The Secret Horses of Briar Hill by Megan Shepherd

The Secret Horses of Briar Hill

Megan Shepherd

Random House Children's Books · Print & ebook · March 6, 2018

A Fantasy pick for readers exploring The Secret Horses of Briar Hill.

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Who it’s for
A quietly gripping blend of mirror-world magic, winged horses, and hope in a gray world.
Themes
Magic and hope, Friendship, War and mortality
Pacing
Steady

About this book

"Deserves a spot on the shelf next to the most beloved children's classics—yes, even The Secret Garden." —Shelf Awareness, Starred Review Described 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.

Continue reading

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. One morning, Emmaline climbs over the wall of the hospital’s abandoned gardens and discovers something incredible: a white horse with a broken wing has left the mirror-world and entered her own. The horse, named Foxfire, is hiding from a dark and sinister force—a Black Horse who hunts by colorless moonlight. If Emmaline is to keep him from finding her new friend, she must surround Foxfire with treasures of brilliant shades. But where can Emmaline find color in a world of gray? A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2016 "Endearing characters, metaphors for life and death, and a slow revelation of the horrors of war give this slim novel a surprising amount of heft."—Booklist, Starred Review "In clear, gripping, flawless prose . . . this exquisite, beautifully illustrated middle-grade novel explodes with raw anguish, magic and hope, and readers will clutch it to their chests and not want to let go."—Shelf Awareness, Starred Review "Reminiscent of the Chronicles of Narnia, Elizabeth Goudge, or a child's version of Life of Pi. . . . Readers will love this to pieces." —Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review "Magical, terrifying, and full of heart. Open these pages, and ride true."—Newbery Honor-winning author Kathi Appelt "A remarkable book. Astonishing!"—Michael Morpurgo, author of War Horse

Color and Wonder

A quietly gripping blend of mirror-world magic, winged horses, and hope in a gray world.

Come here for

  • A secret world glimpsed in hospital mirrors
  • A vivid horse story with magic and heart

Expect

  • Clear, gripping prose with a slow-building sense of danger
  • A layered tale of anguish, color, and hope

Where it sits

Horse Stories74%
Loss & Grief67%
Magic & Fantasy61%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • Horse Stories
  • Holocaust Stories
  • Loss & Grief
Authors
Megan Shepherd
Publisher
Random House Children's Books
Published
March 6, 2018
Format
Print & ebook
Theme
Magic and hope · Friendship · War and mortality
Reading lane
Horse Stories