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mintyfreshsocks's review
4.0
A classic horse story from my childhood. I've always loved Marguerite Henry's books, and this is one of my favorites. Although -- like many kid's books -- it's a little fanciful, the story is both moving and exciting, and hey, it's about horses.
bglvy325's review
5.0
children's book, which I re-read about 20 times, it was very influential in my life.
rsw_bazillionbooks's review
4.0
I loved Marguerite Henry's books as a child but being the incomplete-ist and slow reader that I've always been, I read just a few of her titles and moved on to other things.
I enjoyed reading this one now for the first time. It was penned in1948 and as a "grown-up" now, I wonder how I would have perceived it had I read it when I was the target age for it in the 60s. I was struck by the fact that the main human character was a mute boy. An interesting choice for an author. Not that it was a book without dialog but that none of the dialog involved this main character. What I found sort of funny about my Reader response to the story was that I kept thinking it was kind of like the corny death in the movies where the hero takes forever to die. There were so many ups and downs! But YES it was a good book. And it won the Newbery Medal in 1949.
I took a look at the list of Newbery winners since the award started in 1922. It's amazing how often the books from the early years are titles I've never heard of but usually, even if I'd not heard of the winner, one of the finalists would have become a well-loved children's book in the intervening years. So, sometimes, it seems the grown-ups maybe chose one book while readers chose their "People's Favorite". Two of Marguerite Henry's other titles made it to the Newbery Finalists list: Misty of Chincoteague and Justin Morgan had a Horse. One of which I KNOW I read!
I enjoyed reading this one now for the first time. It was penned in1948 and as a "grown-up" now, I wonder how I would have perceived it had I read it when I was the target age for it in the 60s. I was struck by the fact that the main human character was a mute boy. An interesting choice for an author. Not that it was a book without dialog but that none of the dialog involved this main character. What I found sort of funny about my Reader response to the story was that I kept thinking it was kind of like the corny death in the movies where the hero takes forever to die. There were so many ups and downs! But YES it was a good book. And it won the Newbery Medal in 1949.
I took a look at the list of Newbery winners since the award started in 1922. It's amazing how often the books from the early years are titles I've never heard of but usually, even if I'd not heard of the winner, one of the finalists would have become a well-loved children's book in the intervening years. So, sometimes, it seems the grown-ups maybe chose one book while readers chose their "People's Favorite". Two of Marguerite Henry's other titles made it to the Newbery Finalists list: Misty of Chincoteague and Justin Morgan had a Horse. One of which I KNOW I read!
the_magpie_reader's review against another edition
5.0
I was a child the first time I read "King of the Wind" by Marguerite Henry, and the iconic characters stayed with me through the decades, long after I had forgotten their names and the details of the story.
I was a bit wary of rereading the book as an adult, afraid that revisiting this old favourite of mine with grownup eyes might ruin the beautiful memories of it I held, but I shouldn't have worried: the plot was as engrossing as I remembered, and the descriptions as vivid.
This is a book I will be rereading again and again with great enjoyment. I will never again let so many years pass without losing myself in the adventures of Agba and Sham!
I was a bit wary of rereading the book as an adult, afraid that revisiting this old favourite of mine with grownup eyes might ruin the beautiful memories of it I held, but I shouldn't have worried: the plot was as engrossing as I remembered, and the descriptions as vivid.
This is a book I will be rereading again and again with great enjoyment. I will never again let so many years pass without losing myself in the adventures of Agba and Sham!
hthore's review
4.0
The story of the Godolphin Arabians begins here. Sham is born under the new moon during Ramadan – a sign that he will be “strong and swift.” He bears the “wheat ear,” foretelling bad luck as well as a white spot on his heel, foretelling good luck. Right from the beginning, the horse faces conflict as his owner attempts to kill him. A mute slave boy, Agba decides to protect Sham and stay with him throughout his life. They are sent with five others across the Mediterranean to France, where their struggles begin. Sham proves to be a horse worthy if his own breed name. Henry does her research and incorporates true facts about the countries, people, and horses involved in this story. Young readers will fall in love with this classic about the origins of Arabians and Thoroughbreds. Recommended.
mselke's review
3.0
Reminded me of why I liked horse books as a kid. My third grade teacher read us Misty.
a_maizing's review against another edition
4.0
Can't quite remember it. It's been a long time since I read it last.
kimbapawpad's review
5.0
This is one of my favorite books of all time. I read it I don’t know how many times when I was a child and through the years. I still think of it often and I am nearly 60 now! It also led to my obsession with horses and my everlasting love of Arabian. Beautifully written sympathetic I had the version with the color images in it. It will stay with me forever. And I have read almost all of her other books well maybe not but it certainly feels like it but this one I don’t know just had a certain something to it. I did cry a lot: shades of black beauty there. But the ending oh lovely!
bbehrmann's review against another edition
4.0
This book was wonderful from beginning to end. It is an easy read and great for those who are beginning to read. I didn't care for the pictures in the book and the pace was slow at times but the ending was poetic and perfectly done.