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Horse Diaries #3
Koda
For anyone who has ever dreamed of hearing a horse's story . . .
"Independence, Missouri, 1846
Koda is a bay quarter horse with a white blaze. He loves to explore the countryside and run free with his human friend Jasmine nearby. But after Koda sets out with Jasmine's family on a long and dusty wagon train journey on the Oregon Trail, he finds out what is truly important to him. Here is Koda's story . . . in his own words.
With moving and knowledgeable text and lovely black-and-white art throughout--both by real horse people--this is the perfect fit for all lovers of horses and history! "From the Trade Paperback edition.
"Independence, Missouri, 1846
Koda is a bay quarter horse with a white blaze. He loves to explore the countryside and run free with his human friend Jasmine nearby. But after Koda sets out with Jasmine's family on a long and dusty wagon train journey on the Oregon Trail, he finds out what is truly important to him. Here is Koda's story . . . in his own words.
With moving and knowledgeable text and lovely black-and-white art throughout--both by real horse people--this is the perfect fit for all lovers of horses and history! "From the Trade Paperback edition.
137 pages, Paperback
Published October 27, 2009
27 people are currently reading
444 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
November 8, 2022
Did you know that Koda means friend in Siuox Indian? I just love these books!!! But only only on book 4.
January 26, 2016
I loved this book!
February 15, 2017
I love the Oregon trail.
September 14, 2021
Koda (the book) opens with Koda (the Quarter Horse) basking in a warm spring day with his mother. He is only a few hours old, and his mother has much to teach him. As he quickly learns, the world is fraught with danger - porcupines, snakes, mountain lions, and sometimes humans. His mother educates him as they make their way back to the herd, and soon he meets good humans, his humans. Jasmine and her Papa ride out to meet the young colt and his proud mama, and soon they are both taken back to the family farm. There Koda grows into a 2-year old, old enough for training but not old enough for riding. Now his world is changing, though, as family circumstances lead them to the Oregon Trail. Koda and his mom go along, but the trail is hot and dusty and the suffering of humans and animals alike are great, all just hoping to survive the long trek to Oregon and a fresh start.
As with all the books in this series, the horse is our narrator, and this continues to be a delightful way to see history from a unique point of view. Koda is young and inexperienced, and so as he learns we do too. The trials of the Oregon trail are not glossed over, though they are told in terms that children will be able to understand and connect with. Overall this is another great offering in the series, and like the others there is a history of the featured horse breed after the end of the book.
As with all the books in this series, the horse is our narrator, and this continues to be a delightful way to see history from a unique point of view. Koda is young and inexperienced, and so as he learns we do too. The trials of the Oregon trail are not glossed over, though they are told in terms that children will be able to understand and connect with. Overall this is another great offering in the series, and like the others there is a history of the featured horse breed after the end of the book.
September 20, 2021
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!
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!
November 15, 2018
I love these books! The illustrations are just so gorgeous. And as so many of these do, this one made me cry at the end, but good tears. I particularly liked the way the story showed the rigors that the early settlers would have faced without resorting to stereotypes or overdoing the peril. Just lovely.
July 17, 2018
A HEART WARMING AND KEEP YOU ON YOUR TOES STORY!!
I REALLY LOVED THIS BOOK, I LOVE HORSES. THIS BOOK MADE YOU FEEL YOU WERE THERE AND YOU WANTED TO HELP THE PEOPLE OUT IN DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES THEY WERE IN.
I REALLY LOVED THIS BOOK, I LOVE HORSES. THIS BOOK MADE YOU FEEL YOU WERE THERE AND YOU WANTED TO HELP THE PEOPLE OUT IN DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES THEY WERE IN.
August 15, 2017
Takes forever to get going. Does a good job of describing the hardships on the Oregon Trail.
December 6, 2017
I have read this book time and time again. Its always been a close favorite of mine. Koda learns many things and as a young horse learns how to love people. He definitely loves this little girl
June 13, 2019
See the first book in the series for a full review.
Read
October 5, 2019Life from a horses point of view.
January 19, 2020
Koda is such a horse. I knew the second I read about Koda, she was meant to be.
March 17, 2021
For a short childrens story. I really do like this book. If you like the movie spirit. You will love this book
June 6, 2022
The rescue in this one doesn't involve a river, and the difference is good! The portrayal of how difficult it was to be on the Oregon trail wasn't sugar coated, to the story's benefit.
June 24, 2022
This book was great! I love horses so much and even though it was a quick read, definitely would recommend for smaller children who have a love for horses!
August 24, 2022
I love the angle that this was written
January 27, 2024
My daughter loved this book and said I had to read it! We love horses and this was such a good book! I highly recommend it to any young reader that loves horses!
May 10, 2025
I love reading this series with my girls. I was a bit worried with it talking about the Oregon Trail. However it does give a bit of insight of how hard it was back then.
August 27, 2025
Daughter is loving this horse series intertwined with a bit of historical fiction.
November 13, 2025
Just now getting around to all the books from this series I didn’t get to read as a kid. The book series that made me love reading and I’ve missed it. I’m still a horse obsessed kid at heart
July 23, 2022
I do love a good prairie story 😊.
Koda is the perfect example of the calm, gentle minded horses that Quarter Horses are. He reminds me of the Bay Roan AQH, Hammertime, who I rode a lot as a kid.
Koda is the perfect example of the calm, gentle minded horses that Quarter Horses are. He reminds me of the Bay Roan AQH, Hammertime, who I rode a lot as a kid.
October 26, 2018
- I'm trying to catch up to Gnome on this series. She is way ahead of me. It is fun see how excited she gets when I start reading one of these books though. I understand the feeling!
- This was super cute just like the previous two books.
- The relationship between Jasmine and Koda is SO heartwarming. I just love their mutual love and care for one another.
- I love that the story is told from the horse's perspective. Some books cannot pull that off, but these books do a wonderful job.
- I also love that these books give kids a little piece of history in a fun way. The story doesn't go into depth about anything, but you get a feel for the time period, what was happening, and the customs.
- This was super cute just like the previous two books.
- The relationship between Jasmine and Koda is SO heartwarming. I just love their mutual love and care for one another.
- I love that the story is told from the horse's perspective. Some books cannot pull that off, but these books do a wonderful job.
- I also love that these books give kids a little piece of history in a fun way. The story doesn't go into depth about anything, but you get a feel for the time period, what was happening, and the customs.
January 10, 2018
Horse Diaries: Koda
By: Patricia Hermes
By: Sydney Moyers
This book is realistic fiction and historical fiction because it has real life events that can happen
in real life, and because a part of the story takes place on The Oregon Trail and that was a true
and real place. A quarter horse named Koda is born outside, and the setting is outside, and he
faces scary challenges throughout his life with a wild animal, a trail, and a crisis. A young girl,
who is happy around Koda, loves Koda, a bright full young horse, and named him Koda
because Koda means "friends". The mom of the girl dies, and the girl, her dog, her dad who is
kind, Koda, and Koda’s mom go on The Oregon Trail up to Oregon with a lot of other people
and animals to have a better life, and dramas happen along the way, with Native Americans,
and the girl goes missing on the trail. The trail was painful for the family because of the dust,
and other animals died, but they made it through in the end. The theme is bravery because
Koda set out to find the girl, and is curious enough to go near a big wild cat. The internal conflict
in this story is man versus self because Koda is scared when the girl, his owner, goes missing
on The Oregon Trail for a little while. The external conflict of the book is man versus nature
because Koda goes through tough times with nature like with a big wild cat, and the dusty
Oregon Trail. I liked the book because it was about one of the animals I love which are horses,
and the story was interesting. I liked how the girl had a passion and love for Koda, her horse.
This book has happy times, scary times, and sad times which makes this book have emotion.
This recommendation of this book goes to an audience that likes small and easy read books,
people who like history, and people who like horses because this book is a very short and easy
and big writing to read, the book has parts of true history in it, The Oregon Trail, and this book is
mainly about a horse, and other horses.
By: Patricia Hermes
By: Sydney Moyers
This book is realistic fiction and historical fiction because it has real life events that can happen
in real life, and because a part of the story takes place on The Oregon Trail and that was a true
and real place. A quarter horse named Koda is born outside, and the setting is outside, and he
faces scary challenges throughout his life with a wild animal, a trail, and a crisis. A young girl,
who is happy around Koda, loves Koda, a bright full young horse, and named him Koda
because Koda means "friends". The mom of the girl dies, and the girl, her dog, her dad who is
kind, Koda, and Koda’s mom go on The Oregon Trail up to Oregon with a lot of other people
and animals to have a better life, and dramas happen along the way, with Native Americans,
and the girl goes missing on the trail. The trail was painful for the family because of the dust,
and other animals died, but they made it through in the end. The theme is bravery because
Koda set out to find the girl, and is curious enough to go near a big wild cat. The internal conflict
in this story is man versus self because Koda is scared when the girl, his owner, goes missing
on The Oregon Trail for a little while. The external conflict of the book is man versus nature
because Koda goes through tough times with nature like with a big wild cat, and the dusty
Oregon Trail. I liked the book because it was about one of the animals I love which are horses,
and the story was interesting. I liked how the girl had a passion and love for Koda, her horse.
This book has happy times, scary times, and sad times which makes this book have emotion.
This recommendation of this book goes to an audience that likes small and easy read books,
people who like history, and people who like horses because this book is a very short and easy
and big writing to read, the book has parts of true history in it, The Oregon Trail, and this book is
mainly about a horse, and other horses.
Read
December 1, 2010Koda is a nice book about a foal.When the foal and his mother returned to thier owners Koda found out what his name was and who named him. The daughter of the owner was his owner. One day the daughters mother died. They have to move, they take a long trail that is called oregon trail many kids and people die by diseases......
You have to read the book to find out what happens next
- Ilinca
You have to read the book to find out what happens next
- Ilinca
November 25, 2014
I loved this book! The surprise ending were Koda went and saved Jasmine's life; total twist! I never thought the book would have such a good ending! I really thought that jasmine had died and I didn't know what Was going to happen to Koda. I thought that. The saddest part was when Jasmines mom and baby sister violet died. I felt that Koda and Jasmine had a very close connection with one another. If you ask ethics is the best book I've read in a very long time!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2010
This is the Oregon Trail told by the horse's point of view. The horse rescues the little girl along the trail. Not sure it was realistic as the girl was a little sick to begin with but makes it all the way to Oregon while others get sick with Cholera along the trail and die. Definately for the younger students.
August 18, 2012
Of the several volumes in this series, I was not that impressed with this one.
Story was VERY simplistic. Beautiful illustrations didn't help. It begins with Koda's birth...but almost nothing else happens until page 83. Out of 127. Their Oregon Trail trip was glossed over and rushed.
Least favorite of the series. MUCH preferred #4--Maestoso Petra.
Story was VERY simplistic. Beautiful illustrations didn't help. It begins with Koda's birth...but almost nothing else happens until page 83. Out of 127. Their Oregon Trail trip was glossed over and rushed.
Least favorite of the series. MUCH preferred #4--Maestoso Petra.
October 18, 2013
Read aloud to my 5yr old.
She really enjoyed the book. I was not able to stop at the chapter marks. The suspense at the end of the chapters was too much for her. I always read until whatever problem was resolved, then broke for the night.
She loved it (despite some of the topics being a little advanced for her), and even I liked it.
She really enjoyed the book. I was not able to stop at the chapter marks. The suspense at the end of the chapters was too much for her. I always read until whatever problem was resolved, then broke for the night.
She loved it (despite some of the topics being a little advanced for her), and even I liked it.
March 11, 2011
This book is full of adventure on the Oregon Trail with Koda, Quarter Horse. I'd say it's historical fiction from a horse's point of view. I love all horse stories, especially when the main horse character is as loyal and spirited as Koda!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews