The Wild Horses of Sweetbriar

by Natalie Kinsey-Warnock, Ted Rand (Illustrator)

Recounts a young girl's encounter with wild horses on an island off the coast of Nantucket in 1903.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 6, 1990

About the author

My sister, three brothers, and I grew up on a Vermont dairy farm in a region known as the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, USA, where my Scottish ancestors settled almost two hundred years ago.

Our lives revolved around our church, our community, and the hard work of farming. Along with milking and feeding the animals each morning and evening, there was the work of each season: maple sugaring, plowing, picking stone, planting, haying, corn-cutting, harvest, cutting wood.

While my parents lives were consumed by farming and providing for their children, they managed to pass on much more to us. My mother, a teacher, instilled in us a love of books and reading, and a curiosity about everything, while my father, besides being an excellent athlete, has also encouraged our interest in the natural world, whether it was identifying birds, trees and wildflowers, or pointing out constellations on a starry night.

My book As Long As There Are Mountains is based on my childhood and my love of the farm, the land, and the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont.

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story of a thoughtful little girl and the wild horses of Sweetbriar Island is so bittersweet! I just love the nameless little "almost 8year old" that has all the world she needs on this secluded island. She's so sure of herself and she knows what is important in this world. When the brutal winter came (this was 1903 near Nantucket) the horses had nothing to eat. They were starving. The illustrations tugged at my heartstrings with their bony horses bodies and red pleading eyes. I didn't know if I could go on. They were "crazy with hunger" she writes. But I think all the humanity of the world comes out when the little girl and her family attempt to feed them. They give them loaves of bread and their last carrots. She even brings them the straw ticking from her bed. What a gal! I'm sure she grew up to be a radical Greenpeace or PETA activist!

I wont tell the ending, but I'll tell you my favorite line. It comes after the mother worries her daughter will turn wild herself if she stays on this island. The father says," let her run with the horses, then..."

[Natasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This beautifully illustrated story about wild horses is based on a true story.

[Cecile · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very sad tale.

[Haley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Horses are horses, but the illustrations are incredible.

[Kati Polodna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this in my box of books, completely forgot about it. Teared up at the end!

[SouthWestZippy · Rating 3 out of 5]

In 1903 Sweetbriar was having a bad winter. This is about the horses and the family and their struggles. Story line is ok, did not care the ending of the book.