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The Secret Horses of Briar Hill
There are winged horses that live in the mirrors of Briar Hill hospital. In the mirrors that line its grand hallways, which once belonged to a princess. In those that reflect the elegant rooms, now filled with sick children. It is her secret.
One morning, when Emmaline climbs over the wall of the hospital’s abandoned gardens, she discovers something incredible: a white horse with broken wings has left the mirror-world and entered her own.
Tucked into the garden’s once-gleaming sundial, Emmaline finds a letter from the Horse Lord. He is hiding the wounded white horse, named Foxfire, from a dark and sinister force—a Black Horse who hunts by colorless moonlight. If Emmaline is to keep the Black Horse from finding her new friend, she must collect colorful objects with which to blind him. But where can Emmaline find color when her world is filled with gray?
One morning, when Emmaline climbs over the wall of the hospital’s abandoned gardens, she discovers something incredible: a white horse with broken wings has left the mirror-world and entered her own.
Tucked into the garden’s once-gleaming sundial, Emmaline finds a letter from the Horse Lord. He is hiding the wounded white horse, named Foxfire, from a dark and sinister force—a Black Horse who hunts by colorless moonlight. If Emmaline is to keep the Black Horse from finding her new friend, she must collect colorful objects with which to blind him. But where can Emmaline find color when her world is filled with gray?
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 11, 2016
67 people are currently reading
7014 people want to read
About the author
Megan Shepherd
31 books2,774 followersNew York Times bestselling author Megan Shepherd grew up in her family’s independent bookstore in the Blue Ridge Mountains. She is the author of several young adult and middle grade novels. She now lives and writes on a 125-year-old farm outside Asheville, North Carolina, with her husband, two cats, and an especially scruffy dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 581 reviews
November 27, 2016
Sometimes a book feels like it has always existed. It’s not that it’s predictable nor unadventurous, merely that you can’t shake the feeling as you turn pages that it is familiar — you’ve read it before or just known that it existed for so long that it feels as if you had.
The Secret Horses of Briar Hill was that way for me. Other blurbs for it compare it to The Secret Garden (it does have a secret garden) or The Chronicles of Narnia (it does have tiny British children in big houses), but really, I think what they mean is this: it feels like it has been sitting invisibly on the shelf next to those classics for decades, waiting to be discovered. It feels old. Right. Uncovered, rather than written.
It is a simple story: a girl in a World War II children’s hospital —Emmaline — has been seeing winged horses in the mirrors of the building. When she discovers that an injured pegasus has arrived in a secret garden, an intimate and wintery quest unfolds as Emmaline performs tasks for the Horse Lord. It is a book about the magic of hidden places and the colorless misery of war and also a book about kindness in all its forms. Originally, I had typed that it was also a book about illness, but the draining fight against the “stillwaters” in Emmaline’s lungs is really just another battle in the war devastating Britain.
The Secret Horses of Briar Hill is a morsel of a book, just 231 pages on my e-reader. I read it in a single hour and a half session, which felt perfect: the ability to linger in the shivering atmosphere of the book without interruption seemed right. Theoretically this is a middle grade novel, but I can’t decide how I feel about that. I would hand this immediately to someone who had enjoyed CODE NAME VERITY or FROM SALT TO THE SEA or any of the other YA historicals I’ve loved within recent memory and I’d also hand it to any adult who grew up with the classics mentioned above and expect them to enjoy it, but I’m curious to know how my eleven and twelve year olds feel about it. So much of what made this book poignant to me was empathizing with the unsaid experiences of the adults around the children in the book, and although the book would work fine without that insight, there is one beautifully heartbreaking moment in particular that becomes muted if you aren’t paying close attention to the adults in the scene.
I adored it. It is not a bombastic novel nor an epic novel. It’s a sweet, sad, beautiful whisper in your ear. Enjoy.
The Secret Horses of Briar Hill was that way for me. Other blurbs for it compare it to The Secret Garden (it does have a secret garden) or The Chronicles of Narnia (it does have tiny British children in big houses), but really, I think what they mean is this: it feels like it has been sitting invisibly on the shelf next to those classics for decades, waiting to be discovered. It feels old. Right. Uncovered, rather than written.
It is a simple story: a girl in a World War II children’s hospital —Emmaline — has been seeing winged horses in the mirrors of the building. When she discovers that an injured pegasus has arrived in a secret garden, an intimate and wintery quest unfolds as Emmaline performs tasks for the Horse Lord. It is a book about the magic of hidden places and the colorless misery of war and also a book about kindness in all its forms. Originally, I had typed that it was also a book about illness, but the draining fight against the “stillwaters” in Emmaline’s lungs is really just another battle in the war devastating Britain.
The Secret Horses of Briar Hill is a morsel of a book, just 231 pages on my e-reader. I read it in a single hour and a half session, which felt perfect: the ability to linger in the shivering atmosphere of the book without interruption seemed right. Theoretically this is a middle grade novel, but I can’t decide how I feel about that. I would hand this immediately to someone who had enjoyed CODE NAME VERITY or FROM SALT TO THE SEA or any of the other YA historicals I’ve loved within recent memory and I’d also hand it to any adult who grew up with the classics mentioned above and expect them to enjoy it, but I’m curious to know how my eleven and twelve year olds feel about it. So much of what made this book poignant to me was empathizing with the unsaid experiences of the adults around the children in the book, and although the book would work fine without that insight, there is one beautifully heartbreaking moment in particular that becomes muted if you aren’t paying close attention to the adults in the scene.
I adored it. It is not a bombastic novel nor an epic novel. It’s a sweet, sad, beautiful whisper in your ear. Enjoy.
November 14, 2018
i definitely enjoyed reading this book, but like Rooftoppers, i have a feeling it would have been something i enjoyed even more if i had read it when i was a little girl, one of those books you read during those soft, impressionable whitebread years, which stick to your soul and become a part of who you are. i have a lot of those books, the most important of which was Island of the Blue Dolphins, and while this is nothing like that in theme or tone, it gives me the same impression of having that power to stick in the heart long into adulthood.
in many ways, this feels like a classic children's book. i've never read The Secret Garden, but i know its basic premise, and there's some overlap here - sickly orphanish child, secret ahem garden, and magical experiences both complicating the real world and making it more bearable. the writing is simple, restrained, and lulling, while still being terrifically haunting. but it's also very modern in some ways, in that it isn't didactic like so many children's books of yore, and it is very ambiguous in both its treatment of the fantasy elements and its ending.
This is my secret: there are winged horses that live in the mirrors of Briar Hill hospital.
emmaline lives in a children's hospital run by nuns, afflicted with the "stillwaters," where the days blur colorlessly into each other; turnips and tea, lessons and doctors, and she spends most of her time with her bedridden best friend anna, daydreaming and drawing the white winged horses only she can see in the hospital's mirrors.
she has little excitement in her life until the day she rebelliously scales the garden wall and discovers that one of the winged horses has crossed over from the mirror world, unable to return because of an injured wing. emmaline later discovers a letter from 'the horse lord,' instructing her to protect this horse, called foxfire, from the adversarial black horse who is in pursuit. and an adventure is born.
the book is a perfect blend of real and fantasy elements, and for all the threatening power of the black horse, much of the book's action is grounded in the real world, where the slights and challenges emmaline faces during her daily life are small: other patients stealing her chocolate, wanting colored pencils of her own, railing against the restrictions imposed on her by her doctor. and it's all so delicately handled because these petty grievances are just distractions from the much bleaker big picture - that these are characters quarantined in a children's home for tb patients during WWII. so not only are they terribly sick, but there's a lot going on in the outside world that impacts their lives and has already taken so much from them. these children suffer privations and limitations both because of their health and because of the war, causing them to fetishize the little they have, like colored pencils and comic books, and leave emmaline desperate for distraction and the possibility of a magical adventure, despite the real risks to her health.
war, illness, an uncertain future - all of this is constantly present, running underneath the squabbles and jealousies, but it's not in your face. and i think that's what gives it the sense of lasting appeal - as an adult, you can't get the fact that there's a war on out of your mind, which gives it a different resonance than reading it as a child would, where you're allowed to focus on the immediate details of the story and forget the background details, as horrifying as they are.
in any case, it's a beautiful story, beautifully illustrated, and even though i'm congenitally unable to experience the cries over a book, i'm sure many of you will find this pleasantly weepy.
ride true, my friends…
*********************************
this cover is killing me.
come to my blog!
in many ways, this feels like a classic children's book. i've never read The Secret Garden, but i know its basic premise, and there's some overlap here - sickly orphanish child, secret ahem garden, and magical experiences both complicating the real world and making it more bearable. the writing is simple, restrained, and lulling, while still being terrifically haunting. but it's also very modern in some ways, in that it isn't didactic like so many children's books of yore, and it is very ambiguous in both its treatment of the fantasy elements and its ending.
This is my secret: there are winged horses that live in the mirrors of Briar Hill hospital.
emmaline lives in a children's hospital run by nuns, afflicted with the "stillwaters," where the days blur colorlessly into each other; turnips and tea, lessons and doctors, and she spends most of her time with her bedridden best friend anna, daydreaming and drawing the white winged horses only she can see in the hospital's mirrors.
she has little excitement in her life until the day she rebelliously scales the garden wall and discovers that one of the winged horses has crossed over from the mirror world, unable to return because of an injured wing. emmaline later discovers a letter from 'the horse lord,' instructing her to protect this horse, called foxfire, from the adversarial black horse who is in pursuit. and an adventure is born.
the book is a perfect blend of real and fantasy elements, and for all the threatening power of the black horse, much of the book's action is grounded in the real world, where the slights and challenges emmaline faces during her daily life are small: other patients stealing her chocolate, wanting colored pencils of her own, railing against the restrictions imposed on her by her doctor. and it's all so delicately handled because these petty grievances are just distractions from the much bleaker big picture - that these are characters quarantined in a children's home for tb patients during WWII. so not only are they terribly sick, but there's a lot going on in the outside world that impacts their lives and has already taken so much from them. these children suffer privations and limitations both because of their health and because of the war, causing them to fetishize the little they have, like colored pencils and comic books, and leave emmaline desperate for distraction and the possibility of a magical adventure, despite the real risks to her health.
war, illness, an uncertain future - all of this is constantly present, running underneath the squabbles and jealousies, but it's not in your face. and i think that's what gives it the sense of lasting appeal - as an adult, you can't get the fact that there's a war on out of your mind, which gives it a different resonance than reading it as a child would, where you're allowed to focus on the immediate details of the story and forget the background details, as horrifying as they are.
in any case, it's a beautiful story, beautifully illustrated, and even though i'm congenitally unable to experience the cries over a book, i'm sure many of you will find this pleasantly weepy.
ride true, my friends…
*********************************
this cover is killing me.
come to my blog!
April 26, 2017
Emmaline May has a secret: there are winged horses living in the mirrors of Briar Hill. Once the home of a princess, Briar Hill is now a hospital for sick children whose parents are fighting in the war. When Emmaline sneaks into Briar Hill's forbidden garden, she discovers a winged horse who cannot return home to the mirror-world until her injured wing is repaired. Only Emmaline can see the horse, so she alone must save it, but a creature of darkness prowling the skies and her own failing health threaten to stop her.
The Secret Horses of Briar Hill invites readers to explore a pocket of the real world where magic exists beyond a thin veil. Such wonders are brought to life with fanciful descriptions and images portrayed with poetic finesse:
The mirror-horse is nosing through the half-finished cup of tea that Anna left on her bedside table. He has a soft gray muzzle that is beaded with droplets of tea, and quicksilver hooves, and snow-white wings folded tightly.
"Have you really seen the winged horses?"
He picks up his hammer again. "Yes."
"In the mirrors?"
"In the frozen lake on the Mason farm, just beyond the back fields. When the sun shines, the ice is like a mirror, and you can see them plain as day."
Because the book takes place during World War II, mature subjects are introduced - such as bombings, PTSD, and repressed trauma - but are handled in a delicate manner. Death is also a prevalent topic, as Emmaline and the other sickly children at Briar Hill have such a tenuous hold on life.
When he thinks no one is looking, he runs his fingers over the chicken's white, white feathers, and I wonder if it feels the same on his fingers as it would on mine, if soft feathers feel the same for Benny and Anna and Sister Constance and Thomas and me, or if it's only beneath my hands that chickens feel warm and alive, like stones left in the sun. Then Thomas buries the bird under red dirt, and the bird is gone.
Every few chapters the book is graced with a moody illustration that exemplifies the sense of darkness pervading Emmaline's world. In every illustration the characters are depicted in silhouette as though they're all as ephemeral as shadows, clinging to life with feeble fingers.
The Secret Horses of Briar Hill is a riveting, heartrending story in which an ailing girl's vivid imagination brightens the shadows of a war-torn country and whose hold on magic breathes new life into a house full of dying children.
I know why the Horse Lord crossed into our world [. . .]. It is because our world that stretches out below - the hills and the trees and the sun breaking over the rooftops - is more than just brown and gray. There is color here. There are greens and reds and blues as deep as the sea.
You just have to know where to look.
The Secret Horses of Briar Hill invites readers to explore a pocket of the real world where magic exists beyond a thin veil. Such wonders are brought to life with fanciful descriptions and images portrayed with poetic finesse:
The mirror-horse is nosing through the half-finished cup of tea that Anna left on her bedside table. He has a soft gray muzzle that is beaded with droplets of tea, and quicksilver hooves, and snow-white wings folded tightly.
"Have you really seen the winged horses?"
He picks up his hammer again. "Yes."
"In the mirrors?"
"In the frozen lake on the Mason farm, just beyond the back fields. When the sun shines, the ice is like a mirror, and you can see them plain as day."
Because the book takes place during World War II, mature subjects are introduced - such as bombings, PTSD, and repressed trauma - but are handled in a delicate manner. Death is also a prevalent topic, as Emmaline and the other sickly children at Briar Hill have such a tenuous hold on life.
When he thinks no one is looking, he runs his fingers over the chicken's white, white feathers, and I wonder if it feels the same on his fingers as it would on mine, if soft feathers feel the same for Benny and Anna and Sister Constance and Thomas and me, or if it's only beneath my hands that chickens feel warm and alive, like stones left in the sun. Then Thomas buries the bird under red dirt, and the bird is gone.
Every few chapters the book is graced with a moody illustration that exemplifies the sense of darkness pervading Emmaline's world. In every illustration the characters are depicted in silhouette as though they're all as ephemeral as shadows, clinging to life with feeble fingers.
The Secret Horses of Briar Hill is a riveting, heartrending story in which an ailing girl's vivid imagination brightens the shadows of a war-torn country and whose hold on magic breathes new life into a house full of dying children.
I know why the Horse Lord crossed into our world [. . .]. It is because our world that stretches out below - the hills and the trees and the sun breaking over the rooftops - is more than just brown and gray. There is color here. There are greens and reds and blues as deep as the sea.
You just have to know where to look.
December 14, 2016
This book is too sad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He hands me a blue ticket. He uses the tickets so the Sisters will know what treatment we need each week. There are three colors: Blue for patients who are well enough to go outside for exercise and fresh air. Yellow for those who must limit their activity to indoors. Red for the ones-the one, because it is only Anna-too ill to leave their beds
That's all I have, it's too sad! The author's note is sad too. But it is what happens or happened in that time long ago. =( Poor little kids!
He hands me a blue ticket. He uses the tickets so the Sisters will know what treatment we need each week. There are three colors: Blue for patients who are well enough to go outside for exercise and fresh air. Yellow for those who must limit their activity to indoors. Red for the ones-the one, because it is only Anna-too ill to leave their beds
That's all I have, it's too sad! The author's note is sad too. But it is what happens or happened in that time long ago. =( Poor little kids!
October 17, 2016
Now available! 4.5 stars. Final review, first posted on Fantasy Literature:
Emmaline knows a secret: Briar Hill, a Shropshire mansion turned into a children’s hospital during World War II, has beautiful winged horses that live in the mirrors of its elegant rooms. They move in and out of the mirror-rooms, walking through doorways, nosing half-finished cups of tea. But only Emmaline can see them, and she keeps the secret to herself. She knows the boys like Benny and Jack will tease her mercilessly if they knew. She doesn’t even tell her best friend Anna, who’s the most ill person at the hospital, for fear that she’ll distress Anna.
One day Benny steals a treasured piece of chocolate from Emmaline and eats it. Upset, Emmaline runs outside and (breaking the hospital rules) climbs over the ivy of a walled garden on the grounds. Inside the abandoned garden, a beautiful white horse with a soft gray muzzle, a star-like blaze of dark hair between her eyes, and snow-white wings approaches her. Emmaline notices that the horse’s wing is hurt and figures that the horse must have somehow come into our world from the mirror world to find a place of healing.
Soon Emmaline begins finding written messages in the garden, signed by the Horse Lord, telling her that this winged horse, Foxfire, needs her help to avoid being captured by the sinister Black Horse that flies about the hospital by night, hunting for Foxfire in the colorless moonlight. Before the moon is full again in two weeks, the Horse Lord’s message tells Emmaline, she must surround Foxfire with large, colorful objects, one for each color of the rainbow, to create a spectral shield that will protect Foxfire from the Black Horse, whose eyes are burned by color. But there are very few bright colors in Emmaline’s drab world.
The Secret Horses of Briar Hill is a gem of a middle grade book, wondrous and bittersweet. Surrounded by sickness, death and fear, and burdened by traumatic memories, Emmaline treasures her glimpses of the mirrored horses and her growing bond with Foxfire. The search for brightly colored objects at the Horse Lord’s behest gives her a new purpose, but it also leads her into trouble and some questionable decisions, and even into danger.
Megan Shepherd gracefully captures the atmosphere of this one small corner of the World War II conflict, children with tuberculosis who were evacuated to hospitals and wards in the British country. Emmaline calls tuberculosis the “stillwaters,” partly because she feels that her lungs are as “still and thick as swamp water,” running deep within Emmaline’s body. But it’s also a reminder that of the proverb that still waters run deep, and that children and teens (not to mention older people) may be struggling with deep, hidden troubles ― whether physical sickness or other types of distress ― that may not be visible to others.
As the plot unfolds, we gradually learn more about Emmaline’s past and how that affects her now, which sheds new possible interpretations on Emmaline’s experiences. One of the intriguing aspects of The Secret Horses of Briar Hill is that it’s unusually ambiguous for a middle grade book. There are different possible interpretations of the events related by Emmaline: this might be a truly magical story, or it might be that the winged horses exist only in Emmaline’s imagination. Readers will need to decide for themselves what they believe actually happened. In some books this ambiguity would frustrate me, but here I found it lovely and emotionally touching.
The Secret Horses of Briar Hill deals with deeply serious issues but is delightfully imaginative at the same time. It’s a timeless story, combining fantasy and magic with sometimes dark realities. This book deals with some difficult subject matter but does so in a way that isn’t too ponderous or distressing for young readers, and inspires us to keep hope, to follow our dreams. To ride true.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, Delacorte Press, in exchange for a review. Thank you!
Emmaline knows a secret: Briar Hill, a Shropshire mansion turned into a children’s hospital during World War II, has beautiful winged horses that live in the mirrors of its elegant rooms. They move in and out of the mirror-rooms, walking through doorways, nosing half-finished cups of tea. But only Emmaline can see them, and she keeps the secret to herself. She knows the boys like Benny and Jack will tease her mercilessly if they knew. She doesn’t even tell her best friend Anna, who’s the most ill person at the hospital, for fear that she’ll distress Anna.
One day Benny steals a treasured piece of chocolate from Emmaline and eats it. Upset, Emmaline runs outside and (breaking the hospital rules) climbs over the ivy of a walled garden on the grounds. Inside the abandoned garden, a beautiful white horse with a soft gray muzzle, a star-like blaze of dark hair between her eyes, and snow-white wings approaches her. Emmaline notices that the horse’s wing is hurt and figures that the horse must have somehow come into our world from the mirror world to find a place of healing.
Soon Emmaline begins finding written messages in the garden, signed by the Horse Lord, telling her that this winged horse, Foxfire, needs her help to avoid being captured by the sinister Black Horse that flies about the hospital by night, hunting for Foxfire in the colorless moonlight. Before the moon is full again in two weeks, the Horse Lord’s message tells Emmaline, she must surround Foxfire with large, colorful objects, one for each color of the rainbow, to create a spectral shield that will protect Foxfire from the Black Horse, whose eyes are burned by color. But there are very few bright colors in Emmaline’s drab world.
Everything at Briar Hill is white snow and gray stone. It is the dull browns and greens of soldiers’ uniforms, and the black of nuns’ habits. No wonder we have drawn the Black Horse straight to us. Our world is colorless midwinter.This will be a huge challenge for Emmaline. But the Horse Lord’s messages, always signed “Ride true,” encourage her to do her best.
The Secret Horses of Briar Hill is a gem of a middle grade book, wondrous and bittersweet. Surrounded by sickness, death and fear, and burdened by traumatic memories, Emmaline treasures her glimpses of the mirrored horses and her growing bond with Foxfire. The search for brightly colored objects at the Horse Lord’s behest gives her a new purpose, but it also leads her into trouble and some questionable decisions, and even into danger.
Megan Shepherd gracefully captures the atmosphere of this one small corner of the World War II conflict, children with tuberculosis who were evacuated to hospitals and wards in the British country. Emmaline calls tuberculosis the “stillwaters,” partly because she feels that her lungs are as “still and thick as swamp water,” running deep within Emmaline’s body. But it’s also a reminder that of the proverb that still waters run deep, and that children and teens (not to mention older people) may be struggling with deep, hidden troubles ― whether physical sickness or other types of distress ― that may not be visible to others.
As the plot unfolds, we gradually learn more about Emmaline’s past and how that affects her now, which sheds new possible interpretations on Emmaline’s experiences. One of the intriguing aspects of The Secret Horses of Briar Hill is that it’s unusually ambiguous for a middle grade book. There are different possible interpretations of the events related by Emmaline: this might be a truly magical story, or it might be that the winged horses exist only in Emmaline’s imagination. Readers will need to decide for themselves what they believe actually happened. In some books this ambiguity would frustrate me, but here I found it lovely and emotionally touching.
The Secret Horses of Briar Hill deals with deeply serious issues but is delightfully imaginative at the same time. It’s a timeless story, combining fantasy and magic with sometimes dark realities. This book deals with some difficult subject matter but does so in a way that isn’t too ponderous or distressing for young readers, and inspires us to keep hope, to follow our dreams. To ride true.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, Delacorte Press, in exchange for a review. Thank you!
October 7, 2016
This book...this book! It does something to you. All the emotions, from joy and true happiness to almost unbearable pain, all of it is so worth it! At war times, sometimes your own fantasy and magical world can be your saviour. And that's exactly what this book is all about. It's a mix of true facts and wonderful fantasy, created by Emmaline, one of the sick children at Briar Hill hospital. Since the war is upon them and dark days lay ahead, they try to find laughter and joy wherever they can. Be it among them, mysterious groundskeeper Thomas or in the winged horses that live in the mirrors and that only a few chosen can see. Aside from being a wonderful story that will make you smile, it's also a story that will make you sad and think about things that truly count in this would. Life's too short and therefore you have to appreciate every second of it.
Read this book, because it will truly touch you!
June 6, 2017
Simply stellar.
January 20, 2016
I've never rated one of my own books before, but this one has a special place in my heart. I'm giving it five stars for that beautiful cover, for the blood, sweat, and tears between the pages, and for all the many people who helped and inspired me along the way. Thank you all, and happy reading.
September 29, 2016
Actual rating 4.5
The images within this book are evocative, gorgeous, and just downright perfect, with occasional double spread images that help to fill out the picture. But the words in themselves will reach right into your heart and pull on those strings. In truth, my feelings about this book actually grew overnight, between staying up late to finish the last few chapters and sitting down to write this review the following evening.
Upon closing this book, I felt there were too many things left unanswered, but after letting it sit for a day the full picture has become clearer, with the areas that felt less well fleshed out a day ago opening up to all the possibilities of interpretation.
This is a story about a time when everyone was on high-alert, and the battle on the front lines wasn’t the only one being fought. This is a story of kids who have experienced loss and will continue to do so, whose only personal items were donated by people across the pond in America. In this world, everyone is broken in one way or another.
The rest of this review can be found HERE!
The images within this book are evocative, gorgeous, and just downright perfect, with occasional double spread images that help to fill out the picture. But the words in themselves will reach right into your heart and pull on those strings. In truth, my feelings about this book actually grew overnight, between staying up late to finish the last few chapters and sitting down to write this review the following evening.
Upon closing this book, I felt there were too many things left unanswered, but after letting it sit for a day the full picture has become clearer, with the areas that felt less well fleshed out a day ago opening up to all the possibilities of interpretation.
This is a story about a time when everyone was on high-alert, and the battle on the front lines wasn’t the only one being fought. This is a story of kids who have experienced loss and will continue to do so, whose only personal items were donated by people across the pond in America. In this world, everyone is broken in one way or another.
Dr Turner is like Thomas: he isn’t whole. Only whole men can go to war to fight the Germans. But what Dr Turner is missing isn’t an arm or a leg or even a finger. It’s a part of his heart. It’s the daughter and wife he lost to the bombs. The missing part that makes him twitch when there is a thunderstorm – like that one time when lightning struck the roof and he crawled under the kitchen table like a dog and made a strange, frightened sound, until Sisters Constance and Mary Grace coaxed him out with weak tea.
The rest of this review can be found HERE!
January 1, 2017
Whether I believe the horses in this book are truly magical or just a figment of imagination from the main character's mind, the impact is still the same. I loved this book! And I loved reading it!
The Secret Horses of Briar Hill is an evocative, profound middle grade novel that reminds us of hope despite the tragedies this world brings.
It's a enchanting tale of friendship, of love, courage and determination to push through with life. It's a great novel that stays with you for a long time and will make you believe that miracles do happen.
Thank you, Lola, for recommending it to me! :)
The Secret Horses of Briar Hill is an evocative, profound middle grade novel that reminds us of hope despite the tragedies this world brings.
It's a enchanting tale of friendship, of love, courage and determination to push through with life. It's a great novel that stays with you for a long time and will make you believe that miracles do happen.
Thank you, Lola, for recommending it to me! :)
November 3, 2016
Beautiful book!
Set during WWII, a young girl at a hospital for tubercular children in Britain makes a startling discovery: there are winged horses you can only see in the mirrors of the hospital. But are they real, or a product of a fevered brain? And is it the horses who need her help, or does she need theirs?
Very much reminded me of books like The Secret Garden, which Shepherd cites as an inspiration and childhood favorite in her Author's Note.
Set during WWII, a young girl at a hospital for tubercular children in Britain makes a startling discovery: there are winged horses you can only see in the mirrors of the hospital. But are they real, or a product of a fevered brain? And is it the horses who need her help, or does she need theirs?
Very much reminded me of books like The Secret Garden, which Shepherd cites as an inspiration and childhood favorite in her Author's Note.
December 24, 2025
Some children’s books are simply wasted on children: The Little Prince, Outside Over There, The Polar Express, The Book Thief, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, the Harry Potter series, Flotsam, The Magic Thief and its sequels.
Add to that select list Megan Shepherd’s The Secret Horses of Briar Hill.
Like so many English children during World War II, Emmeline May has been sent to Shropshire; however, unlike those other children, Emmeline and the other children at Briar Hill hospital has not been sent to evade the blitz, but to convalesce from a disease she calls “stillwaters.” While all of the children at Briar Hill share the same illness, it is only Emmeline that knows the secret: As she explains in the first chapter, around the other children,
But then one injured white horse escapes the confines of the mirror-world and enters Emmeline’s world. And Emmeline will do whatever it takes to keep the wounded wingèd wonder safe.
Shepherd’s novel is so moving that I can’t see how I can ever forget it. It is about more than determination, imagination, and the healing power of kindness — although all of those elements are in The Secret Horses of Briar Hill. It’s about magic and love and heartache and making the best of what we’re dealt. Highly, highly recommended.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Random House Children’s Delacorte Books for Young Readers in exchange for an honest review.
Add to that select list Megan Shepherd’s The Secret Horses of Briar Hill.
Like so many English children during World War II, Emmeline May has been sent to Shropshire; however, unlike those other children, Emmeline and the other children at Briar Hill hospital has not been sent to evade the blitz, but to convalesce from a disease she calls “stillwaters.” While all of the children at Briar Hill share the same illness, it is only Emmeline that knows the secret: As she explains in the first chapter, around the other children,
I have to keep secrets to myself.
But I’ll tell you.
This is my secret: There are winged horses that live in the mirrors of Brian Hill hospital.
But then one injured white horse escapes the confines of the mirror-world and enters Emmeline’s world. And Emmeline will do whatever it takes to keep the wounded wingèd wonder safe.
Shepherd’s novel is so moving that I can’t see how I can ever forget it. It is about more than determination, imagination, and the healing power of kindness — although all of those elements are in The Secret Horses of Briar Hill. It’s about magic and love and heartache and making the best of what we’re dealt. Highly, highly recommended.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Random House Children’s Delacorte Books for Young Readers in exchange for an honest review.
Read
September 3, 2016Trapped in a hospital, surrounded by children inflicted with stillwaters, Emmaline keeps a secret: she can see winged horses in the mirrors. When one of those winged horses arrives injured in her world, it’s up to Emmaline to protect it – but how can you protect something so magical when you’re barely able to stand? The Secret Horses of Briar Hill pushes the boundaries of magical realism, leaving readers entirely uncertain as to whether or not the magic is in Emmaline’s heart or in her hospital – but the ultimately hopeful ending will satisfy even the most disbelieving reader. Filled with beautiful prose and moments of unbridled tenderness, The Secret Horses of Briar Hill is the perfect book for both middle grade reader and parent.
–Nicole Brinkley
from The Best Books We Read In July 2016: http://bookriot.com/2016/08/01/riot-r...
–Nicole Brinkley
from The Best Books We Read In July 2016: http://bookriot.com/2016/08/01/riot-r...
March 17, 2018
This book was so beautiful, I just can't take it! This book truly is magical and I believed every word.
RTC
RTC
September 4, 2017
Reseña completa: http://letraslibrosymas.blogspot.com....
⦁ La ambientación: se desarrolla en la segunda guerra mundial, un enclave que ha dado historias desgarradoras y muy buenas, pero aquí Megan Shepherd solo lo ha utilizado como marco de acción, porque la verdadera importancia está en la protagonista y su lucha interior (por la enfermedad que padecen) y la guerra es una manera de ver las consecuencias para los más pequeños. Una estrategia que funciona a las mil maravillas para regalarnos una perspectiva diferente de una etapa cruda.
⦁ Sentimientos: Te remueve todo por dentro, te destroza, te deja en vilo, pero también te da alegrías, te hace sonreír y vivir la historia con los ojos de un niño lleno de pureza. Es una historia bonita y tierna y el mensaje que deja me ha encantado.
Una historia preciosa y mágica.
⦁ La ambientación: se desarrolla en la segunda guerra mundial, un enclave que ha dado historias desgarradoras y muy buenas, pero aquí Megan Shepherd solo lo ha utilizado como marco de acción, porque la verdadera importancia está en la protagonista y su lucha interior (por la enfermedad que padecen) y la guerra es una manera de ver las consecuencias para los más pequeños. Una estrategia que funciona a las mil maravillas para regalarnos una perspectiva diferente de una etapa cruda.
⦁ Sentimientos: Te remueve todo por dentro, te destroza, te deja en vilo, pero también te da alegrías, te hace sonreír y vivir la historia con los ojos de un niño lleno de pureza. Es una historia bonita y tierna y el mensaje que deja me ha encantado.
Una historia preciosa y mágica.
February 12, 2022
I really like historical middle grade books because while they convey a good sense of a time period, they are focused more on personal stories than the bigger picture and combine the tragedy with beauty and magic. This book is no exeption. It's just as engaging to adult readers than to its target audience. The clear writing works really well and the setting and atmosphere are spot on. Emmaline is a believable protagonist, too, and her quest very appealing.
Some minor critiscm is that I wasn't invested enough into the non-magical elements of the book and didn't feel for the characters the way that I should. I think that is due to Emmaline focussing way more on the horses with everything else happening on the side. Also, in this magical realist kind of stories, I like the magical elements to aid the real life part of the story, but in this, it felt like when Emmaline pursued her goal she was actively going against that. It made sense, it just isnt my preference.
Still, I had a good time with it and it truely had the elements of a classic story.
Some minor critiscm is that I wasn't invested enough into the non-magical elements of the book and didn't feel for the characters the way that I should. I think that is due to Emmaline focussing way more on the horses with everything else happening on the side. Also, in this magical realist kind of stories, I like the magical elements to aid the real life part of the story, but in this, it felt like when Emmaline pursued her goal she was actively going against that. It made sense, it just isnt my preference.
Still, I had a good time with it and it truely had the elements of a classic story.
May 7, 2018
A serious reading slump kept me from finishing this book sooner, but wow guys. This book is amazing. All I can say is if you have middle grade aged children, please read this book with them. (Or just read it for yourself - it’s not to be missed no matter your age) It’s truly a modern children’s classic. There are no ideas that children are not equipped to handle hard and complicated topics/emotions in this book. RTC.
August 9, 2017
The book is really makes me feel happy and inspired. This book is a rollercoaster of emotions that make me love it. The main character is supposed to be helpless but she overcomes so much. Even though she's really young she lost so much but still hopes and believes in the beauty of the world. Her struggles make this book real and relatable that made me enjoy it. I predicted a little bit of the plot but I was still shocked sometimes. When she endures the grief of her friend really made me love her more and sad at the same time. I loved the book so much!
May 6, 2025
”I have a secret.
But I’ll tell you.
There are winged horses that live in the mirrors of Briar Hill hospital.”
Synopsis: A little girl stuck in a hospital dares to make us cry with her visions of horses haunting the halls and mirrors of the rooms and corridors she dwells in.
Biblio-Babble
It’s a Hard Knock Life: Emmaline has tuberculosis, known to her as the still-waters. She lives in a converted mansion that was transformed into a hospital along with other children who have her condition. I thought the vibes were very much akin to the musical Annie, in regards to the children who lived there, though not the conditions. Emmaline may be the heroine, but Shepherd makes it so that you feel compassion for all the children living there, from Anne, the closest thing Emmaline has to a friend right down to the hospital brat Benny. Differences aside, they are not only united by their illness in a sinister sort of way, but also the quiet acknowledgment that even though they will probably never leave the hospital, they have that glimmer of hope inside of them that they will get better. They’re just like any other children with hopes, dreams, and fears. Friendships and jealousies don’t subside just because you’re ill. And the way they ban together in times of trouble will no doubt tug at readers heartstrings.
Victorian Era Timelessness: The blurb on the back of the book states that this is a cross between The Secret Garden and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. And whatever genius thought of that mash-up comparison should get a raise, because they were spot on. So spot on, in fact, that this book should probably be alternatively titled “The Secret Wardrobe in the Garden of Briar Hill That Has Horses.” All kidding aside, this book had the calming, tranquil feel of The Secret Garden but with the everlooming backdrop of WWII with children hiding in the countryside akin to The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, topped off with a touch of magic. There was something just so calming about the setting and the way that it was narrated. It had the feel of a Victorian classic just sitting on the shelf collecting dust, just waiting to be read.
You Don’t See It. You Feel It: There is no doubt going to be a questioning child who read it and asks themselves (or an adult): but are the horses real? Emmaline claims she sees horses in the mirrors of the hospital, and in the garden where she’s not supposed to roam. One particular horse is in danger of being attacked by the Black Horse, and with the Horse Lord’s help tries to save her newfound friend. But towards the end, as her sickness gets worse, one begins to wonder if the horses were indeed, real? The thing of it is, though, is that Megan Shepherd manages to make her characters so real that if you think they aren’t real, it’s like a betrayal to Emmaline herself. There might be some doubt in your mind, but you want the horses to be real, just for her sake. So while the meaning is left up in the air (as well as the ending), it is up to readers to decide whether or not they will use their imagination to decide what is real and what is, in fact, just fiction.
Onion-Chopping Ninjas: I can’t lie to you, dear readers; this book is sad. Sad as in ‘I Just Saw an ASPCA Commercial’ sad. Sad in the sense that when you find yourself reading, you won’t notice the silent tears falling down your cheeks. It’s a quiet kind of sad; an inevitable kind. You know what the fates of most of the kids will be in the hospital. They’ll never get better and never come out. All the color in the world and all the Horse Lords out there won’t be enough to save them from the ravages of the disease, or the heartbreak of the loss of relatives or family members. The sense of utter hopelessness that seems to set into their young minds; a feeling children that young should never feel. So when asked if this is a sad book, the answer is yes. There will be onion chopping ninjas in your kitchen, and everywhere else you decide to read this book at.
There Is Still Hope: As well as sadness, another surprising feeling will come up when you read this book; hope. Much like WWII, with all the devastation being heaped upon the English people, there was always that underlying sense of hope that seemed so far out of reach, but at the same time so close. Emmaline perfectly embodies the spirit of the English people during this time; she might not always keep calm, but she carries on. She brings back pops of color into her otherwise gray world, and her mind and spirit are not so ravaged by the still-waters that she doesn’t believe in the things that might (or might not), be there. She hopes that the horses that have been paying her visits, the horse that she tends to and loves so dearly, are as real as the war that is raging on in her homeland. So while yes, there is sadness in abundance, there is also plenty of hope to drive out that sadness.
****************************
Whether you decide the horses in this book are real or not is your decision alone. But what can never be made up is the fact that this deeply melancholy yet eternally hopeful book will rip your heart to pieces and yet somehow, in its own magical way, manage to put the pieces of it back together, and then some.
Ride true.
But I’ll tell you.
There are winged horses that live in the mirrors of Briar Hill hospital.”
Synopsis: A little girl stuck in a hospital dares to make us cry with her visions of horses haunting the halls and mirrors of the rooms and corridors she dwells in.
Biblio-Babble
It’s a Hard Knock Life: Emmaline has tuberculosis, known to her as the still-waters. She lives in a converted mansion that was transformed into a hospital along with other children who have her condition. I thought the vibes were very much akin to the musical Annie, in regards to the children who lived there, though not the conditions. Emmaline may be the heroine, but Shepherd makes it so that you feel compassion for all the children living there, from Anne, the closest thing Emmaline has to a friend right down to the hospital brat Benny. Differences aside, they are not only united by their illness in a sinister sort of way, but also the quiet acknowledgment that even though they will probably never leave the hospital, they have that glimmer of hope inside of them that they will get better. They’re just like any other children with hopes, dreams, and fears. Friendships and jealousies don’t subside just because you’re ill. And the way they ban together in times of trouble will no doubt tug at readers heartstrings.
Victorian Era Timelessness: The blurb on the back of the book states that this is a cross between The Secret Garden and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. And whatever genius thought of that mash-up comparison should get a raise, because they were spot on. So spot on, in fact, that this book should probably be alternatively titled “The Secret Wardrobe in the Garden of Briar Hill That Has Horses.” All kidding aside, this book had the calming, tranquil feel of The Secret Garden but with the everlooming backdrop of WWII with children hiding in the countryside akin to The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, topped off with a touch of magic. There was something just so calming about the setting and the way that it was narrated. It had the feel of a Victorian classic just sitting on the shelf collecting dust, just waiting to be read.
You Don’t See It. You Feel It: There is no doubt going to be a questioning child who read it and asks themselves (or an adult): but are the horses real? Emmaline claims she sees horses in the mirrors of the hospital, and in the garden where she’s not supposed to roam. One particular horse is in danger of being attacked by the Black Horse, and with the Horse Lord’s help tries to save her newfound friend. But towards the end, as her sickness gets worse, one begins to wonder if the horses were indeed, real? The thing of it is, though, is that Megan Shepherd manages to make her characters so real that if you think they aren’t real, it’s like a betrayal to Emmaline herself. There might be some doubt in your mind, but you want the horses to be real, just for her sake. So while the meaning is left up in the air (as well as the ending), it is up to readers to decide whether or not they will use their imagination to decide what is real and what is, in fact, just fiction.
Onion-Chopping Ninjas: I can’t lie to you, dear readers; this book is sad. Sad as in ‘I Just Saw an ASPCA Commercial’ sad. Sad in the sense that when you find yourself reading, you won’t notice the silent tears falling down your cheeks. It’s a quiet kind of sad; an inevitable kind. You know what the fates of most of the kids will be in the hospital. They’ll never get better and never come out. All the color in the world and all the Horse Lords out there won’t be enough to save them from the ravages of the disease, or the heartbreak of the loss of relatives or family members. The sense of utter hopelessness that seems to set into their young minds; a feeling children that young should never feel. So when asked if this is a sad book, the answer is yes. There will be onion chopping ninjas in your kitchen, and everywhere else you decide to read this book at.
There Is Still Hope: As well as sadness, another surprising feeling will come up when you read this book; hope. Much like WWII, with all the devastation being heaped upon the English people, there was always that underlying sense of hope that seemed so far out of reach, but at the same time so close. Emmaline perfectly embodies the spirit of the English people during this time; she might not always keep calm, but she carries on. She brings back pops of color into her otherwise gray world, and her mind and spirit are not so ravaged by the still-waters that she doesn’t believe in the things that might (or might not), be there. She hopes that the horses that have been paying her visits, the horse that she tends to and loves so dearly, are as real as the war that is raging on in her homeland. So while yes, there is sadness in abundance, there is also plenty of hope to drive out that sadness.
****************************
Whether you decide the horses in this book are real or not is your decision alone. But what can never be made up is the fact that this deeply melancholy yet eternally hopeful book will rip your heart to pieces and yet somehow, in its own magical way, manage to put the pieces of it back together, and then some.
Ride true.
August 23, 2019
What a magical book... it reminds me alot of NARNIA but with more simple story and magic system! (well its a standalone so its understandable)
Even tho the book cover looks cute... this story is actually dark and gloom and SAD 😭🤧
Took setting at a lonely children hospital in the middle of WorldWar with Wintery season.. youll follow Emmaline an orphan little girl who can see Horses with wings behind the miror, she told some people ofc but no one believe her.. until one day she met a winghorse at the hospital garden
This book came with so many pretty Illustrations 😍 😊 the writing style is also so beautiful.. i love it so much
Even tho the book cover looks cute... this story is actually dark and gloom and SAD 😭🤧
Took setting at a lonely children hospital in the middle of WorldWar with Wintery season.. youll follow Emmaline an orphan little girl who can see Horses with wings behind the miror, she told some people ofc but no one believe her.. until one day she met a winghorse at the hospital garden
This book came with so many pretty Illustrations 😍 😊 the writing style is also so beautiful.. i love it so much
March 19, 2017
This was a genuinely nice story. The length was perfect for a Middle Grade, too. So many of the MGs I have read lately have been too long. The story dealt with war, sickness and death, but still managed quite a bit of Magical Realism whimsy. The historical elements seem to have been well researched.
Another aspect I appreciated with this book is there was no adult thinking. Too many MGs as of late either have the MC thinking and acting like an adult, or are heavy on the adult secondary character POVs. MG age readers don't care for this; they want to be able to relate to the characters.
A problem I have had with many Middle Grades in the past year, or so, has been grusome violence. This story proves you can deal with war, sickness and death without being too graphic. Some of the scenes were scary, but MG scary, not YA scary.
My only problems with the story were a couple of scenes were a bit too long, and one of those lengthy scenes, although exciting, made no sense within the context of the story.
This would be a wonderful chapter, or two, a night read aloud story. I think it would spark a lot of parent/child discussion.
I was approved for an eARC, via Netgalley, in return for an honest review.
Another aspect I appreciated with this book is there was no adult thinking. Too many MGs as of late either have the MC thinking and acting like an adult, or are heavy on the adult secondary character POVs. MG age readers don't care for this; they want to be able to relate to the characters.
A problem I have had with many Middle Grades in the past year, or so, has been grusome violence. This story proves you can deal with war, sickness and death without being too graphic. Some of the scenes were scary, but MG scary, not YA scary.
My only problems with the story were a couple of scenes were a bit too long, and one of those lengthy scenes, although exciting, made no sense within the context of the story.
This would be a wonderful chapter, or two, a night read aloud story. I think it would spark a lot of parent/child discussion.
I was approved for an eARC, via Netgalley, in return for an honest review.
April 10, 2016
Megan Shepherd has such a great writing voice...I instantly felt that it was her writing, when I picked this up. a lovely story, perfect for kids but lots of deeper meanings for adults as well. I loved it!!
April 20, 2017
I didn't make a single note on this book, didn't save a single highlight. That's unusual for me; I usually take full advantage of my Kindle's abilities to augment my memory.
Then again, I don't really need notes in order to remember this book. I'll remember it for a long time. It's a sweet, sad book set in the middle of WWII about a girl sent to a mansion deep in the English countryside that has been converted to a hospital. They're quarantined there, with an alarming disease – which is why Emmaline's family can't come to visit her. (Right?) She passes as much time as possible with her best friend, an older girl named Anna, drawing and talking about everything – including the beautiful winged horses they both can apparently see behind the many mirrors in the mansion.
Emmaline's life is soon taken over by interlocking crises. One of the horses from that mirror world has crossed over to ours fleeing from the terrible Black Horse, and, badly injured, and only Emmaline can help her. Meanwhile, Anna's health falters, and the only person Emmaline can turn to for help with the quest involved in rescuing the injured horse is the one she fears most, the local boogeyman. All the while, Emmaline must also fight the doctor and the nurses who for some reason keep trying to curtail her nighttime trips into the hospital's grounds in the snow…
That, of course, is the surface story. Beneath it is so much more. The Black Horse is genuinely frightening – I can only imagine the scars it would have left on my horse-obsessed child self – but despite that I wish I had been able to read it then, because just as real as the fearsome enemy is the magical world through the mirrors. I can guarantee I would have been looking at anything but my own reflection for months, hoping for a glimpse of a feathered wing or a whisking tail. (Which would be a far more enjoyable side effect than the outright covering of mirrors after that Doctor Who episode … )
But then again – no. I don't think I would really want to inflict the pain and grief in this book on my younger self. The war, the epidemic – are the horses a metaphor? Or could they, might they be real, a grace note of hope in a dark world?
It's a heartbreaking book, gorgeously illustrated with deceptively simple black and white drawings. No, I think it's just as well I couldn't read this when I was smaller. It would have been crushing.
The usual disclaimer: I received this book via Netgalley for review.
Then again, I don't really need notes in order to remember this book. I'll remember it for a long time. It's a sweet, sad book set in the middle of WWII about a girl sent to a mansion deep in the English countryside that has been converted to a hospital. They're quarantined there, with an alarming disease – which is why Emmaline's family can't come to visit her. (Right?) She passes as much time as possible with her best friend, an older girl named Anna, drawing and talking about everything – including the beautiful winged horses they both can apparently see behind the many mirrors in the mansion.
Emmaline's life is soon taken over by interlocking crises. One of the horses from that mirror world has crossed over to ours fleeing from the terrible Black Horse, and, badly injured, and only Emmaline can help her. Meanwhile, Anna's health falters, and the only person Emmaline can turn to for help with the quest involved in rescuing the injured horse is the one she fears most, the local boogeyman. All the while, Emmaline must also fight the doctor and the nurses who for some reason keep trying to curtail her nighttime trips into the hospital's grounds in the snow…
That, of course, is the surface story. Beneath it is so much more. The Black Horse is genuinely frightening – I can only imagine the scars it would have left on my horse-obsessed child self – but despite that I wish I had been able to read it then, because just as real as the fearsome enemy is the magical world through the mirrors. I can guarantee I would have been looking at anything but my own reflection for months, hoping for a glimpse of a feathered wing or a whisking tail. (Which would be a far more enjoyable side effect than the outright covering of mirrors after that Doctor Who episode … )
But then again – no. I don't think I would really want to inflict the pain and grief in this book on my younger self. The war, the epidemic – are the horses a metaphor? Or could they, might they be real, a grace note of hope in a dark world?
It's a heartbreaking book, gorgeously illustrated with deceptively simple black and white drawings. No, I think it's just as well I couldn't read this when I was smaller. It would have been crushing.
The usual disclaimer: I received this book via Netgalley for review.
April 11, 2017
Gostei do clima da história e das lições de coragem, imaginação, amizade, perseverança e a importância de ver a beleza do mundo mesmo em tempos difíceis, mas algo me impediu de realmente amar esse livro. Desconfio que seja a teimosia de Emmaline - ok que ela precisa salvar a égua, mas ARGH PARA DE FUGIR DO HOSPITAL.
(Me dá uma agonia ver essas histórias com crianças que saem em aventuras tipo esta aqui e Em Algum Lugar nas Estrelas, porque elas estão sempre em perigo e os adultos parecem que não sabem lidar e cuidar da situação. Se bem que eu fui uma criança bem caseira e quieta, ent��o qqr coisa pra mim é uma AVENTURA PERIGOSA ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.)
Esse livro daria uma linda adaptação em animação. Alô, @Disney.
(Me dá uma agonia ver essas histórias com crianças que saem em aventuras tipo esta aqui e Em Algum Lugar nas Estrelas, porque elas estão sempre em perigo e os adultos parecem que não sabem lidar e cuidar da situação. Se bem que eu fui uma criança bem caseira e quieta, ent��o qqr coisa pra mim é uma AVENTURA PERIGOSA ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.)
Esse livro daria uma linda adaptação em animação. Alô, @Disney.
October 9, 2018
Oh, this book. I borrowed this on a whim from the library, and I'm so very glad that I did. Megan Shepard has woven a beautiful tale in The Secret Horses of Briar Hill. One that manages to mix fantasy and reality in a way that is both heartbreaking and sweet. I fell in love with Emmaline from page one, and I honestly wish that her story had gone on a little longer.
The writing in this book felt so familiar. Like an old friend, that I hadn't picked up in a while. I'd most easily compare this to something like The Secret Garden, with its rambling estate and precocious young characters. There was just enough magic patchworked into this story as well, with Emmaline's winged horses taking center stage. Which was perfection, to be honest. While there are definitely sad undertones, since this takes place during wartime, the magic here helps keep things on an even keel. I don't know if Middle Grade readers will get the layers here, but even with just the winged horses it's an excellent story.
As for the audiobook, I an attest that Fiona Hardingham is the perfect narrator for Emmaline's story. She brings the otherwordly place on the other side of the mirror, with its winged inhabitants, to life. I honestly think it gave me an even better experience than I could have hoped for. If you have an older MG reader, who is in love with simple magic, this is a book that you need to put in their hands. It was a gorgeous read.
The writing in this book felt so familiar. Like an old friend, that I hadn't picked up in a while. I'd most easily compare this to something like The Secret Garden, with its rambling estate and precocious young characters. There was just enough magic patchworked into this story as well, with Emmaline's winged horses taking center stage. Which was perfection, to be honest. While there are definitely sad undertones, since this takes place during wartime, the magic here helps keep things on an even keel. I don't know if Middle Grade readers will get the layers here, but even with just the winged horses it's an excellent story.
As for the audiobook, I an attest that Fiona Hardingham is the perfect narrator for Emmaline's story. She brings the otherwordly place on the other side of the mirror, with its winged inhabitants, to life. I honestly think it gave me an even better experience than I could have hoped for. If you have an older MG reader, who is in love with simple magic, this is a book that you need to put in their hands. It was a gorgeous read.
February 3, 2016
I can't begin to tell you how happy it makes me to have been able to read and review this book so early, when it isn't even out until October. It means the very most to me. Thank you so, so much to Anna for sending me this print ARC for review. <3 Simply the most gorgeous. This cover is truly something special. I adore it.
I'm unsure about how to review this stunning book, though. Because I didn't love it. But I liked it so so much. The writing is gorgeous. The characters are so interesting to read about. The plot was a bit boring, but the background was simply amazing. The war. The children being sick. It was so good to read about.
I'm giving this book a three star. But it is a very positive three star rating. Because I really did like it a lot. And it is so gorgeous looking. I cannot wait to buy a hardcover of it when it comes out in October. There is a few pieces of stunning artwork inside this book, but there will be a few more in the final copy. And I can't wait to see them all, finished. They will be stunning, I'm sure of it. While I didn't love this one, I do think so many others will love it a lot. Especially children. Though it was a bit heartbreaking too, and it almost made me cry. Which is always a plus. Some things were a bit silly, but I still found this book to be pretty beautiful. I don't really like horses, so I didn't feel that much for the horses in this story. But I loved how much Emmaline cared.
This book is told from the point of view of Emmaline. I'm not sure how old she is, which bothered me a little bit. I wanted to know her age. But I didn't mind too much. She was young. She was adorable. I liked reading about her a lot. I hated that she was sick. My heart broke for her. I loved her relationship with another girl in this hospital for children, Anna. She was older, and she was so sick. It broke my heart. I loved reading about it, though. Felt like it was written well. I wish Anna had been loved by someone.
The story takes place in a hospital for children, run by a few nuns. Which I liked, as they seemed like kind women. But this book also takes place during the war. And it is so sad at times. The children don't have much at all. Which is just so depressing. But also interesting to read about. I love reading books about the war. Though this doesn't focus much on it at all. More about the children. All of whom are sick, and many might end up dead. It was pretty sad. Yet interesting to read about. I liked reading about it.
One thing that bothered me a lot was how Emmaline was with the other children, besides Anna. They didn't like her. They called her a monster. And my god. It broke my heart. Because she didn't do anything about it. Nothing at all. Not even when a mean boy ruined her pencils. She told no one. I just. I don't get why. I would have done something about it, because oh, it was so sad and mean of him. Ugh. But this boy. He was mean so often. Yet near the end I think I ended up liking him. Wanted to read more of him.
I should probably mention that this book is about horses. Winged horses. That only Emmaline can see, through the mirrors. Which was pretty sweet. But then she finds a horse in her own world, and she is hurt. Emmaline has to help her. And while I found it to be interesting, I didn't love this part of the book. It didn't mean much to me, because I wasn't able to care. Why did she want to help the horse? I didn't see a connection between them. But it was still pretty cute. Maybe. The way she helped was a bit weird.
My favorite part of the book was near the end, when Emmaline was pretty sick. We got to know about her family, the true story. And oh my gosh. It was heartbreaking. And it was the part that I enjoyed reading about the most. It was so real and honest and brutal. Wish there had been a bit more focus on it, but I'm happy with that little bit. I think this book could have a sequel. As I feel like a lot more could happen. And yeah. I would love to read another book from this story. It would be wonderful. I want it.
There is a bunch of characters in this book. I liked most of them. Especially Thomas with his one arm. He seemed so kind. Yet the children feared him and that bothered me. I felt like he was lonely a lot. I would have loved to learn his story. And oh, I shipped him and Anna. Yes, I know, there wasn't anything about them anywhere. But I would have loved it. The children were okay to read about, but I think I only truly liked Emmaline and Anna. The others were a bit mean towards Emmaline, and I couldn't stand it.
The Secret Horses of Briar Hill was such a stunning middle grade book. The writing is gorgeous and the time period was amazing to read about. The sick children broke my heart. I'm so glad I got to read and review this book early. I'm just a bit sad that I didn't love it, but I didn't not like it either. It was good. And I know that others will end up loving it. Just. Huge, huge thank you to Anna at Random House Children's Books. <3 It means the most to me that you could ship this print ARC to me. I'll treasure it.
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This review was first posted on my blog, Carina's Books, here: http://carinabooks.blogspot.no/2016/0...
I'm unsure about how to review this stunning book, though. Because I didn't love it. But I liked it so so much. The writing is gorgeous. The characters are so interesting to read about. The plot was a bit boring, but the background was simply amazing. The war. The children being sick. It was so good to read about.
I'm giving this book a three star. But it is a very positive three star rating. Because I really did like it a lot. And it is so gorgeous looking. I cannot wait to buy a hardcover of it when it comes out in October. There is a few pieces of stunning artwork inside this book, but there will be a few more in the final copy. And I can't wait to see them all, finished. They will be stunning, I'm sure of it. While I didn't love this one, I do think so many others will love it a lot. Especially children. Though it was a bit heartbreaking too, and it almost made me cry. Which is always a plus. Some things were a bit silly, but I still found this book to be pretty beautiful. I don't really like horses, so I didn't feel that much for the horses in this story. But I loved how much Emmaline cared.
This book is told from the point of view of Emmaline. I'm not sure how old she is, which bothered me a little bit. I wanted to know her age. But I didn't mind too much. She was young. She was adorable. I liked reading about her a lot. I hated that she was sick. My heart broke for her. I loved her relationship with another girl in this hospital for children, Anna. She was older, and she was so sick. It broke my heart. I loved reading about it, though. Felt like it was written well. I wish Anna had been loved by someone.
The story takes place in a hospital for children, run by a few nuns. Which I liked, as they seemed like kind women. But this book also takes place during the war. And it is so sad at times. The children don't have much at all. Which is just so depressing. But also interesting to read about. I love reading books about the war. Though this doesn't focus much on it at all. More about the children. All of whom are sick, and many might end up dead. It was pretty sad. Yet interesting to read about. I liked reading about it.
One thing that bothered me a lot was how Emmaline was with the other children, besides Anna. They didn't like her. They called her a monster. And my god. It broke my heart. Because she didn't do anything about it. Nothing at all. Not even when a mean boy ruined her pencils. She told no one. I just. I don't get why. I would have done something about it, because oh, it was so sad and mean of him. Ugh. But this boy. He was mean so often. Yet near the end I think I ended up liking him. Wanted to read more of him.
I should probably mention that this book is about horses. Winged horses. That only Emmaline can see, through the mirrors. Which was pretty sweet. But then she finds a horse in her own world, and she is hurt. Emmaline has to help her. And while I found it to be interesting, I didn't love this part of the book. It didn't mean much to me, because I wasn't able to care. Why did she want to help the horse? I didn't see a connection between them. But it was still pretty cute. Maybe. The way she helped was a bit weird.
My favorite part of the book was near the end, when Emmaline was pretty sick. We got to know about her family, the true story. And oh my gosh. It was heartbreaking. And it was the part that I enjoyed reading about the most. It was so real and honest and brutal. Wish there had been a bit more focus on it, but I'm happy with that little bit. I think this book could have a sequel. As I feel like a lot more could happen. And yeah. I would love to read another book from this story. It would be wonderful. I want it.
There is a bunch of characters in this book. I liked most of them. Especially Thomas with his one arm. He seemed so kind. Yet the children feared him and that bothered me. I felt like he was lonely a lot. I would have loved to learn his story. And oh, I shipped him and Anna. Yes, I know, there wasn't anything about them anywhere. But I would have loved it. The children were okay to read about, but I think I only truly liked Emmaline and Anna. The others were a bit mean towards Emmaline, and I couldn't stand it.
The Secret Horses of Briar Hill was such a stunning middle grade book. The writing is gorgeous and the time period was amazing to read about. The sick children broke my heart. I'm so glad I got to read and review this book early. I'm just a bit sad that I didn't love it, but I didn't not like it either. It was good. And I know that others will end up loving it. Just. Huge, huge thank you to Anna at Random House Children's Books. <3 It means the most to me that you could ship this print ARC to me. I'll treasure it.
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This review was first posted on my blog, Carina's Books, here: http://carinabooks.blogspot.no/2016/0...
March 26, 2017
"I have a secret. I won't tell Benny and the other boys. They are like dogs in the night, snarling at anything that moves. I won't tell Anna either, even though she is nice to me and shares her colored pencils.
But I'll tell you.
This is my secret: there are winged horses that live in the mirrors of Briar Hill Hospital."
Review to come.
But I'll tell you.
This is my secret: there are winged horses that live in the mirrors of Briar Hill Hospital."
Review to come.
May 26, 2017
I really enjoyed this book, but it was so so sad!!! I can honestly say that I feel really ignorant for not knowing all that has happened in history. Children going to live away from others because they have TB so others don't catch it from them. Leaving their families and homes behind. According to the Author's note this truly did happen back then. I've been very interested in World War II since I was young and never even knew about this happening.
I loved the winged horse plot of the story and how Emmaline had to save the one that got into her world. I felt like Emmaline seeing the horses was to get her through her sickness and triumph over it. I seriously don't even know if what Emmaline saw was true for her or because of her illness. I'm going to believe that it was true for her.
I adored this story and think younger readers will appreciate the plot. This is for middle school children, but I think younger children would benefit from reading this book.
I loved the winged horse plot of the story and how Emmaline had to save the one that got into her world. I felt like Emmaline seeing the horses was to get her through her sickness and triumph over it. I seriously don't even know if what Emmaline saw was true for her or because of her illness. I'm going to believe that it was true for her.
I adored this story and think younger readers will appreciate the plot. This is for middle school children, but I think younger children would benefit from reading this book.
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