Silver Brumby's Daughter

Silver Brumby #2

by Elyne Mitchell

A silver brumby is special, but he will be hunted by man and horse alike, and must be stronger than both...

Thowra's speed and courage have always saved him from the men who want to capture him - until now, when the men come on skis quickly and silently over the mountains. This time Thowra must protect his daughter from the hunters who prize the silver brumbies above any other horse.

Genres: Horses, Animals, Fiction, Childrens, Australia, Classics, Young Adult

157 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1960

About the author

Elyne Mitchell is an Australian author best known for her Silver Brumby children's series, which tells the story of brumbies that roamed the Snowy Mountains in the Australian Alps, in particular a pale brumby named Thowra.

In 1988, she was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for her services to literature, as well as an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from Charts Sturt University in 1993.

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a reason that this - the second novel of the Silver Brumby series - is very much intact after 30-odd years of owning and reading it, compared to a few others that are clearly much more beloved. I found this the least enjoyable of the silver brumby stories, and didn't engage with Kunama at all.

We pick up the story a few years after the end of the last book. Thowra and Golden's daughter Kunama has come of age, and is ready to seek a stallion of her own, and so leaves the Secret Valley that protects the Silver Herd in order to run with Tambo.

It was good to see life from the perspective of a female silver horse, since she isn't strong enough to simply run from her enemies, and does not have the same instinct to fight them that a silver stallion would have. I felt like it would have been a good opportunity to give Kunama a path that took her to Bel Bel's wisdom and caution. But, rather, we had a story about a filly who just had no sense, despite all warnings to her about the risks of running with Tambo during the late spring and early summer.

And that was my main frustration with Kunama - she just didn't listen. She knew best. I guess this is a gesture towards the way that youths do try to walk their own path and don't always listen to hard-gained advice, but when literally every creature around her is warning her to stay hidden and not go to Tambo, it feels silly that she would disregard them all.

I also found that the book could have done with fewer chase scenes. There was a period through the middle of the book that seemed to keep treading the same ground - Tambo fights a horse for Kunama, Kunama has to run from the men, Kunama has to run from Spear. The fact that Spear presented the exact same threat and attitude to Kunama as Arrow did to Thowra in the first novel felt repetitive, and the novel definitely suffered from it.

Where this novel diverged was Kunama being captured by men, but even this felt as though it drifted to nothing. I wanted Kunama to rescue herself, to have the cunning and capability shown by her sire and grand-dam, rather than just be released. I think this encapsulates the nature of the whole novel - Kunama rarely rescues herself and feels far too passive, leading to a character I just didn't care as much about.

[Tien · Rating 3 out of 5]

My son refused to read this one with me... even if I'm doing the reading aloud so I've had to forge ahead on my lonesome. I have to admit that I didn't think this one is for me either but the last third of the book was so full of suspense that I ended up enjoying the story a lot more than I thought I would.

A number of seasons have passed since the first book and Thowra, the Silver Brumby, now has a daughter/filly, Kunama, with a coat as pale as his and if now of an age to find her own mate. She's lived in safety in the Secret Valley and while her sire has taught her all the ways to keep herself and the Secret Valley safe, when she's finally faced terror, she nearly forgot all she's learnt. Her youth and impulsiveness will cost her and freedom had never felt more precious.

The beginning was somewhat tame even as the Australian wild nature was described beautifully. However, there were actually quite a number of themes to be unpacked in this little classic novel from nature, youth, freedom, etc. My heart was squeezed tight for this beautiful mare but the ending was definitely worth persevering through the beginning.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The suspense!!! Can’t really say I love the ending, would’ve been so much better if Kunama saved herself or with Tambo’s help

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

My mum bought this 1969 hardcover book home when I was in early high school, if not late primary school and now at 39 years of age, it's the best book I have ever read. I prayed for it to be made a movie and it was, starring Russell Crowe and also made into a TV cartoon series. It never did encapsulate the magic of the written word. I gave my original red hardcover book to my previous best friend and never saw it again. I miss the smell and the "never ending story " magic of turning the pages and living the life of Thowra. It is a book I have passed down to my children. I continue to read it to this day.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this, and parts of it were magical like the first book was. But it lost the magic with the extremely vague yet repetitive descriptions, and the constant naming of mountain paths and valleys that sound more like... as if I just started naming streets in my city and expected people in Britan to be able to figure out what I meant. I couldn't even use the included map to follow along that well.

Beyond that, the climax was weak. Leading up to the final 5 pages, I was expecting a thrilling rescue, or a damsel saves herself situation. And I got.... nothing. Just "oh the boy felt sorry for her and let her go." Summed up in a sentence or two. No elaborate meaning afterward.

And Tambo just left her? Totally thought he'd be a black knight and swoop in for the victory. And then he snuck in, following her to the valley, and... everyone's okay with that? When before, that was a big no no? No reunion, either, just an abrupt ending??

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always a joy to read. I've recently reread this with a student I homeschool, and I enjoyed every minute of it! It took me right back to my childhood.

[Samuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to read all these books.

[Bethan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It drags a tiny bit in places and I don't enjoy how it ends. But it's still a great book!

[sue! · Rating 3 out of 5]

neigh

[Jessica Fyffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

good but not as good as the first one

[Mya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I enjoyed the first book more, but this one was still certainly good fun and engaging. This series is perfect for horse crazy tweens. Benni the kangaroo also deserves a special mention.

[Abbie D · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unlike "Silver Brumbies of the South," Elyne Mitchell's third book in the "Silver Brumby" series, I really had a hard time getting into this one. I'm not sure what it was. Perhaps the restlessness that Kunama felt as a young filly who only wants to run with her stallion and not stay hidden in the Secret Valley was written so strongly that it came out and over into my mind as I read it. Perhaps that was the reason I could not stay "hooked" onto this read and enjoy it. I found myself skimming to come to a different feeling other than restlessness and boredom, trying to find another climactic moment. This just wasn't my favorite in the series and I am disappointed as I found "Silver Brumbies of the South" to be a delightful read.

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read this book *ages* ago, probably in late elementary school or early junior high. I do remember I got it from one of those school book fairs, and most likely because it was about horses. I found out much more recently that it actually was part of a series, and while I had always wondered about that, I could never just find any other books that referenced the Silver Brumby. I found out much more recently that the series was from Australia, and have re-printed, but I haven't checked (or don't remember) when.
I loved this book then, and will still pull it out to re-read from time to time. I think I would like to find copies of other books in the series just to read.

[Dark-Draco · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the second of the series, Thowra tries to teach his daughter, Kumama, the ways of the wild horse. He knows that, because of her colour, man will want to hunt her, just as they have always tried to catch him. When they are exploring one day, they are discovered by two skiers, who instantly want to own the mare. Throughout the season, she is chased and finally ends up caught. Will she submit to being a ranchers horse or make it back to the secret family.

Another nice little read. I loved the illustrations and the writing - Mitchell really brings the bush alive. There is such a sense of fun and adventure about Thowra, making the books come alive.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-read!

The book follows the story of Kunama, daughter of Thowra the famed silver stallion of myth and legend.
For a silver filly life is very different to that of a stallion, she cannot fight to defend herself and every stallion who sees her will want her for their own.

It is in this way that we see the story of Kunama and the struggles for her that include a run in with the dreaded man.
I remember being really thrilled when I first got this one, to have a perspective of a silver mare and to see how life went for them and it did not let me down. It was also just a great delight to see Thowra again and follow more of him and his life.

[Karie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my favorite book for years. I read it as a child and loved it. It is about a herd of wild horses in the Australian outback. It is from the perspective of one of the horses; the daughter of the herd leader. That probably sounds cheesy/weird coming from a 33 year old woman, but this really was such a great book. I read it over and over and liked it so much that I would read it again now.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

After Thowra's story, we're now told about his daughter, Kunama, who lives an even more dangerous life because she's a filly, and numerous stallions and humans are after her. I must say, I loved the parts where she's fought over, and it was exciting to see both horses and men being driven off in order to keep her safe.

[Candace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will leave my 5 star rating although this book is my least favorite in the series. I think it is because Kunama is a silly girl and is unable to fight like the stallions and much of this book is her running from something. There is also too much description of everything and it feels like a lot of wasted storyline. I would have preferred more storyline of her and Tambo.

[Bubblyboo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like Elyne Mitchell books because I think they are really interesting and really exiting books she makes. My mum read this book when she was my age and really enjoyed it so I started reading it. It was one of the top books one time, along time ago. In the book it says baringa starlight. My mum named my house after it ; Baringa!

Love this book
, Beth

[Nemo (The ☾Moonlight☾ Library)]

Placeholder for the omnibus book with review found here. Otherwise it counts the omnibus as one book read and I'm reading one book from it a month.

[bluetyson]

isbn,original

[Kyra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book for those of you wholove horses, and I found that I loved this book just as much as I loved thhe first. A must read for any horse lover.

[Katrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprised myself that I actually quite enjoyed this - probably would have enjoyed it a whole lot more 20 years ago

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even all these years later I still felt all the tension, fear, and joy that I felt reading The Silver Brumby's Daughter as a child!

[Cheyenne Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really interesting book and it's great for all ages