Sixteen-year old Thomas Rose narrates the events of the fall of 1757 beginning with the day his world changed when he first met Ling. He had become frustrated with his inability to learn to read and had tossed his schoolbooks in the river as he returned ashamedly to his home in the village of Horkstow. After a few weeks of facing the disappointment on the faces of his parents, he began to despair of finding his place in the world. No one appreciated his drawings; he could not read, and he did not want to follow his father's trade. Then he met the French girl, Ling, hiding in the brush. She tells the romantic story of her life as an acrobat dancing on her white mare Belladonna. After her mare was sold, Ling ran away to find her. Thomas decides he will help. They learn Belladonna was bought at auction by the horse butcher Stubbs and confront him. Mr. Stubbs, a real historical figure who was an artist and horse anatomist, becomes a friend as he assists Ling in rejoining Belladonna. Thomas uses his drawing skills as Stubbs' assistant and overcomes his difficulties with words. Some graphic descriptions of horse dissection may be disturbing to some young readers. However, most will enjoy this intriguing story. Reviewer: Shirley Nelson
A lyrical coming-of-age story about a boy, a girl, and a horse - and how a chance encounter can lead to a life of intrigue and learning, a life beyond imagining.
When Thomas Rose first spots the girl hidden by the roadside, she looks as drab as a lark, with only her red kerchief giving her away. But French Hélène, who goes by "Ling," is no ordinary bird. Tiny Ling enchants Thomas with her wild spirit and tales of a circus where she danced atop her beloved horse, Belladonna. But the horse has been sold, and Ling must fetch her back. Now Thomas's life as a clever but unschooled wheelwright's son is about to change. Their search leads to painter George Stubbs, who euthanizes ailing animals in order to study their anatomy. Stubbs draws eerie horses that stride as if they could move out of the paper world into the real one-but he assures his young friends that their horse is safe at a nearby estate. As Ling and Thomas devise a risky plan to recover Belladonna, Stubbs hires Thomas as an apprentice, teaching him to read and write as well. In this fascinating story, Mary Finn incorporates a real eighteenth-century artist into a beautifully imagined tale of adventure and young romance.
A lyrical coming-of-age story about a boy, a girl, and a horse - and how a chance encounter can lead to a life of intrigue and learning, a life beyond imagining.
When Thomas Rose first spots the girl hidden by the roadside, she looks as drab as a lark, with only her red kerchief giving her away. But French Hélène, who goes by "Ling," is no ordinary bird. Tiny Ling enchants Thomas with her wild spirit and tales of a circus where she danced atop her beloved horse, Belladonna. But the horse has been sold, and Ling must fetch her back. Now Thomas's life as a clever but unschooled wheelwright's son is about to change. Their search leads to painter George Stubbs, who euthanizes ailing animals in order to study their anatomy. Stubbs draws eerie horses that stride as if they could move out of the paper world into the real one-but he assures his young friends that their horse is safe at a nearby estate. As Ling and Thomas devise a risky plan to recover Belladonna, Stubbs hires Thomas as an apprentice, teaching him to read and write as well. In this fascinating story, Mary Finn incorporates a real eighteenth-century artist into a beautifully imagined tale of adventure and young romance.
Belladonna
Belladonna
Related collections and offers
Editorial Reviews
Product Details
| BN ID: | 2940171327248 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Brilliance Audio |
| Publication date: | 11/15/2019 |
| Edition description: | Unabridged |
| Age Range: | 10 - 13 Years |