A Horse Called Hero

Continuing to work in a vein of historical fiction reminiscent of War Horse, Angus follows Soldier Dog with a story about a British boy and a horse trying to find happiness against all odds. Eight-year-old Wolfie Revel’s widowed father was honored with a medal after WWI, but he is being accused of desertion. For safety, Wolfie and his older sister, Dodo, are sent from London to the countryside, along with other children from the city. The siblings manage to stay together, and Wolfie befriends Hero, a grey foal whose friendship keeps Wolfie’s spirits afloat as the years pass despite unfamiliar surroundings, fears about his father’s trial, and horrific war news. Letters from Wolfie’s father provide the boy with measures of both concern and comfort, offering advice concerning horses and life (“Be impatient with the world, Wolfie, but never be impatient with a horse”). Incorporating details about pacifism, horse training, and the dangers facing coal miners (Wolfie ends up working as one), Angus’s expansive novel expresses the confusion and far-reaching effects of war and the meaning of heroism. Ages 9–12. (July)