What do you think?
Rate this book
Tiger Roan
First published January 1, 1938
About the author
Glenn Balch
38 books15 followersBorn December 11, 1902 in Venus, TX, Glenn Balch was a talented essayist who published many articles in Field & Stream and other outdoor magazines. He was also known for his many juvenile novels. His love for dogs, horses, and the great outdoors marked his life from very early on.
His earliest life memories involved being put on the back of a horse, and first dog, Trix. Early on, his love of reading was fostered and encouraged by his family. After going to college at the age of 16, he wrote for the collegiate newspaper and was involved in athletics. After graduation, he wanted a career outdoors, so he applied to the Forest Service as a fire guard. One reason was that a career as a forest ranger seemed like steadier work than the life of a cowboy. Eventually he received an offer to be a fire guard in Garden Valley, Idaho and in 1925 he moved to the Gem State, together with his new bride.
After that first fire season, he rode horseback from Garden Valley to Boise to apply for a newspaper job and was hired by the Idaho Statesman. He spent the next five years as a roving reporter, traveling about the state, combining hunting and fishing expeditions with his newspaper work. He wanted to spend more time doing his own writing, so resigned from the Statesman after his divorce and relocated to Boise. The Statesman did not want Balch to resign, so they offered him a position as a night telegraph editor, leaving his days free. Balch found it still prevented him from doing his own writing and also interfered with a newly found passion for polo, which was popular in Boise in the 1920s and 30s. With his love of horses, horseback riding, and athletic competition, Glenn Balch wanted to be part of the polo scene. In the Spring of 1931 he enlisted in the Idaho National Guard and became a member of its Boise polo squad. In 1932, he began to get his articles published in both Field & Stream and The American Boy. In 1937 he enrolled in a writing class as Columbia University in New York, where he met Elise Kendall, a fellow student from Florida. She became his second wife. On their return to Boise in 1938, they bought a house, settled down, and began raising a family. Balch had one daughter, Betty, from his first marriage to Faula Mashburn, and three more children-daughters Mary and Nikki and son Olin-with his wife Elise. His first novel was published in 1937.
When the United States entered World War II, he entered active duty as a captain in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He was commanding officer of the 10th Combat Camera Unit in the China-Burma-India campaign and was awarded the Bronze Star.
After the war was over, he resumed his career as a writer of juveniles, writing many. Several of his books were translated into foreign languages, and two were illustrated by acclaimed illustrator Ezra Jack Keats. In 1965 his novel Indian Paint was made into a motion picture starring Johnny Crawford and Jay Silverheels.
His 34th and last book was published in 1976. He died in September of 1989 from injuries after an automobile accident on August 29. The following year, two of his novels were republished as part of Idaho's statehood centennial commemoration.
His earliest life memories involved being put on the back of a horse, and first dog, Trix. Early on, his love of reading was fostered and encouraged by his family. After going to college at the age of 16, he wrote for the collegiate newspaper and was involved in athletics. After graduation, he wanted a career outdoors, so he applied to the Forest Service as a fire guard. One reason was that a career as a forest ranger seemed like steadier work than the life of a cowboy. Eventually he received an offer to be a fire guard in Garden Valley, Idaho and in 1925 he moved to the Gem State, together with his new bride.
After that first fire season, he rode horseback from Garden Valley to Boise to apply for a newspaper job and was hired by the Idaho Statesman. He spent the next five years as a roving reporter, traveling about the state, combining hunting and fishing expeditions with his newspaper work. He wanted to spend more time doing his own writing, so resigned from the Statesman after his divorce and relocated to Boise. The Statesman did not want Balch to resign, so they offered him a position as a night telegraph editor, leaving his days free. Balch found it still prevented him from doing his own writing and also interfered with a newly found passion for polo, which was popular in Boise in the 1920s and 30s. With his love of horses, horseback riding, and athletic competition, Glenn Balch wanted to be part of the polo scene. In the Spring of 1931 he enlisted in the Idaho National Guard and became a member of its Boise polo squad. In 1932, he began to get his articles published in both Field & Stream and The American Boy. In 1937 he enrolled in a writing class as Columbia University in New York, where he met Elise Kendall, a fellow student from Florida. She became his second wife. On their return to Boise in 1938, they bought a house, settled down, and began raising a family. Balch had one daughter, Betty, from his first marriage to Faula Mashburn, and three more children-daughters Mary and Nikki and son Olin-with his wife Elise. His first novel was published in 1937.
When the United States entered World War II, he entered active duty as a captain in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He was commanding officer of the 10th Combat Camera Unit in the China-Burma-India campaign and was awarded the Bronze Star.
After the war was over, he resumed his career as a writer of juveniles, writing many. Several of his books were translated into foreign languages, and two were illustrated by acclaimed illustrator Ezra Jack Keats. In 1965 his novel Indian Paint was made into a motion picture starring Johnny Crawford and Jay Silverheels.
His 34th and last book was published in 1976. He died in September of 1989 from injuries after an automobile accident on August 29. The following year, two of his novels were republished as part of Idaho's statehood centennial commemoration.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 17, 2026
This is a review of the 1942 hardback edition. Remember, kids -- this was originally published in 1938. Balch originally wrote this as a straight Western novel for adults. However, a publisher convinced Balch that, with a few changes, this would be better off as a book for kids. Kids books were a heck of a lot more violent in 1938.
I would've loved to have read the original version, because this book is just a ghost. It was Balch's first book, and perhaps his worst. It not only contains errors about Mustang behavior, but also parrots Will James' 1926 classic Smoky the Cowhorse. Smoky is even mentioned here as his rodeo bucking horse name, Cougar.
Balch would become a much, much better writer as he aged.
Another problem, although one Balch had little way of realizing at the time, was that the Tiger Roan wasn't actually a roan. Based on his description of having stripes on his lower legs, he was a dun. Roans never have leg barring or stripes.
The illustrator was Lee Townsend, who does a stiff, pedestrian job here. Perhaps he was trying to imitate Will James, too.
I would've loved to have read the original version, because this book is just a ghost. It was Balch's first book, and perhaps his worst. It not only contains errors about Mustang behavior, but also parrots Will James' 1926 classic Smoky the Cowhorse. Smoky is even mentioned here as his rodeo bucking horse name, Cougar.
Balch would become a much, much better writer as he aged.
Another problem, although one Balch had little way of realizing at the time, was that the Tiger Roan wasn't actually a roan. Based on his description of having stripes on his lower legs, he was a dun. Roans never have leg barring or stripes.
The illustrator was Lee Townsend, who does a stiff, pedestrian job here. Perhaps he was trying to imitate Will James, too.
October 15, 2009
Once again, I was very young when I read this book. Glenn Balch was a local author. He wrote many books for young people. His daughter "Buzzy" went to West Jr. High, Boise High School and was in the First Graduating Class at Borah High School 1959. I had a crush on her but only talked to her once.
Read
November 5, 2016Well I always wanted a horse and still do.
November 26, 2020
Summer reading when I was about 9. My eyes were swimming so much at the end I could barely see to read the last few pages.
November 19, 2024
Good story with decent character development for a kids book. Clean and great for a boy.
July 29, 2024
it’s hard at times to keep track of who is who. the author uses several names for the same horses, and there are no discerning characteristics for the human characters. i was ready to leave a review of two stars, but the ending salvages what otherwise would have been a pretty depressing final chapter.
March 31, 2008
Set first in the Owyhee Mountains in southern Idaho where the story opens. The tale is related by the horse, Tiger Roan. This is a book told with empathy, by an experienced range rider, of a Tiger Roan being caught and abused until transformed into a vicious rodeo bronc. The horse is redeemed by a dedicated and gentle trainer willing to take time with a strong willed animal. Written in 1938 it reflects attitudes of the era towards animals just as 'Smokey the Cowhorse'(1927) or 'Black Beauty'(1877) did.
August 10, 2015
Yet another western novel, most definitely geared toward teens, from the first half of the twentieth century. I enjoyed it, of course, and also enjoyed the drawings within it. But I found that it was very reminiscent of Smoky, by Will James. I suspect most westerns from this era are all virtually the same: the story of a good horse that gets stolen and goes bad, until his master comes to take him home.
It's a good novel, but obviously dated.
It's a good novel, but obviously dated.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews