A Horse Named Sky

Voice of the Wilderness #3

by Rosanne Parry, Kirbi Fagan (Illustrator)

A stand-alone companion to the acclaimed national bestsellers A Wolf Called Wander and A Whale of the Wild . Exiled from his band, a young, wild horse must find his way across treacherous terrain to reunite with his family after being captured for the Pony Express. A fast-paced animal survival story about wild horses, family bonds, and a changing environment. Illustrated in black-and-white throughout. Young colt Sky was born with the urge to run. Alongside his band, he moves across the range searching for fresh water and abundant grazing. But humans have begun to encroach on Sky’s homelands. With fewer resources to share, Sky knows that he must leave if his family is to survive. He hopes that one day, he’ll be strong and brave enough to return and challenge the stallion to lead the herd. Being a lone wild horse in a vast landscape is not easy, and things get even more dangerous when Sky is captured and forced to run for the Pony Express. Now, against all odds, Sky must find a way to escape and reunite with his family. A Horse Named Sky is a stand-alone companion novel to Rosanne Parry’s New York Times bestsellers A Wolf Called Wander and A Whale of the Wild . Chronicling the perils of westward expansion and the grueling Pony Express from the perspective of a wild horse, A Horse Named Sky is a gripping animal survival story about family, courage, trust, leadership, and loyalty. Impeccably researched and illustrated in black-and-white throughout, A Horse Named Sky is an excellent read-aloud for parents and teachers, and a wonderful choice for fans of DreamWorks’s Spirit and Anna Sewell’s Black Beauty. Includes black-and-white illustrations throughout, a map, and extensive backmatter about wild horses and their habitats. 

Genres: Middle Grade, Historical Fiction, Animals, Childrens, Horses, Fiction, Adventure

288 pages, Paperback

First published August 29, 2023

About the author

Hey there,
I'm the author of several novels for young readers, including the NY Times best seller, A WOLF CALLED WANDER and A WHALE OF THE WILD. There is information about all my books on my website.
I write because I love the power of story to illuminate and uplift our world. I try to write things that are heartfelt and encourage conversation in families and classrooms. If you wanted to ask me a question or invite me to come speak at your school or library, I'd love that. There's a contact me area on my website

When I'm not writing I try to be an advocate for literacy and libraries whenever I can. I like to read (obviously) and hike and dance and go to the beach and play the harp and write in my treehouse.

Reviews

[₊˚ ⁀➴ kenzie ⠀❦ jacks’ version · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the illustrations in this, and I also liked learning about the Pony Express. My favorite character is Storm, and I also like Frost the foal. I hope that Rosanne Parry continues with the animal perspective books.

[Cathie (ClassyLibrarian) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful choice for middle grade readers who love horses, adventure and history.

[Celia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you HarperCollins for the desk copy of this wonderful book. Horses have always been a favorite of mine, so when I heard that the author of A Wolf Called Wander wrote a horse book, I just had to read it. It teaches strength, and bravery and builds character; readers of all ages will enjoy it. The best part of this book is that it Includes black-and-white illustrations throughout, a map, and extensive backmatter about wild horses and their habitats, so children and adults alike can learn a bit about what the world was like in the old days and what we can do now to protect mustangs.

I highly recommend this book.

[Sarah B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Today was ranch day again which meant reading another horse book and this week it was this delightful one. This children's book is very high octane; the threats and dangers keep coming. The tale about Sky and all of the things he goes through certainly kept me turning the pages. Never a dull moment in here. And so much happens that I never knew what was going to happen next...and the whole thing is from Sky's viewpoint. The author did an excellent job of trying to describe the world from a horse's viewpoint. A lot of the details in here are quite accurate, including how horses are scared of flapping objects... The horses even have their own culture and sayings too.

Of course horses don't know our words for things so many of the other animals and items in here have other names. Sometimes I had to guess what these things were (most are obvious though) but I suppose that could be confusing to a few readers. But luckily there are drawings as well just in case you don't know and need a hint.

One animal that wasn't mentioned was the bison (American buffalo) and now that I have finished the book I am kind of surprised? Surely Sky and his family would have seen them?

The plot itself is about a young colt named Sky and his family of mustangs. They are living by themselves and trying to deal with a drought when humans come. And before Sky knows what is going on he finds himself working as a Pony Express horse carrying the mail. Of course he has no idea he is carrying mail. He cannot understand why he has to run up and back to these two places. But his ultimate goal is to escape somehow to go back to his family.

It's a very warm, touching story. And one part in here definitely made me get the tight throat feeling as it was a bit emotional.

Way at the back of the book are sections of nonfiction that point out various wildlife shown during the story and give additional information about the locations. And the thing in here that shocked me is that the Pony Express only ran from April 1860 to October 1861. That's such a short time period! Yet it's so famous! It kind of boggles the mind....

And the beautiful art in here! There's tons of it and it's almost on all the pages. It truly helps bring the story to life but the words do that too. Truly excellent descriptions of everything.

And there is even a map to show exactly where Sky had traveled too! I greatly appreciate that.

This book had absorbed me so much today. I was totally hooked on it. And like any good book there are both good and bad humans in here.

The book takes place in Nevada, California and Oregon of 1860 and 1861.

Added this to my favorites! It was totally captivating. I will have to get my own copy.

[Victor The Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Parry’s third entry send us to mid-1800s Nevada Territory where we follow the life of young and small stallion Sky who has his mother, aunts and best friend Storm by his side while trying to be more brave and strong. But as they and their mustang bad must deal with a growing drought, he is caught by humans and must go through a rough mountain trail along with other saddled horses while trying to find a way to escape back home.

There’s definitely that same feeling of courage, determination and adventure found from the first two book, and emotionally similar to “Wander” while also having an informative end section on the history of horses. A (100%/Outstanding)

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A stand-alone companion to A Wolf Called Wander and A Whale of the Wild.

Sky is a wild horse from the plains in the 1860s, and the story is told through his point of view. Young Sky was born to run, and for much of his young life, he used his natural ability to run to find fresh water and abundant grazing for the horses in his herd. Colts do not typically get to stay with their herd forever, and when it is Sky’s time to flee the herd, he tackles life on his own. He ends up being captured by humans and forced to run for the Pony Express. Will Sky ever break free from captivity and return to his herd as a stallion? Will Sky remain in captivity forever? Read to find out!

Middle grade readers will be entranced by Sky’s story. I can see this book prompting readers to ask lots of questions and seek out more knowledge about things like capturing wild horses and the Pony Express.

Although it is a work of fiction, A Horse Named Sky provides extensive knowledge of horses and their habitats. Additional Information about Mustangs, their habitats, the Pony Express, and much more can be found in the back of the book.

A Horse Named Sky is illustrated in black and white sketches throughout. In the eARC, there are numerous places where it states that the final artwork is to come. The artwork I could see in advance was beautiful, and I can’t wait to see the final artwork.

Thank you HarperCollins Children’s Books and NetGalley for the ebook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Emma Hancock · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you grew up watching the movie Spirit, this book is for you. A beautifully written, amazingly illustrated story about a young stallion unsure of his place in an unfamiliar world. He grew up with his band but always knew the day would come when he would have to leave and start his own herd. However, the world is much scarier and not at all what he thought it was. Firstly, there's humans. He doesn't trust them but he needs them to trust him in order to get away and get back to his family. Sky's story is about not always being the strongest or the wisest, but knowing when to believe in yourself and take the risks in front of you; they may lead to bigger things.

"I'm afraid to pick the wrong thing. I feel rooted in place in the trap of my own caution."

How will you ever know what's out there if you don't try?

[DaNae · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m impressed how Parry keeps creating a realistic vocabulary and society for various wild animals. I certainly have fans among my students.

52 Book Club24: #51 - Related to the word “Wild”

[Tamara Ducatel · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was time to finish this one!!
C’était cute, les dessins à l’intérieur des chapitres étaient mignons aussi!

[Zoey Pick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roseanne Parry just keeps writing wonderful, wildlife-friendly, high-interest books with stories told from the animal’s perspective! A Wolf Called Wander was a TX Bluebonnet nominee and while it did not win the award, it did at both of my middle grade libraries! A Whale in the Wild followed and now we have this one. As with the previous two, frequent sketches accompany the text and it is clear that much research supports the history, in this case, of the wild Mustang and the Pony Express. My favorite part of Parry’s books is the way she uses the lens of her main characters to describe what he/she sees. Examples: Sky calls rabbits bounders, snakes are slithers, a young boy is dubbed a colt. I can see doing journal activities with students where they chart Sky’s term, what a human would call it, and the evidence for that decision. I can see revisions happening throughout the reading as additional evidence is discovered. Serious characterization, including changes over time and the catalyst for those changes, could also be done using a variety of graphic organizers. All this, plus the exciting story, the fast pace and approachable length make A Horse Named Sky perfect for individual recreational reading, literacy groups, or class novel studies. Text is free of profanity and sexual content and the violence that is included is crucial to the plot and not over-exaggerated. Back matter about the history, habitats and more is written and illustrated in a way that most readers will absolutely read it all, unlike the end notes that is often skipped in so many other books. Highly recommended for libraries serving grades 4-8 along with “Wolf” and “Whale.”

Thank you for the digital copy, @NetGalley.

[papilionna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wer "Spirit" mag, wird in diesem Buch einige Parallelen dazu erkennen. Der junge Hengst Sky wächst in einer Wildpferdeherde im Westen der USA auf, lernt Nahrungsquellen und Gefahren kennen und bereitet sich darauf vor, sich als Hengst seiner eigenen Herde durchzusetzen. Doch die Menschen dringen immer weiter ins Gebiet der Tiere vor und eines Tages wird Sky gefangen genommen und gezwungen, als Teil des Pony-Expresses Reiter mit Postsendungen über lange Strecken zu transportieren.

Wie bereits erwähnt, ist die Geschichte der "Spirits" sehr ähnlich, durch den Fokus auf die Natur und deren Zerstörung durch den Menschen bietet sie jedoch eine wertvolle weitere Sichtweise.
Auch vom Pony-Express hatte ich bisher nur gehört, wusste aber nicht, wie genau die Abläufe sind. Von daher war dieser Teil der Geschichte für mich sehr interessant.

Besonders gut finde ich den informativen Teil am Ende des Buchs, in dem man Wissenswertes über Wildpferde, den Pony-Express und das Nordamerika des 19. Jahrhunderts erfährt. Man merkt, dass der Autorin der Tier- und Umweltschutz am Herzen liegen.

Ein kleines Manko ist für mich das Cover. Meiner Meinung nach wirkt es ein wenig altbacken und nicht so richtig zeitgemäß, was aber mehr an der Farbgestalten als am Zeichenstil an sich liegt. Die Illustrationen im Inneren finde ich nämlich ganz wunderbar, sie sind teilweise ganzseitig und untermalen die Geschichte hervorragend.

[Rubi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Similar to Spirit

This novel reminded me of the movie Spirit in that a wild horse was taken by humans, but he was determined to be free and reunite with his herd.
Loved learning about wild horses, and it was sad how some people treat them 🙁
But it had a good ending and was full of adventure and spirit. Some parts bored a bit compared to the first two books, but not bad. I enjoyed it overall and think it is a good source of information and even of history!

[Elizabeth☮ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how Parry takes various animals in various terrains and teaches us about how humans have impacted their environment.

Sky is a wild stallion. He gets separated from his herd and caught by humans. He then finds himself as part of the Pony Express. Sky knows this life isn’t for him, so he makes a plan to reunite with his friend Storm and to return to his home.

I loved the history and I loved that some humans have compassion for the animals. Another great addition to this series.

[Patricia]

Another winner by Rosanne Parry. Gorgeous descriptions, beautiful illustrations, and an engaging tale of love and bravery told from the first-person perspective of a wild horse. The back matter is excellent. A must have for school libraries and any animal-loving reader.

[Ms. B]

May start this again in the future, reading too many other books.

[Elena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Niko gave this book 4 stars.

[Tiffany Painter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kid lit- I appreciated the history woven into the story even though a few sections were hard to follow without the background knowledge first. It might be helpful to read the back matter before the story. Either way, the story of family loyalty and friendship is beautiful.

[Norah Noonan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! I loved the storyline with the horses on an adventure back home. Some sad parts with horses being treated badly. They met a kid of animals on the way back!

[Clare L · Rating 5 out of 5]

read this one last year, too.
amazing.
just amazing

[Gracie · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I was younger I would give this a solid 5 stars but since I'm slowly growing out of the series, this one was rough. No, I did not go in the correct order and yes I have read all the books now.

Moving on to the book, I really liked that it was based on a historical event such as the pony express. Although, I really felt that I couldn't understand what was happening because of lack of detail. The ending was crisp but it felt that it came too soon and could have been dragged further. In all, I would definitely recommend it to a fourth or fifth grader. This book was easy to read and only has around 300 pages.

[KD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why did this break my heart and why was it oh so sweet? It’s basically Spirit Stallion of the Cimmaron but MORE. The west was founded on the backs of broken horses; the narration is beautiful and tragic and the illustrations heart-wrenching. When he ran to rescue his herd from capture—AHH! Be still my beating heart.

[Chantal · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just couldn't get int to the story. Maybe it was in the way it was written, but not a good match for me.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Born into a herd of wild horses in the Virginia Range of western Nevada, Sky grew up surrounded by those of his kind, learning to find food and water and to sense danger. Nothing prepared him for his encounter with humanity however, and soon he had been captured and turned into a mount for Pony Express riders. Dreaming of freedom, Sky watched the world around him—its many creatures, and its many landscapes—and bided his time. But even after escaping from his human captors and returning to his home waters, Sky found that he still needed to fight for his true heart's desire—a reunion with his family, and a life someplace safe and free...

Having absolutely loved Rosanne Parry's earlier forays into animal fiction— A Wolf Called Wander and A Whale of the Wild —I was excited to pick up this third entry in her Voice of the Wilderness collection. I was not disappointed, finding A Horse Named Sky wonderfully engrossing. The story is gripping, and I found myself racing along, rooting for Sky the whole way. Parry has a knack for telling a story from the animal's perspective, in a way that feels both true to the animal and yet somehow also completely relatable to the human reader. I thought Sky's perception of different human races—the bay human (an African American man), the dark-maned colt (a young Native American boy)—was so well done, as he interprets these physical differences in an entirely equine way, equating them to different colors and features a horse might have, while totally missing their significance to the humans themselves. Thus it is that he cannot understand why the Native American boy who cares for him is mistreated by the adults in his life, and reflects in consternation that the members of his own family always carefully looked out for their foals. As is so often the case, when animal fiction is well done, it holds up a mirror to humanity, offering insight and lessons. This is also true in the terrible section featuring the mine, in which Sky must fight to free the horses and burros held captive there. If there were aspects I found somewhat unrealistic—the speed with which Sky was convinced to bear a rider after being wild all his life, the success of Sky and Storm in freeing the equine captives—I was willing to overlook them, in my enjoyment of the story overall.

As much as I love the story here, as well as the extensive back matter giving more information about the flora and fauna found in the story, as well as the history of the region, I also love the accompanying illustrations done by Kirbi Fagan. These were frequent, well-suited to section of the story they accompanied, and just lovely! All in all, a wonderful addition to Parry's growing body of animal fiction for middle grade readers. I would highly recommend it to readers who enjoy this kind of fare. For my own part, I look forward to reading the next, A Wolf Called Fire .

[Kenya Starflight · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed A Wolf Called Wander and A Whale of the Wild by this author, so when I learned she'd come out with a new book, I was excited. I have a soft spot for animals in general, and had a fascination with wild horses as a child, so this book seemed right up my alley. And while it does follow the basic template of Wolf and Whale, it's still a thrilling story about escape and finding one's way home.

Sky is a wild horse born into a band living in 1800s Nevada, enjoying the company of his mother and aunts and his best friend Storm... but knowing that he'll one day have to either challenge the herd's stallion or strike off on his own. His separation from the band comes far sooner than he realizes, though -- a drought drives him from his family, and he ends up captured by humans and forced to carry riders for the Pony Express. Other horses tell him it's better to submit to human rule than to rebel or flee... but Sky is determined to find his band again. And when other horses tell him about a sanctuary where wild horses can live undisturbed by humans, he plans his escape...

Parry does a fantastic job at capturing the animal mind in this book, making Sky and his friends relatable without humanizing them too much. Her vivid descriptions of the Nevada wilderness and the strange lives of humans, all through the eyes of a horse, feel authentic and real. And the attitude of the captive horses who have submitted to their prisoners -- telling Sky "it's not so bad" or "there are good things about it, so just put up with the bad" -- hits a little close to home, and can read as being symbolic of someone trapped in an abusive relationship. Which isn't too far from how these horses are being treated...

If you've read Parry's previous books about wolves and orcas, this book can feel a little predictable. It follows the same basic pattern as the previous two -- an animal is separated from their family group and has to find their way back. Which isn't all bad, but does mean that if you've read her other books this one can feel a bit like a retread. At least its characters and the new setting make it feel fresh instead of like a stale copy.

The book comes with a sizable section after the main story is finished, talking about the history of the wild horse in America, the habitat that Sky lived in, the animals he shared territory with, and the plight of wild horses today. This is fascinating reading and provides further information to help back up the story.

If you enjoy books like Misty of Chincoteague or Brighty of the Grand Canyon, you'll enjoy this book. It's great for horse lovers, animal lovers in general, kids, and adults.

[Allie Lynn (EquineontheMind) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I will start by admitting that as a young adult, I'm probably not this book's target audience. However if I compared this book to what I read as my younger self, my younger self would have thrown this book across the room even more annoyed than I was.

First, definitely false advertising on the Pony Express side-- the Pony Express made up about five chapters of the book. The rest of it was describing his life and the terrors of humans. Which... is okay but that's not what I borrowed the book for. I didn't want another Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron rip off, thank you very much.

I know I am a minor voice in the horse world but... I am very tired of "save the mustangs" books. I borrowed this book because I thought it would be a fresh take on a mustang story. A mustang adjusting to life with humans? I would read that. But it's getting to the point in fiction that people are just using books to yell about their opinions on the mustang argument, and this story was no different.

I liked the mention of burros and certain horse details that I haven't seen before. That was perhaps the only saving elements of this book. The ending fell apart in believability. A horse, fearful of humans, walking straight into a human camp with a plan to free his herd? I'm sorry, but horses don't think like that. They are smart, yes, but they don't use logic.

Also, why would he want to be free? This is what I never get about mustang stories. For Spirit, it makes sense because he was a herd stallion and he had a duty and responsibility to his herd. Without him, his mares would be stolen and they were without protection. For him it made sense. Sky? He was an outcast bachelor colt. Life was easier with humans. I don't think a real horse would long for freedom so hard because he was still young, and he had all his basic needs. Horses aren't humans, and the anthropomorphizing of horse emotions rather spoiled the book for me.

(On that note, if he was with them for so long, why didn't they ever geld him? The did geld horses back then and especially if he was wild I think they would geld him to make him easier to train. Just saying.)

I don't hate mustang stories. I love Paint the Wind, The Phantom Stallion, and Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron. But this felt like the author trying to retell Spirit while waving the "SAVE THE MUSTANGS" banners as hard as she could. Mechanically, the story is (mostly) fine if you know nothing about horses (or if you are so passionate about the "save the mustangs" mantra that you choose to ignore the irrational anthropomorphizing), but if you know horses... yeah, I would pass on this book. Save yourself the headache.

[Milan Buno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Príbeh mustanga menom Nebo vás zavedie do americkej prérie, kde sa mladý žrebec učí prežiť, dôverovať stádu a nájsť svoje miesto v drsnom, no nádhernom svete divokej prírody. Autorka Rosanne Parry nadväzuje na svoju úspešnú tvorbu pre deti a mládež a opäť dokazuje, že pútavé príbehy môžu niesť hlboké posolstvo.

Kôň menom Nebo je krásne ilustrovaný príbeh, ktorý uzatvára faktografická príloha o koňoch a ich úlohe v poštovej službe Pony Express v 19. storočí. Tú určite ocenia všetci milovníci zvierat. Knižka ideálna pre čitateľov od 11 rokov, ale určite si v nej budú s chuťou listovať aj dospelí, milovníci zvierat a koní, či histórie.

Pre tento príbeh si autorka vybrala pohorie Virginia Range najmä preto, že je tam nádherne. „No vybrala som si ho aj preto, že sa nachádza v blízkosti miesta, kde bola objavená bohatá žila striebra nazývaná Comstock Lode, a že tadiaľ viedla trasa Pony Expressu. A do tretice som si ho zvolila preto, lebo tu pôsobila pozoruhodná žena menom Velma Johnsonová.... Keď Velma videla, ako kruto sa zaobchádza s divými koňmi, rozhodla sa s tým niečo urobiť,“ píše v knihe.

Citlivo napísaný príbeh o voľnosti, prežití a sile prírody, ktorý si získal srdcia čitateľov všetkých vekových kategórií. Keďže je prerozprávaný z pohľadu samotného koňa, dodáva to textu výnimočnú perspektívu. Môžete sa tak ponoriť do sveta zvierat a vnímať krajinu, inštinkty aj hrozby jeho očami.
Silný príbeh nielen pre deti
Autorka spolupracovala s ochranármi, aby zobrazila realitu divokých koní čo najvernejšie – vrátane zásahov človeka do ich prostredia.

Nádherný, pútavý, ale aj silný príbeh, ktorý dokazuje, že aj detská literatúra môže byť rovnako inšpiratívna a dôležitá ako dospelá. Príbeh plný napätia, nádeje a hlbokého porozumenia prírode. Možno aj vás donúti zamyslieť sa nad tým, ako vnímame voľne žijúce zvieratá.

[Online Eccentric Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

This is an enjoyable book with a strong focus on environmental concerns as well as the plight of horses. The setting is the Wild West during the era of the Pony Express and is told through the eyes of a pony named Sky.

Story: Sky and his family/friends roam the wilds, ever wary of predators and now encroaching humans. When Sky is captured, he finds himself doing long runs for the humans and the Pony Express. But he longs for his freedom and when the chance comes he will try to race for freedom to find his family and bring them to a fabled safe land hidden in the mountains.

The story flows smoothly but of course can be hard to follow at times because it is told through the point of view of a horse who does not understand humans or their conventions. There are insights about the humans (both white settlers and Native Americans) and a bit about the Pony Express through Sky's perspectives. There is a lot of heart in the story since Sky wants to reunite with and protect his family, prove himself, and help save the filly who was captured alongside him but taken elsewhere.

The illustrations are lovely - clean and easy to follow. I have to say, I preferred this book much more to e.g., Lasky's Horses of the Dawn (which horrified my 8 year old with scenes of gruesome deaths). This is a much gentler story. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sky is a wild mustang born in the Nevada Territory in 1856. We follow him and his herd as he grows, and then discover how he ends up a horse in the Pony Express.

There aren't a whole lot of books on the Pony Express around any more. This brings it to life from the horse's perspective. It was also really interesting to learn that the current location of Reno, Nevada used to be a wetlands and was dramatically changed by the silver mining in the area. It was also sobering to learn about the laws in early California that allowed people to kidnap Native peoples and make them slaves as young as 3 years old and this law wasn't repealed until several decades into the 20th century! (Make sure you read the extensive back matter to read about this and other things that are hinted at from Sky's perspective but further explained later for readers.) Parry has a decided bias to the tale, in that Sky wants to be free and chafes at life under the humans and constantly looks for a way to escape. He thinks the horses happy living with humans are delusional. So those who work with horses or ride horses may not all find this their favorite read. I did appreciate the way Parry wrote the voice and the history covered that I haven't read about anywhere else.

Notes on content:
Language: None
Sexual content: None
Violence: A human shoots an attacking wild predator. One of the riders is mean, and one of the station masters has a child slave and beats him at one point. An animal is whipped and teased by humans. Two animals die.
Ethnic diversity: White men and Native Americans.
LGBTQ+ content: None specified
Other: Child slavery. Trapping of wild animals. Mining devastates a habitat.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

By the author who wrote "A Wolf called Wander"
A lovely story and wonderful snippets of history woven in....the pony express; silver mining - the damage mining did to the environment still exists today; The Indian Act of 1850 - and enslaved native children; the environmental laws and the woman behind the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971. This book is about Mustangs, but burros also make an appearance.

One of my favorite chapters was "A Stranger" (page 172). Sky follows this creature..."I've never smelled anything like it before." ...two-part tracks.....yellow-brown color of bare dirt. Something is wrong with the shape of it! Four legs, good. But so long! Bulgy knees. Big feet...round body looks strong, but it's the wrong shape. Instead of a straight back -level from hip to shoulder - this fellow has a great bump!"

pg 238 "In the 1850's the US Army purchased dromedaries [camels] from North Africa & Turkey..."
A funny piece of history. Apparently when the 'project' wasn't renewed, the camels were let loose. Quartzsite AZ has a monument acknowledging these camels. Hi Jolly, the man who was brought from Jordan to train 'camel management'; he died in 1902 and claimed camels still roamed the area.

A fun book about camels in the US is "Exiled: Memoirs of a Camel" by Kathleen Karr.
Without reading this book, I'd have never learned this odd piece of history.

Oh, and adult book about western camels is : Inland by Tea Obreht

https://behindeveryday.com/us-army-ca...