Bell's Star (Horse Diaries Series #2) »

Alison Hart has been horse crazy ever since she can remember. A teacher and author, she has written over 20 books for children, most of them about horses. Her novel Shadow Horse was nominated for an Edgar Award. Today, Alison still rides because—you guessed it—she’s still horse crazy! She lives in Mt. Sidney, Virginia.

Ruth Sanderson has illustrated books for children of all ages, including Summer Pony and Winter Pony. She lives with her family in Ware, Massachusetts, and her favorite hobby is horseback riding.

Vermont, 1850s

Bell’s Star is a brown Morgan colt with a white star and two white stockings. He was bred for hard work, yet he longs to run free with his human friend, Katie, on his back. But when Star helps rescue a runaway slave girl, his ideas about freedom may change forever. Here is Star’s story . . . in his own words.

With exciting and knowledgeable text and lovely black-and-white art throughout—both by real horse owners—Horse Diaries are the perfect fit for all lovers of horses and history!

Children's Literature

In this second book in the "Horse Diaries" series, the plot is narrated by Bell's Star. As was the case in Black Beauty, novels that are experienced through the voice of a horse lead to different insights than can be found through human narration, as the narrator provides a first-person narration for all human events throughout the work. Set in Vermont in the mid 1800s, the book follows Bell's Star from birth as well as the owner's human daughter, Katie, as the horse and girl work and play on a sugar maple farm. Katie and Bell's Star have adventures that include helping a young female runaway slave named Eliza escape to Canada, where her mother is anxiously awaiting Eliza's arrival to safety. This novel's unique perspective on slavery and bravery make it an excellent addition to any historical fiction collection. The end of the book, as in the American Girl books, has factual sections regarding Morgan horses and more about Vermont during the time of the novel. Reviewer: Sara Rofofsky Marcus