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After her death, Ellie is trying to regain some happiness in her life through her friends and thinking about wild horses, but when her father announces that he has gotten a job in a rescue squad and is moving them to a remote island, she feels that all of her chances at happiness have been dashed.

Cumberland Island horse

Sable Island, off Nova Scotia, was a desolate and treacherous place in the early s, so Ellie is not th Since her mother became ill, Ellie's father has been out of work in order to take care of her. Sable Island, off Nova Scotia, was a desolate and treacherous place in the early s, so Ellie is not thrilled that she and her father will be alone at a station fairly far from the small main station. While her father is off at work, Ellie must do her chores and stay close to home, but she does occasionally get visits from Sarah, who lives at the main station, and she sees the wild horses of the island up close.

When the annual round up of these horses is about to take place, she takes her father's advice to try to lead her favorite horse, Orchid, away from the men collecting them. Will her efforts be enough to save the horses, and will the island ever feel like home? Students who like Misty of Chincoteague might enjoy a different story about wild horses, and students looking for historical fiction set in Canada will find this an interesting portrait of a specific place.

The excitement of the horses is a bit overshadowed by Ellie's extreme sadness about her mother's death and moving to the island. Aug 31, Margaret rated it really liked it Shelves: Overall a sweet and heartfelt work of historical fiction. There were some elements that distracted from the wonderfulness of this book. The years in which the story takes place are unclear from contextual clues and the writing style and some word choices seem to attempt clarification, though unsuccessfully.

I would've appreciated a brief introduction to the book cutting and pasting some of the same wording from the author's endnote. Chapter headers with approximate timeline e. August w Overall a sweet and heartfelt work of historical fiction.


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August would've offered clarity and served as an anchor for younger readers. Despite those issues, the plot moves along nicely and there are suspenseful moments that kept me engaged and eager to find out what would happen next.


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The topics of a child dealing with her mother's death and moving to a new home weren't fully discussed, but added a depth to the story and characters. After losing her mother,ten-year old Ellie is moved from Nova Scotia during the early 19th century to Stable Island across the Atlantic with her father. She comes across a wild horse,she names Orchid,and finds a connection. Written with vivid descriptions,and details. A must read for children and adults alike. Received for an honest review from the author.

Awards & Reviews

Mar 29, Laurie rated it liked it. What a lovely historical fiction for all horse-loving girls age six precocious readers! Or, if you're an adult who grew up a fan of the Misty of Chincoteague books or The Black Stallion series, you'll spend a nostalgic morning immersed in the sure-footed prose of Ms. Hughes and her winning young heroine Ellie. You'll visit Sable Island off the coast of Nova Scotia , shipwreck capital of the Atlantic, in the early 's.

Fascinating history pairs with a sweetly and What a lovely historical fiction for all horse-loving girls age six precocious readers! Fascinating history pairs with a sweetly and age appropriately transparent coming-of-age story that was surprisingly diverting for me. And if you know a young girl who loves horses and would be comfortable - if not highly empathetic - with a story that starts with Ellie's mother's death and takes our heroine on a journey of healing as she gradually opens to the possibilities of her new home, then be sure to give this novel by award-winner Susan Hughes a try.

Jun 02, Rachel rated it really liked it Shelves: Ellie envisioned living in this house forever, so she is devastated when her father tells her they are moving to Sable Island, a small, windy place hundreds of miles off the coast of Nova Scotia. There is no school and few children to play with, so in her free time Ellie wonders the island and befriends a stallion that she names Orchid. Sep 05, Becky Keir Grace rated it really liked it Shelves: I quick, easy read, and I enjoyed it.

Sable Island Horses

This book takes place in the early s on Sable Island and follows the story of a young girl, Ellie. Ellie recently lost her mother, which leads her and her father to a new life on Sable Island. Ellie is reluctant to Nova Scotia and has trouble adjusting to life on the island until she discovers a pack a wild horses. One in particular she develops a bond with.

Editorial Reviews

I liked the characters in this book and found the simple plot refreshing. I looked up Sable Island I quick, easy read, and I enjoyed it. I looked up Sable Island and found beautiful pictures of the wild horses that run freely on the island today. After reading the authors note I learned no one lives on the island today and it is hard to gain access to it. There are talks of turning it into national wildlife preserve.


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  • Jul 18, Sandra Stiles rated it really liked it Shelves: This is definitely a book for anyone who loves horses, or historical fiction. There are so many themes here; moving on when things get tough, moving past loss and grief, facing hardships, and most importantly, friendship. Ellie was a very believable character. You could see and understand her feelings. I enjoyed learning about Sable Island. I had never heard of it and so learni This is definitely a book for anyone who loves horses, or historical fiction.

    I had never heard of it and so learning some history is always a good thing for me. I look forward to passing this on to students who will really enjoy this book. Aug 18, Reagan rated it it was amazing. Ellie's mother has died and she's sad. Then when she moves to Sable Island, Ellie finds a beautiful horse, and starts to love him. But when she finds out that the horse is in danger, Ellie realizes that she must help him.

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    I love this book so much! It is pretty sweet. You have got to read it! Apr 11, Edward Sullivan rated it liked it Shelves: Good historical fiction and an appealing story that horse lovers will especially appreciate. Jun 20, Barbra rated it liked it. Cute, short read for horse lovers. Feb 22, Jen rated it liked it Shelves: Sep 14, Julie rated it really liked it. Ruby 5 picked this out at the library today-the 1st 3 chapters had me bawling as I tried to read. Jul 30, Harla rated it really liked it. Great read for our JUV horse lovers but also interesting story about this little girl and her father.

    Julie Fetcho rated it it was ok Jan 26, Opal And rated it it was amazing Nov 09, Sofia Rosato rated it liked it May 28, Debbie Graham rated it really liked it Mar 28, Ellie Loredan rated it liked it Jul 02, There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Videos About This Book. Susan Hughes is an award-winning writer of over 30 children's books. She is also a freelance editor and story coach. The researchers conceded, however, that their analysis did not take "local historical and cultural elements" into consideration, only environmental and genetic.

    After compiling information, they released a draft environmental assessment in early and began taking public comment on a potential management plan. He initially claimed that he personally did not see significant damage to the island from the horses, and that the herd size had decreased. However, upon later questioning, he refused to expand upon his observations of the damage to the island. The researchers recommended that contraceptive use be focused on the female members of the herd, due to the high numbers of bachelor stallions. In , a study was conducted by the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources at the University of Georgia to determine public opinion on the management of the feral livestock horses and pigs on the island.

    The majority of visitors tended to prefer non-lethal methods of managing the population, as opposed to non-management or complete eradication. At that time, park management felt that although the horses were popular with tourists, they were also destructive to beach ecosystems, including an increase in erosion where horses had eaten grasses that previously held sand in place. However, the report also noted the management challenges resulting from the "public and political appeal for the animals", but stated that a management plan is necessary.

    From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Cumberland Island horse Cumberland Island horses on the beach. Gateway to the Golden Isles. Trade Winds Advertising Inc. Retrieved 29 March Retrieved 3 April Journal of Wildlife Management. Retrieved 1 May National Parks Conservation Association. Journal of Range Management. Gus; Bratton, Susan P. Cumberland Island National Seashore: University of Virginia Press. List of donkey breeds Donkey Zebra Onager.

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    Sable Island Horses | The Canadian Encyclopedia

    The wild horses , named for the island they inhabit, are now the only terrestrial mammals on Sable Island aside from the few inhabitants. They exhibit great variability in size, conformation and colour and most closely resemble the Spanish barb, a small, tough horse that originated in North Africa, and the Acadian horse, the common working horse of the Atlantic provinces from the 17th to the 19th centuries. The stallions weigh kg and stand about 14 hands cm at the withers shoulders.

    Mares are a little smaller, averaging about 40 kg less.

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    The population comprises 40 to 50 family bands. Band structure is variable, but most often consists of one dominant stallion, one or more mares and their offspring, and occasionally one or 2 subordinate mature males. Average band size is usually , though bands of 10 and 12 individuals are not uncommon.

    Males that are not in family bands form loosely organized "bachelor" groups, or, particularly if they are older, live as solitary stallions. Most foals are born between late April and August.