The Trouble with Being a Horse

by Emily Edwards

The refreshing new book by Emily Edwards, The Trouble with Being a Horse, is a novel for girls age 9 and up that begins with the tried-and-true theme of a girl who loves horses and wants one of her own. Olivia’s story quickly takes a turn from the ordinary when her favourite horse mysteriously grants her innocent wish to become a horse. As a girl in a horse’s body, Olivia must put her knowledge of horses to the test as she navigates this new and bizarre world.

Genres: Horses

175 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2010

Reviews

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

The trouble with Olivia’s life is that no-one understands her—no one except an exceptional horse called Trouble who she loves to ride. Not one of those rich girls who own their own horse, Olivia works at the stables in exchange for weekly lessons. Making friends is hard when you don’t belong. And life at home is hard when the family imagine horses are just a passing phase—once you’ve learned to ride, why bother going anymore?

Despairing of anyone ever understanding or caring, Olivia confides her misery to her horse, and wishes she could be exactly like him. But some wishes are dangerous.

Author Emily Edwards portrays her protagonist’s confusion on waking as a horse quite delightfully—those extra legs, that extra weight, the struggle to walk and to balance. But the trouble with being a horse, for Olivia, is that, still, no one understands her. She doesn’t speak “horse,” and has to learn new sounds, new ways to indicate emotion with her ears. She has to deal with carrying weights and wearing a bit in her mouth. And she still can’t make her humans understand her either.

While it’s unclear what anyone would do if they “found her out,” Olivia’s determination to fit in is nicely portrayed, as is her misunderstanding of family and misplaced eagerness in pleasing her friend. With shades of Black Beauty and other classic horse books, The Trouble with Being a Horse rides through exciting adventures, varied owners, love and cruelty, before coming full circle to a very satisfying conclusion. Horse and riding facts are told from a fascinating viewpoint with sensible research and clever imagination, resulting in a fun story for girls who love horses, and for anyone who’s ever felt rejected and misunderstood.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from the Cadence Group in exchange for an honest review.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Olivia loves horses, and her job at the local stable allows her to afford the riding lessons that she looks forward to every week. However, when her family's situation takes a drastic turn and she is forbidden from continuing, she feels alone and misundertsood. On a final ride, she falls. When she awakes, she find that no longer is she a little girl, but she has turned into a horse.

Emily Edwards' book, The Trouble with Being a Horse, is a feel good book for young readers. Many of us often feel that there have been times in our lives when no one undertsood us, and young readers will enjoy reading about Olivia in fantastical form, as she has these same feelings even after changing into a horse. In the end, reunited with her family, she realizes just how much she is loved and feels better understood by her non-horse loving family.

Disclaimer: A copy of this book was provided by The Cadence Group.

[Belinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great little book with lots of heart. Although we know the thought process of horses is not the same as a humans, it is a fun text weaving in some messages of proper horse care with an short adventure for young riders.

[Katie]

I loved this book : )

[Christy Trever · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Trouble with Being a Horse by Emily Edwards is a story about eleven-year-old Olivia who is horse mad. At Claudia's stables where she takes riding lessons is the only place she feels accepted and like herself. When a downturn in her parents' finances forces them to put an end to her lessons, she feels completely lost and alone, until something amazing happens that makes her re-evaluate everything. First, Mia's review: The book is about a girl who turns into a horse. I liked best when she got home, because she was happy. It made me like horses more. Now my review: I was really impressed by Edwards' ability to really give young readers a feel for a day in the life of a horse, both the good and the bad. Olivia's relationship with Jenny is at first fairy tale but then very disconcerting for Jenny, and Edwards' uses that to show readers just why horses can't be all that we expect them to be. The story is well told and while there are lessons, they are told with grace. My one and only complaint with the book would be the repeated use of "Oh my God" but characters, including Olivia. I know that many people are offended by the casual use of that phrase, and I was careful to edit it out when reading to Mia. I look forward to reading Edwards' next book, and so does Mia!

[Julie (Let's Read Good Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun MG book about a girl who wishes that she was a horse, and then turns into one. This will appeal to MG readers who like stories about horses and animals. Quick read with plenty of angst and suspense should keep the pages turning for younger readers.