Alison Hart Book Review and Book Giveaway

A while back.... I hate to admit how long that 'while' was.... I entered a giveaway at  Everyday Rurality . The prize was two of Alison Hart books. I didn't win.  (Read on, or skip to the end, for information about another Alison Hart giveaway)


But... I got a note to contact Alison Hart. Even though my name wasn't pulled out of the hat as the lucky winner, Alison liked my plans for the books, if I should win, and she wanted to send me two books. 
I was thrilled. I love reading (but rarely get enough time to do so) and as a former Middle School Reading teacher, I truly enjoy reading books for early adolescent readers. 


One of the books I selected was Bell's Star. 

Freedom is the theme of this delightful historical fiction book for young readers.  Bell's Star, a Morgan colt, longs to find the place called  "wherever  I want".  Katie, a young girl, wants to be free to ride Star through the fields and down to the river, instead of hauling buckets of Maple sap.  (I loved this part, since my horses once were used to collect Maple sap!) On one such 'escape' Katie helps a runaway slave girl, Eliza, who is making her way to Canada to join her family. Star narrates the exciting story of Eliza's escape and, by the end of the book, has a  different view of "wherever I want" to be. 

Alison Hart includes an appendix in her book with a brief history of the Morgan horse and historical information about life in Vermont in the 1850's. Bell's Star is a great first chapter book yet, because of the action and intrigue,  would appeal to older readers as well. 


The next book in this series, Risky Chance, will be coming out in September. I can't wait!

OK, dear readers, judging a book by the cover, what might this book be about?

We'll just have to wait and see!

So, now about the giveaway.... 


If you'd like a chance to win a book by Alison, visit Linda Benson's Equestrian Ink before Friday and leave a comment. It's as easy as that!