FICTION

Horse

Knopf. Aug. 2018. 336p. ISBN 9781101874332. $26.95; ebk. ISBN 9781101874349. F
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This striking first novel from award-winning poet English portrays the French family on the brink of disintegration. School principal Robert, wife Susanna, and their children Charlie and Teagan live on Blue View Farm, where they keep horses, one of which is Obsidian, or Ian, Robert's beloved stead. Soon, however, horse and family take second place when Robert begins an affair and moves to town. With Susanna showing little emotion and Charlie one step from entering college and resigned to the way things are, Teagan alone struggles with her father's betrayal. Susanna thinks it will help if Teagan attends a superb boarding school with an equestrian program so that she can bond with Ian and compete in shows. Instead, Teagan fails most of her classes and has difficulty with the easily spooked Ian. Her only alternative is to return home, leaving Teagan with nothing but painful memories.
VERDICT English presents an original, often lyrical story of a teen girl and her horse as she finds her way in a world full of false friends and traitorous adults. A solid choice for thoughtful readers interested in stories of families and relationships. [See Prepub Alert, 2/19/18.]
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