Description
Spellbinding middle-grade fantasy adventure of loyalty, courage, and being careful what you wish for . .
The same evening Josh Underhill went missing, the black horse appeared on the hill above the house. Thirteen-year-old Ella knows that words are powerful. So she should have known better than to utter a wish and a curse on the same day, even in jest.?? When the boy she has cursed goes missing, in the same sudden, unexplained way as her father several years earlier, Ella discovers that her family is living in the shadow of a vengeful kelpie, a black horse-like creature. With the help of her beloved pony Magpie, can Ella break the curse of the kelpie and save not just her family, but the whole community?
Review
Ella lives on a country property in a small New Zealand country town with her Mum, Morag, her little sister Fiona, and her sick grandmother, known as Grizzly, where they run a horse trekking company.
The family is not well received in the town, mostly due to talk and rumours that they might be witches.
The strange disappearance of Ella’s Dad, the death of her grandfather, and now the mysterious disappearance of a young boy that goes to school with girls, Josh Underhill, does nothing to quell the sentiment of the town.
Could Ella’s curse really have come true, and caused the disappearance of Josh? Is her family really to blame for everything that has gone wrong?
As more and more mysterious things start to happen, like the appearance of a strange black horse, along with a boy named Gus, who appears to know more about their life than he should, and the same strange dreams that they all seem to have, Ella realizes that it is going to be up to her and her beloved horse, Magpie, to save everyone she loves.
This is a beautifully written story that weaves the daily struggles of family life and grief into a magical world of family secrets and folklore.
The characters are real and raw, and the relationship between Grizzly and the girls is a highlight. She is a unique, honest, and wise character, and her love of words will resonate with many. With themes that include horses, family, grief, courage, friendship, acceptance, and magic, this is a wonderful fantasy read for all students in upper primary to middle secondary.
Reviewed by Sam
