The Colt at Taparoo

Silver Brumby - Extended #13

by Elyne Mitchell

Da den hvite hoppen Lykke kom til gården Taparoo, blir hun straks Robins yndlngshest, og fra da av er han og Lykke uadskillelige. Men ingen vet at Lykke bærer på et føll, så da hun en dag føder det vakre, kastanjebrune hingsteføllet Flamme, blir overraskelsen stor. Men så skjer det noe underlig. Dronning, en annen hoppe på gården, går stadig til angrep på Lykke og føllet hennes, og ingen skjønner hvorfor Dronning er så sjalu - bare at det må ha noe å gjøre med Flamme, den mystiske hingsten.

Genres: Horses, Childrens, Young Adult

127 pages, Hardcover

First published June 29, 1978

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 2 out of 5]

I had only ever picked up the Silver Brumby series by Elyne Mitchell, and I know that the quality of the last couple of novels did dip significantly, but it didn't prepare me for a novel that was so disjointed and lacking in real story as I found here. I was incredibly disappointed.

The first section, with Gay and Robin riding around fetching cattle and Gay trying to avoid Queen and her colt became enormously repetitive very quickly and I dragged myself through it. The novel got a little better once it focused more on Fire, but the "mystery" of his father was far too obvious and yet drawn out beyond where it felt realistic. The best part of the novel by far was the last thirty pages or so, and it comes as no surprise to me that this part featured a wild brumby. The rest of the novel felt pedestrian and as though Mitchell didn't know the story she should be telling, while the part with the curious little brumby filly was much more engrossing.

I know I have read this with an adult's more cynical eye, but I don't think I would have had much patience or liking for the book as a child either. Disappointing fare all round.

[Genevieve · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed it, but I didn't find it that exciting. I think it was aimed at a younger audience.

[Hannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a decent read if you're a fan of Mitchell's Brumby stories and wanted another one, but it's nothing much to write home about otherwise.