Not on a White Horse - Softcover

Springer, Nancy

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0394829654 ISBN 13: 9780394829654

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers, 1989

Synopsis

From the day twelve-year-old Rhiannon spots a lost white Arabian gelding in the woods near her small Pennsylvania mining town, her life finds a focus as she learns to deal with family problems and decides the direction her life will take

About this title

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8 Twelve-year-old Rhiannon confronts the age-old struggle between destiny and choice in this coming-of- age story. An elusive horse is the cata lyst for her busy summer of self-discov ery, causing a chain of events that makes her realize that she holds the power to alter her future. Her new friends, human and equine, help her to cope with family turmoil and the de pressing atmosphere of a Pennsylvania mining community. Springer has creat ed a strong central character, and read ers will enjoy the details of horsekeep ing and horsemanship, especially the nursing of a neglected horse. Unfortu nately, the heavy-handed theme com promises the book's appeal as a girl/ horse story. The horses serve as more than pleasant characters; they also act as symbols representing life's choices. Rhiannon's hard-drinking, laid-off fa ther acts as the theme's human spokes man. His dialogue seems inconsistent with his action, reducing his believabil ity. If readers can skim over his dia tribes and tolerate the frequent emo tional upheavals, they will enjoy Rhiannon's introduction to the world of horses. Charlene Strickland, Albu querque Public Library , N.M
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 1989
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0394829654
• ISBN 13: 9780394829654
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 182