School Library Journal - Audio
Gr 7–10—In rural England in 1757, Thomas Rose is on the verge of becoming a man. Clever, but unable to learn reading and writing like other boys, he is expected to take up either his father's or grandfather's trade. Tom meets the enigmatic Hélène, a circus performer who goes by the name of Ling in an attempt to distract from her origins since France and England are at war. Enchanted with Ling's stories of her life in the circus as much as with the girl herself, Tom commits to helping her find her beloved horse, Belladonna, who was sold by the leader of the troupe. Their search leads them to George Stubbs, known in the village as a horse butcher. Frightened at what this could mean for Belladonna's fate, the teens discover that Stubbs is a painter who is completing an anatomical study of horses that involves dissection of the animals. Stubbs takes Tom on as an apprentice and secures Ling a position in the household of the wealthy family that purchased Belladonna, not knowing that the girl's ultimate goal is to escape with her horse. Ralph Lister narrates Mary Finn's coming-of-age tale (Candlewick, 2011) with a quietly nuanced performance. He shifts seamlessly between Tom's rural English and Ling's French accent, while also giving minor characters unique voices. Lister's performance reinforces the distinct sense of time and place created by the author in this richly detailed story.—Amanda Raklovits, Champaign Public Library, IL
School Library Journal
Gr 7–10—When Thomas Rose returns from school in disgrace because he can't learn reading and writing, he faces an uncertain future. In 1757, a man needs a trade like his wheelwright father or glover grandfather, and the 15-year-old shares neither interest. His life takes a surprising turn when he meets a young woman who has come to rural Lincolnshire in search of her horse, Belladonna. Hélène, who is French, has adopted the name Ling since the two countries are at war. Intrigued by her stories of dancing atop the snow white horse as part of a circus troupe, Thomas decides to help. They locate Belladonna, sold to a rich family by George Stubbs, who was hired to paint the son's portrait. Stubbs's fascination with the animals has earned him the name "horse butcher." To understand equine anatomy, he sketches them as he strips layers away from a carcass, and he makes Thomas his assistant. Thomas, who narrates the story, slowly learns about how Ling lost her mother and brother and helps her succeed in stealing Belladonna. Many subplots and minor characters weigh down the tale. While Stubbs's production of drawings for his classic Anatomy of the Horse is recounted in graphic detail, the book assumes readers' knowledge of subjects such as press gangs, apprenticeships, and prejudice against Gypsies. Historical romance fans will know that Ling and Thomas will reunite eventually. Those who concentrate on that central plotline will enjoy the journey, but others may get bogged down on the way.—Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, Mankato
AUGUST 2011 - AudioFile
Much of this historical novel is told through dialogue, making it a natural for audio. Thomas, a British teen, helps Ling, a French girl, search for Belladonna, the horse she used to ride in the circus. Along the way, they encounter painter George Stubbs, whose anatomical studies of horses both draw in and repel the young people. Ralph Lister’s low, raspy voice moves easily from the French girl to the adolescent British boy and to English folks of all classes. His portrayals of field hands and kitchen girls show a tendency toward over-the-top accents, but this livens up the otherwise slow narrative. Note: This is not an audiobook for the faint of heart; Stubbs butchered horses to draw their anatomy, and his methods are described in detail. G.D. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
A story as carefully and beautifully rendered as the anatomical studies that inspired it.
When Thomas Rose, "unteachable as a rabbit plucked by its ears from the market," is kicked out of grammar school in rural England, 1757, he faces an uncertain future. Though he works hard, he doesn't love the family wheelwright trade, and becoming a glover like his grandfatherwould beworse. Yet he must do something. A chance encounter with a young acrobat—Hélène, who goes by the stage name Ling—leads him to join a search for her missing circus horse, Belladonna, which in turns leads him to an unsettlingapprenticeship under a man namedGeorge Stubbs. Stubbs' fame as the greatest painter of horses in history is far in the future; for now, he's dissecting rotting horse cadavers in order to fully understand their anatomy.Thomas needs a strong stomach as well as strong arms. Meanwhile, Ling fights not only for her mare but for her very survival; her history, gradually revealed, shows how completely alone she is. The plot flows slowly but gracefully, culminating in a realistic ending that offers hope without pat solutions. Thomas' voice is thoroughly grounded in time and place, with a sense of history that informs but never overwhelms.
Best of all are the characters, particularly Ling, shown in all their flaws and glories, very much like a painting by Stubbs. (Historical fiction. 11 & up)
