Bell's Star

Horse Diaries #2

by Alison Hart, Ruth Sanderson (Illustrator)

Vermont, 1850s

Bell’s Star is a brown Morgan colt with a white star and two white stockings. He was bred for hard work, yet he longs to run free with his human friend, Katie, on his back. But when Star helps rescue a runaway slave girl, his ideas about freedom may change forever. Here is Star’s story . . . in his own words.

With exciting and knowledgeable text and lovely black-and-white art throughout—both by real horse owners—Horse Diaries are the perfect fit for all lovers of horses and history!

Genres: Horses, Historical Fiction, Animals, Middle Grade, Childrens, Historical, Fiction

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Alison Hart is a pseudonym for writer Alice Leonhardt

A Virginia author of over twenty mysteries and historical fiction novels for children and teens, loves “writing books that keep young readers glued to the pages.” At the age of seven she wrote, illustrated and self-published The Wild Dog, a book which she shows to readers to make the point that it is never too early to be an author.

Reviews

[Viviennegloria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Horse Diaries: Bell’s Star
Alison Hart

The characters in the book are Katie, Star, Eliza (a slave), Katie’s Mom and Dad, and Eliza’s mom and dad, Bell (Star’s mother), and the herd of horses. The main characters of the book are Star, Katie, and Bell. I like them because they seem pretty bright and curious, kind of like me. The story takes place on the farm in Vermont, and in Canada. There are tons of horses on the farm and Star makes three friends. One day Katie and Star are taking a light run by the river and they find a runaway slave and she is separated from her parents. So they take her home but Katie’s family is white so they have to hide the slave in the barn. Katie likes slaves but her father doesn’t like slaves because he doesn’t want to break the law. One night Katie, Star and Bell sneak out and take Eliza to Katie’s teacher’s house because she wants to help slaves too. The slave catchers come close to the teacher’s house trying to get Eliza. Katie ends up giving Star to Eliza so she can get to Canada. When Eliza and Star get to Canada she finds her father and mother and has freedom. The mother and father thank Star, give her hay, and then Star goes back home.

I suggest it to any horse lover.

[Elizabeth Dragina · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars ~

Wow, the slavery histories described in this book are beautiful, although bitter. So, bittersweet?? It wasn't my level of reading, but definitely an inspiring and emotional book. I was captivated.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a fan of Ruth Sanderson's art, a friend suggested I might read a series of books written for children, and illustrted by Sanderson. This is the first one I have read, and I kind of liked it.

I have an aversion to the fact that all the books about horsies seem to focus on the 'little girls love horses' and so I started out with a considerable bias there. More little girls and horsies. Hey, ya know, BOYS love horses too, you know. hrmf.

This story twines the history and behavior of the Morgan horse breed, with the Historical era in which slaves were fleeing to Canada for freedom. A little girl whose best friend is a Morgan born on thier fam, finds a runaway slave who is her own age... and the adventure begins.

I thought it was fairly well written, but you might want to read it with your child if they're very young, because it hints at some very dark issues of the time, without really explaining them- and kids have a way of turning vaguaries into nightmares. It has a VERY happy ending, and then a chapter about both the Bree of horse, the Morgan, and the situation of Slavery at that time in that place. That makes it much better, in my opinion!

[Ann]

The 5.5 X 7” size of this book and its format made me think it might be “slight” in several ways. I think this is a lovely book for young girls who love horses, but more than a horse book, BELL’S STAR is a work of historical fiction. Nicely told from the horse’s viewpoint (it took me a few pages to get used to that), readers will learn about runaway slaves in Vermont, 1835, and how one child’s courage can change the world. The horrors are hinted at, not dwelt upon, so this might be a good introduction to slave catchers etc.

[B · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise of a diary "written" by a horse would probably be appealing to a horse crazy kid but it didn't work that well for me. Nevertheless this series also takes kids back into time and they work better as historical novels. In this one, the horse comes to the rescue of a runaway slave in 1850's Vermont.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Calling all horse lovers! This series is told from the viewpoint of a horse in history. In this book it is a male Morgan horse used on a farm in Vermont shortly after the passing of the fugitive slave law. Great horse information, although swallowing the parts where the horses speak to each other is a bit of a stretch, and good from a historical fiction standpoint.

[Lolly · Rating 5 out of 5]

i loved how star was willing to help Katie and Eliza, he was so sweet.

[Maykala]

amzing

[Tania · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the young Morgan horse Star is born to his mother, Bell, he enters a world of wonders. Soon his human Katie claims him and names him, though he is destined to pull his weight as a workhorse on the family farm. Star learns about the world around him from his mother and from Katie, and soon displays a very strong personality of his own. Bell's Star is a charming story with a delightful young colt at its center, however it has much deeper meaning within its pages. Aside from telling the tale of a Morgan horse and his abilities, this book also incorporates the underground railroad and the trials of escaping slaves headed into Canada. Katie's farm happens to butt up against the best route for those escaping their bondage and traveling to freedom, and soon enough Katie and Star encounter a young girl on just such a journey. Katie rejects the idea that she should stand idly by and watch a human being be captured and beaten by her captors. Instead, she reacts with courage and bravery, as does Star, as they double down to find a way to help their new friend.

Horse lovers will relish these stories being told from the horse's point of view. Experiencing the newness of words, concepts, and sights with Star was a delight. He drank in all the information his mother sent his way, and then lightens the mood with his innocent musings, "I wanted to race after the blue jay to the place called wherever they want." It was a nice touch of realism that he didn't immediately understand everything he was being told, but cataloged it for later use anyway. I love that these books also incorporate history - both the history of the location in which the story is set and the history of the horse breed featured. In this case the story wraps in the adversity of its time - runaway slaves and those who helped them escape. It also uses characteristics of Morgan horses to build out Star's character. At the end of the book, after the story has finished, the author also includes more detailed information about the horse breed and the location/setting.

[Emory Ivie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful series that I well-enjoyed during my younger years, and when I was about seven years old it was my ultimate favorite. We all loved the story of Black Beauty, and this series has the same idea - a horse telling its own story during the historical time it lives. There are so many books to read in this series, and though they don't need to be read in order, as each novel presents new characters with new conflicts, but they take place in the order of the historical time. It's really cool for a young kid to be able to read the thoughts of a horse through a fictional book and learn more about the breed it highlights and the history centered around the breed's origin.

These books are absolutely wonderful and very informative. After the entertaining story, there is a little section in the back that teaches about the breed and its uses during a specific time period. They are clean, entertaining, and such a great read for any 7 to 10-year-old child. If you love horses and history, be sure to check out Horse Diaries!

[Dawna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this second of the Horse Diaries with my eleven year old granddaughter & it wasn't as good as the previous 'Elska.' We both really liked 'Elska,' but this one had some unexplained & too-good-to-be-true things. My granddaughter rides horses (barrel races,) so she knows them & for her, Star was an unbelievably smart horse. Maybe for someone younger & not wanting more reality, this book would be fine,

[Haaley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really nice book. I love that these include historical elements. This particular one was about a Morgan horse named Star and his owner Katie that find a runaway slave and promise to help her to safety.
While the story was short and simple, it was entertaining.
I wish there was more because I wonder what happened with Katie and the slavecatchers after Star escaped.

[DEBORRAH J SCOTT · Rating 5 out of 5]

FANTASTIC BOOK !!

I love horses, so this is why I'm reading these books. They are really great books to read, so far. I love them. I think anyone that loves horses should read these books.

[Gerri Leen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these because they are so beautifully illustrated (this one especially), combine history (both of a type of horse but also of a time and place) with story in a lovely way, and are such fast reads. This is a very sweet story. On to the next one.

[ArgyleDragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as good as the first one. Another river rescue felt a little boring, but the suspense of the escape to Canada was exciting. The appendix of this one was an interesting peak into American history in relation to slavery.

[Alexis Z · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked how the book was formatted with the times of the year in the chapter titles. I also liked how the story is told from a horse's point of view unlike a lot of stories that are told from a humans point of veiw.

[Isabella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a sweet, easy and quick book to get through. I absolutely love it and definitely recommend. It is great for if you just read a dark book and you need a little fluffy read that will take you an hour to get through.

[Avery Porterfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m such a sucker for these perfect little books. Read it in an hour, which is funny because it took me two weeks to read it previously when I was still in the single digits but non the less a fantastic blast from the past. I love being a horse girl screw your Warrior Cats I have Horse Diaries.

[Melodi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so cute, read it to my little siblings. They all loved it. Keeper!

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the combination of a horse story and history. Great book for horse lovers of all ages!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

See the first book in the series for a full review.

[Ava]

Very nice! I love horses, so it was really inspiring to hear about life from a "horses" point of view.

[Ron Weasly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bell's Star. That is one hard workin' sweetie pie. Bell's star is a awsome book.

[Wendgard11 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great for 1st person about a runaway slave

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bell’s Star is the best book ever. Read about how Bell’s Star helps a slave get to freedom to Canada.

[Brian& Cassie West · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good

[Maggie the Muskoka Library Mouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

These books are a lot of fun, and the illustrations are gorgeous!

[Katelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a good book :) When I was little I wanted Horse diary books and I was so happy when I got one ❤ A good quick read ❤

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story!! CathyR

[Dylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good book