Horse Passages

by Jennifer Macaire

Voyagers from earth have not only found haven on a faraway planet, but vast herds of horses that seem to vanish as if by magic. In reality the horses are able to open passages through time and travel from planet to planet. Settlers on the Home Planet learn to tame these horses and accompany them on their journeys, following the herds through the universe. Their life, their existence, is idyllic but for the scourge of the alien Raiders, who stalk and capture the herders and their horses. Twins Carl and Meagan Cadet are the youngest herders in the Federation. Though they savor their privacy and the bond with their horses, they eventually join forces with the rowdy Jeffries brothers. Just as they are learning to live and travel together, however, tragedy strikes. No one has ever escaped the Raiders. But when Luke Jeffries and Meagan, long ago orphaned by the cruel and barbaric aliens, find themselves slaves on a mining planet, they know they must try.Yet to do so, they must first discover the key to unlock the mystery of the marvelous Horse Passages.

315 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2005

About the author

Jennifer Macaire lives in France with her husband, three children, & various dogs & horses. She loves cooking, eating French chocolate, growing herbs and flowering plants on her balcony, and playing golf. She grew up in upstate New York, Samoa, and the Virgin Islands. She graduated from St. Peter and Paul high school in St. Thomas and moved to NYC where she modeled for five years for Elite. She went to France and met her husband at the polo club. All that is true. But she mostly likes to make up stories.

Reviews

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new human Federation was seeded by lost colony ships. They never have found Earth again, but at the time we meet horse herders Maegan and Carl, the Federation is prospering, adding more and more planets. Those new planets are found by following the horses, a mysterious breed who have the talent of jumping from planet to planet. The horse herding families, who train and care for the beautiful beasts, feel that life in the bubble cities would be prison compared to the adventure and solitude of roaming the galaxy.

Twins Maegan and Carl are the youngest horse herders in the Federation, their position inherited when their parents were captured by Raiders. They love each individual horse in their herd of grays. It seems to be merely an unwelcome interruption when the rowdy Jeffries brothers join them on Tauii 3, but life is about to change.

During the idyllic beginning, relationships are built solid, so that we willingly follow our characters through good times and bad. HORSE PASSAGES is split into two books, the first one focusing on Maegan’s adventure, followed by Carl’s adventure. Author Jennifer Macaire understands Maegan so well we feel every current flowing through her encounters with life. Not being a boy, Macaire doesn’t evoke Carl in flesh and blood and spirit the way she does Maegan. I didn’t always feel there was enough foundation for the choices Carl makes. But his story, from being the more predictable of the two, becomes suddenly the most surprising. Carl’s story demands a sequel; Macaire could choose among three different people from whose viewpoints it could be written.

Judging by HORSE PASSAGES, Macaire seems to have an extensive knowledge of horses; even more, she feels the challenge and love of a life with horses. As we read, the horses of the gray herd are cropping grass near us, pulling on a tent rope, chasing each other with squeals. A huge head pokes over our shoulder, or a heavy body drops with a sigh into a dust wallow for a good legs-in-the-air squirm. Equally vivid but much less peaceful is the mist curtain, the sign that it’s time to travel again. This is the life of a horse herder, and children – even parents – will want to be a part of it.

Jennifer Macaire has published eleven books that I’m aware of. THE SECRET OF SHABAZ is also reviewed here, as are the early books in her Iskander fantasy series about Alexander the Great. In my opinion, her greatest talent is for young people’s fantasy. She had some trouble with HORSE PASSAGES: I’m told that typos crept in during the publishing process. Don’t let that stop you! HORSE PASSAGES is my Favorite Youth Read of 2006.

Note on second reading:

Two years ago this was my favorite YA of the year, and now I'm delighted to say I am publishing it.