Grant, K. M.

BLOOD RED HORSE

New York : Walker, 2005

IL 5-8, RL 7.1

ISBN 0802789609

(2 booktalks)

There are three things you need to become a brave knight.  A war horse, a fair maiden and a just cause.  William has all three.  He has chosen a blood red horse for his steed and named him Hosanna.  Although Eleanor is promised to his brother, William and Ellie share a strong bond.  And William is off to fight in King Richard the Lionheart's holy crusade to capture Jerusalem.  On the other side of the conflict is the Muslim leader Saladin and his young ward, Kamil who becomes Hosanna's owner.  As the battle rages, we see both sides of the conflict.

Booktalk #2

A beautiful red horse has caught the eye of William, the younger son of Sir Thomas de Granville. His older brother, Gavin, already has his grand horse, Montlouis. And although the red horse is smaller than the other grand horses, Hosanna is remarkably quick, agile, loyal and strong. Miss Eleanor, an orphaned noble’s daughter who is named for the queen, has grown up with William and Gavin. She is betrothed to Gavin, but she spends more and more time with William, riding her horse, Sacramenta, when William rides Hosanna.

King Richard, the Lionhearted, soon calls Sir Thomas, Gavin and William to serve in the Third Crusade to take Jerusalem from a worthy adversary, Saladin. Ellie bids a sad farewell to Sir Thomas, Gavin and William. William promises to ride Hosanna back up the drawbridge when he returns from the Crusade.

There are many adventures in store. The book weaves a story from both many points of view including the Muslim leader Saladin and his young Emir, Kamil, who also catches sight of the Blood Red Horse. Read this book only if you are ready to be taken on a great escapade.  (Melissa Bowman, Melissa.Bowman@pisd.edu, Armstrong Middle School,  Lone Star Book Award nominee, 2006-2007)