Honey and the Valley of Horses (Wendy Orr, A&U Children’s)

Wendy Orr, the bestselling author of Nim’s Island, has written a new magical story that reads like a classic in all the best ways. In Honey and the Valley of Horses, Honey and her multi-generational family go travelling in an ice-cream van after a terrible sickness has spread across the world. They drive until they see some beautiful wild horses and follow them across a wooden bridge into a glen with a giant mango tree. They remain in this paradise for seven years, happy and self-sufficient but unable to leave. Messages from their friends and family never reach them, as the outside world worries about their fate. The horses that drew them in are wild, free, highly intelligent and intuitive. They often visit the family, their hooves drumming with a magical rhythm, and occasionally let Honey and her family ride them. Life is idyllic until Honey’s dad gets sick and needs urgent medical help. One of the horses, Moonbeam, helps Honey leave the glade in a nail-biting ride back into the outside world. This middle grade narrative by a master storyteller is an utter delight. It’s an exciting adventure story depicting a loving family, stunning descriptions of horses, and a thrilling race against time as it draws to its satisfying conclusion. It comes highly recommended for readers aged 8–11 who love adventure stories.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Angela Crocombe is a senior buyer and bookseller at Readings Kids. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

Category: Reviews