Most Wanted

by Kate Thompson

Overview

While making his daily deliveries, a baker’s son suddenly finds himself holding a stallion’s golden lead. Soon the boy discovers that this isn’t just any horse, it’s the most powerful creature in all of Rome.

What will the mad emperor do if he finds the boy with his prized horse?Cut off his head? Or worse?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062025142
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	02/08/2011
Sold by:	HARPERCOLLINS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	144
Lexile:	940L (what's this?)
File size:	862 KB
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Kate Thompson lives on the west coast of Ireland, which provides inspiration for the Irish magic, music, and landscape in the award-winning The New Policeman and The Last of the High Kings.

Editorial Reviews

A good choice for readers wanting a short, fast-paced historical adventure.” — ALA Booklist

“Significantly more sophisticated in both writing and plot than the common chapter-book ruck.” — Kirkus Reviews

“A cleverly told tale of an odd and interesting piece of history that will intrigue young readers.” — School Library Journal

From the Publisher

A good choice for readers wanting a short, fast-paced historical adventure.

ALA Booklist

Gr 4–6—This companion to the author's Highway Robbery (Greenwillow, 2009) begins in the same way: a lad is handed the reins of a horse and told to take care of the animal until its owner returns. Set in ancient Rome, this is the story of the mad emperor Caligula's infamous horse, Incitatus, who was one of two consuls, appointed by the tyrannical and crazy emperor. The animal has his own house and retinue of servants, and is fed gold flakes in his oats. Marcus, a baker's son, is handed the horse by a slave boy who seconds later is killed by soldiers. Fearing what the mad emperor, known as Little Boots, will do to him if he finds that he has Incitatus, Marcus instinctively heads home, a decision that could mean a death sentence for his whole family if the soldiers discover the horse. Should he sacrifice himself to save his family? This brief chapter book is nicely suited for reading aloud or for those independent readers who enjoy their adventure and history touched with humor. Marcus's voice is engaging and credible. There are enough references to murder, from the soldiers' killing of the slave boy to descriptions of some of Little Boots's nefarious deeds, to make this story more appropriate for slightly older children than it would seem at first glance. A cleverly told tale of an odd and interesting piece of history that will intrigue young readers.—Connie Tyrrell Burns, Mahoney Middle School, South Portland, ME

School Library Journal

Thompson uses the time of the Roman Empire as the setting for another horse story for younger readers (Highway Robbery, 2009). Young Marcus recounts the adventure that begins when a hurried slave abruptly turns over care of Emperor Caligula's horse, "Consul" Incitatus, to him. Although there's an undeniable thrill to having the responsibility for such a fine steed, Marcus, a baker's boy, is all too aware of the consequences that could befall his entire family if he should manage this wrong. But he's clever, resourceful and observant, and by paying attention to all the clues of daily life, he manages beautifully.The short page count, fast-paced plot and spot illustrations (not seen) should make this a great title for readers not yet ready for longer fiction. Although Marcus is not quite as unreliable as the earlier book's narrator, this tale is significantly more sophisticated in both writing and plot than the common chapter-book ruck. Horse lovers will appreciate Incitatus's horse sense, and fans of such other wily protagonists as Moxy Maxwell and Ivy + Bean will cheer Marcus's solution. (Historical fiction. 8-10)

Kirkus Reviews