Age Group:
Children

Genre:
Historical Fiction, Adventure, Canadian Literature

Summary:
Ellie is a young girl living with her father on the coast of beautiful Nova Scotia. She is coping well with the recent loss of her mother. But her father is having a hard time finding a new job to support them. When he is unexpectedly hired to work on Sable Island, Ellie and her father must relocate and say farewell to their beloved home. Ellie is at first scared and angry, but she soon discovers that isolated islands can be a treasure trove of magical new friends.

My Thoughts:
A sweet, simple, heartwarming tale of a young girl’s journey to a new life. Hughes subtly but masterfully touches upon Ellie’s grief and her youthful determination. This is a wonderfully innocent story for young children to read alone or with a parent. New chapters begin with whimsical illustrations depicting the homely country landscape. The novel’s ambience shares similarities to stories such as Anne of Green Gables or Road to Avonlea. For anyone looking for a down-to-earth read, I highly recommend The Island Horse.

Borrow The Island Horse from your local Vaughan library today!