More great reads: the best books for 9 year olds
The story of a young girl in a sanatorium and the magical winged horses that only she can see, this is beautifully written, beautifully illustrated, a book that will move all who read it and leave a lasting impression on many. Emmaline is sick with what she calls the ‘stillwaters’, and traumatised too by a terrible event in her past, though this is wartime and her story is not unusual.
The adults around her are kind, but her real solace comes from the winged horses she sees in mirrors. When she finds one wounded she determines to save it and, instructed by the mysterious Horse Lord, brings colour into the grey sanatorium. Emmaline is a heroine in the tradition of Mary Lennox, or David Almond’s Mina, an extraordinary, vital character with a vision that transcends her surroundings. ~ Andrea Reece
"Deserves a spot on the shelf next to the most beloved children's classics-yes, even The Secret Garden." -Shelf Awareness, Starred ReviewDescribed as "reminiscent of the Chronicles of Narnia" in a starred review, The Secret Horses of Briar Hill shows readers everywhere that there is color in our world-they just need to know where to look.There are winged horses that live in the mirrors of Briar Hill hospital-the mirrors that reflect the elegant rooms once home to a princess, now filled with sick children. Only Emmaline can see the creatures. It is her secret.
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Only Emmaline can see the creatures. Astonishing!"-Michael Morpurgo, author of War Horse
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed The Secret Horses of Briar Hill and determined it is suitable for children aged 9-12 years old
The Secret Horses of Briar Hill features in the following genres: Books Reviewed by our Reader Review Panels, Recommendations, Featured Books for 9+ readers, Recommended Children's eBooks, Featured Books for 11+ readers
Paperback, Hardback. Not Available.
The Secret Horses of Briar Hill was written by Megan Shepherd and published by Yearling an imprint of Random House Children's Books
The Secret Horses of Briar Hill has 240 pages