonnet for the '08-'09 school year.
Set in the year 1864, Gabriel has to learn to overcome several obstacles. His father and mentor leaves the family to enlist in the Union army to earn money to buy his family's freedom. The horse trainer that takes his father's place has opposite views of training than his father. The new horse trainer, Mr. Newcastle, believes in whipping the horses into submission. Gabriel has to learn to stand up to Mr. Newcastle in order to save the horses he loves.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gabriel’s father is free, but his mother is a slave, making Gabriel a slave, too. All three work on a horse farm, training and caring for horses that will one day race. It is the time of the Civil War and Gabriel’s father is given an opportunity to join the Union Army and earn enough money to buy his family’s freedom. This leaves Gabriel to care for the horses and protect them from Confederate raiders and a new cruel horse trainer.

I liked the story a lot, but the characters and the plot felt a little too pat, a little less nuanced than I might wish for.

[Kimberly · Rating 1 out of 5]

Usually I enjoy horse stories, but this one fell flat to me! I couldn't actually torture myself to finish this one because it was so BORING! There was too much description and not enough suspense at the beginning. The dialogue also lacked authenticity. Alison Hart, the author, didn't make me like the main character. I didn't feel anything negative or positive towards Gabriel. I do not recommend this book, except if you are suffering insomnia.

[mahee mahee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A man came to care for the horses at the slave courters bjut he was cruel to them. Gabriel wanted to put a stop to that but the man was white and Gabriel is a slave. Gabriel had to be a jockey at the Lexington race because the real jockey got hurt because of another racer during the first race. Gabriel wins the race and becomes a joockey at the end. The man got fired for being cruel to everyone and all the horses. His mom and dad are free. Gabriel becomes free at the very end.

[Sherrie]

Ms. Hart has written a book that middle school children can understand. They can also learn some history from this book. This is a story about a little known piece of American history. Horse training and horse racing. I really enjoyed reading and learning about the history of the horses. Ms. Hart gives info about the history at the end of the book. I'm really looking forward to reading the next 2 books. Does Gabriel save the horses from One-Arm Dan? You'll have to read the book to find out.

[Debbie Tanner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really great book about a slave boy who wants to ride and train horses. He has been taught by his father to listen to the horses and develop trust with them. I'm not sure how historically accurate that would have been, but it makes for a good story. It's also exciting because of the threat of military men who are looking for fast horses. It would be a good comparison to something like the Black Stallion or National Velvet.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a very good and heartfelt book. In this book the main character faces many challenges and struggles. At one point they even think about giving up and letting go but when he has a talk with one of the other charaters he realizes what he must do and comes back even stronger. I feel like this book is also sorta educational about how things were like for slaves back then and it can really change a persons perspective on things.

[Kendall · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mark Twain nominee 2009-2010. Really...a nominee? I have got to get on that committee. Boring, predictable and uninteresting read about slavery. The book's only redeeming quality is its use of horses and jockeys, which are not a common subject for middle school books. I'm not interested in the other two books in the trilogy, that's for sure.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is probally the BEST book I have EVER READ!! This book is about a 12 year old slave boy named gabriel. He workes on a jockey farm named Woodville Farms. His dad is the trainer there and they have a race in lexington and there jockeys name is Jackson. I love this book because I love horses !! =D

[Smethluk0 · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is about a slave named Gabriel. His dad is a trainer and A man named Jackson is the jockey of Master Giles. Gabriels dad joins the union army and a new trainer and jockey come They are mean to the horses. Raiders come to Master Giles farm and Gabriel saves the horses because he saved the horses Gabriel gets freed

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gabriel is black and a slave in Kentucky toward the end of the Civil War, but that does not deter him from following his dream of being a jockey. He has a natural instinct and connection to the horses that has been honed by years of hard work while following the directions of his father who is the trainer on a horse farm that trains winning horses.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This historical fiction was a good read. I enjoyed the setting and found the information at the back to be very interesting. I know that my students will be glad that the story continues as it is part of a trilogy.

[Sally · Rating 3 out of 5]

Racing to Freedom Trilogy; book 1.

Author includes "The History Behind Gabriel's Horses" along with bibliographical notes.


"...soldiers gallop...pursuing the raiders....
The din recedes. I hear shouts from the woods. Then shots."

page 139

[Chris Gross-Rhode · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gabriel and his mother are slaves although is father is a freeman working on the plantation. When his father leaves to fight during the Civil War, a new horse trainer takes his place. The new trainer has a different way of handling horses and Gabriel fears for the horse.

[Zonia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great historical fiction story! Can't wait for the next book.