A Hundred Horses

by Sarah Lean

Overview

From the author of A Dog Called Homeless, winner of the Schneider Family Book Award, comes another gentle novel with a touch of magic about the power of friendship and the truth of belonging.

Nell isn't happy about spending her vacation on a farm, but when she meets a half-wild and mysterious girl named Angel, the two girls are tied in an adventure that may help Nell discover something special about herself—and the most special of a hundred horses.

Girls and horses are a classic pairing, and fans of favorites such as My Friend Flicka and Misty of Chincoteague are sure to love the heartwarming friendship story and adorable—and magical—animals in A Hundred Horses.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062122377
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	01/07/2014
Sold by:	HARPERCOLLINS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	240
Sales rank:	797,589
Lexile:	670L (what's this?)
File size:	940 KB
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Sarah Lean lives in England with her husband, son, and dog. She is the author of A Dog Called Homeless and A Hundred Horses. She has worked as a page planner for a newspaper, a stencil maker, a gardener, and a primary school teacher, among various other things.

Editorial Reviews

01/01/2014
Gr 3–7—Eleven-year-old Nell Green is unhappy about having to spend her school vacation on a farm with her aunt and two younger cousins whom she hardly knows. Once there, however, she easily adjusts to her aunt's gentle nature and the devotion of her cousins. She meets their kindhearted neighbor Rita, who is grieving the recent loss of her husband. His death has prompted Rita to sell her farm animals, including her herd of 99 horses. Nell also meets the wild child Angel, who thunders into her life on a horse and takes her precious leather bag that contains an old tin carousel. As Nell attempts to retrieve her bag, she gets drawn into an adventure; there are missing animals, a midnight horse ride, and a legend about the magic of the hundredth horse. Depending on who is telling the story, the hundredth horse to enter a herd can either ruin the whole lot or signify the arrival of something special. Nell and Angel develop a mysterious friend/foe relationship as Nell begins to wonder who or what Angel really is. The author intertwines the characters and story line with finesse, keeping readers guessing about Angel's identity and the appearance of the hundredth horse until the end of the evenly paced plot. A touch of magic delivers a satisfying and positive conclusion.—D. Maria LaRocco, Cuyahoga Public Library, Strongsville, OH

School Library Journal

Lean's imagination runs wild, but her descriptions of a girl who rediscovers hope and wholeness remain firmly rooted in truth.

The New York Times Book Review - Jillian Dunham

Friendship, self-discovery, a dreamlike middle-of-the-night horseback ride, and a satisfying ending make for certain reader appeal. — Booklist (starred review)

Lean’s imagination runs wild, but her descriptions of a girl who rediscovers hope and wholeness remain firmly rooted in truth. — New York Times Book Review

The author intertwines the characters and story line with finesse, keeping readers guessing about Angel’s identity and the appearance of the hundredth horse until the end of the evenly paced plot. A touch of magic delivers a satisfying and positive conclusion. — School Library Journal

Lean effortlessly stitches a moving tale right to the very edge of fantasy without ever tearing the satisfying believability of her story. — Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

Friendship, self-discovery, a dreamlike middle-of-the-night horseback ride, and a satisfying ending make for certain reader appeal.

Booklist (starred review)

Lean’s imagination runs wild, but her descriptions of a girl who rediscovers hope and wholeness remain firmly rooted in truth.

New York Times Book Review

Narrator Mandy Williams’s soft, full voice and British accent are perfect for a story of self-discovery. Eleven-year-old Nell unexpectedly has to spend her summer vacation on her aunt’s farm. There she meets the taciturn and secretive Angel. They both have secrets, which Williams conveys in delicious whispers. Williams’s graceful pacing varies, slowing at the leisure of a grazing horse and speeding up with the playful frolicking of a colt. Through their efforts to save Angel’s beloved horses from auction, friendship emerges. Williams makes every character come to life—from Nell’s perfectly coifed mother to a neighbor who sounds as practical and warm as a worn farm coat. A.M.P. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine

AUGUST 2014 - AudioFile

Narrator Mandy Williams’s soft, full voice and British accent are perfect for a story of self-discovery. Eleven-year-old Nell unexpectedly has to spend her summer vacation on her aunt’s farm. There she meets the taciturn and secretive Angel. They both have secrets, which Williams conveys in delicious whispers. Williams’s graceful pacing varies, slowing at the leisure of a grazing horse and speeding up with the playful frolicking of a colt. Through their efforts to save Angel’s beloved horses from auction, friendship emerges. Williams makes every character come to life—from Nell’s perfectly coifed mother to a neighbor who sounds as practical and warm as a worn farm coat. A.M.P. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine

AUGUST 2014 - AudioFile

2013-10-20
Eleven-year-old Nell is frustrated and unhappy. A loner, she's miserable in the busy life her mother has crafted for her. Now her mom is leaving her for a long holiday with her aunt Liv, who works a small farm. She secretly takes with her a case full of the parts of an almost-magical toy merry-go-round her long-gone father created, the only bit of him not expunged from their house. Right after her arrival, a strange girl--Angel--on a large horse steals the case. Nell decides the only way to get it back is to find her. But Angel has a reputation for lying and stealing, so when a nanny goat and a few other things--including a horse--go missing, she's blamed. Rita, Liv's recently widowed and grieving neighbor, holds keys to the mystery of Angel's background, information that is disclosed at a deliberate pace that heightens the sense of mystery and enhances the gradual reveal. Only Angel and Nell together have the power to put the many problems right, if they can find a way to cooperate. Although Nell's voice sometimes feels a bit too adult for her age, it's a minor flaw. As in A Dog Called Homeless (2012), Lean effortlessly stitches a moving tale right to the very edge of fantasy without ever tearing the satisfying believability of her story. (Fiction. 10-14)

Kirkus Reviews