The Secret Horses of Briar Hill

by Megan Shepherd

Levi Pinfold (Illustrator)

An exceptional and moving novel about the power of the imagination, illustrated by the winner of the Kate Greenaway medal.

An exceptional and moving novel about the power of stories and the imagination from the publisher of A Monster Calls. December 1941. Britain is at war. Emmaline has been evacuated away from the bombs to Briar Hill Hospital in Shropshire. When she gets there she discovers a secret. It’s not to be shared, not to be told to anyone, even her friend Anna. But she’ll tell you. This is Emmaline’s secret. There are winged horses that live in the mirrors of Briar Hill. Exquisitely illustrated by Levi Pinfold, winner of the Kate Greenaway Medal, The Secret Horses of Briar Hill has all the makings of a modern classic.

• ISBN10: 1406367583
• ISBN13: 9781406367584
• Publish Date: 1 October 2016
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 15 January 2024
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: Walker Books Ltd
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 240
• Language: English

Reviews

[tweetybugshouse]

I got my copy of this arc from Mis Print Arc Adoption. This is a short but sweet middle grade novel that has so much heart. The author takes a time in our history that is dark and sad and much like chronicles of narnia and the secret garden weaves a magical story that makes you not only want to know what fact and what not but allows you see that their a bit of sunshine even in the darkest of times. I thought the whole concept of the horses was a part of a illusion brought on by the sickness but it was kept our young emmaline strong and kept her fighting this terrible sickness and gave her something when she had lost so much. I also liked that the author did not have them ack like adults she kept the story light enough that you never jumped to oh that to deep for kids. I think it was spark and interest in history for any kid who picks it up. Really like the pictures as well.