A Horse Named Sky (A Voice of the Wilderness Novel)
From the moment this tale opens in Virginia Range, Nevada Territory, in autumn 1856, the reader shares the viewpoint of Sky, a foal born to a small band of wild horses that subsist on sagebrush, fresh, clean water, and freedom. As Sky takes his first faltering steps until he grows to a young adult, the world unfolds with vivid, striking sensory details of the steppe lands in Nevada. Fellow horses, companion burros, and wild creatures called slithers, howlers, claw beasts, and scampers make up the cast of characters. While danger exists from predators, drought, heat, and cold, it is nothing like that which is brought by humans.
As Sky races across the open lands with his favorite companion, the filly Storm, he grows strong and quick. The inevitable day comes when he leaves his band, since it already has a stallion. Sky then runs afoul of humans, who capture him and train him to become a mount for the short-lived but well-known Pony Express. He never forgets his former companions and their place in the wild and longs to return to them. The interference of humans, and their roads, piñon harvesting, mining, and clear-cutting, present obstacles to the fulfillment of his desires, though.
Written with care, compassion, and heart, the story throbs with the spirit of the West and the life therein. The only real stumble is the author’s insistence on not naming the humans, which makes it difficult to keep track of them.
The delightful illustrations add to the mood and wistful tone of the story as well as occasionally clarifying what happens (such as when Sky meets a camel). A number of informative sections at the end of the tale give historical details on the Pony Express, silver mining, the California Indian Act of 1850, and other information on habitats in the West.
This beautiful, satisfying tale will stay with you long after you read the final word. Highly recommended.
