When his beloved mare is stolen by the James gang after an attempted bank robbery in the nearby town of Northfield, Will joins the posse looking for the outlaws.
Horse Sense (Adventures in Time)
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Based on a slice of family history one of the author's ancestors had his horse stolen by the James-Younger gang after the 1876 Northfield, Minn., bank raid this fast-paced novel offers crackling adventure in a colorful period setting. Fourteen-year-old Will thinks there's more to life than farming, but his stern father disparages Will's plan to breed fine riding and driving horses: "You haven't got enough horse sense to even think of raising horses!" At a livestock auction, Will meets some strangers, one of whom counsels, "A man's got to go after what he wants. Can't worry about other folks." Unaware that his new acquaintance is the notorious Jesse James, Will invites him and his brother, Frank, to visit, in hopes he can breed Star, his mare, with Jesse's fine stallion. Will gets his wish, but a week later is caught in the middle of a deadly bank robbery, after which Star is stolen by the fleeing outlaws. Will joins the posse, only to be offered a "life of adventure" by Jesse James (Will doesn't take long to announce that he prefers "law and order"). Schultz makes up for somewhat simplistic characterizations with her descriptive prose ("It got so quiet Will thought the bacon might stop sizzling, too"). The ably woven themes of thorny family relationships, horse lore and the outlaws' nefarious exploits make this a satisfying read. Ages 9-12.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Gr 4-7-When the James brothers stop by the Sasses' ranch for some supplies, no one has any idea who they are and what they plan to do. All Will can think about is Jesse's handsome stallion that would be perfect to breed with his mare, Star. Jesse seems to read the boy's mind and sets his horse free in Star's pasture. After the men leave, Will assumes that he will never see them again. However, the outlaws have set their sights on the bank in Northfield. The robbery goes badly and the cashier is killed. Jesse takes Will's mare and leaves his stallion as he flees from the posse. Determined to get his horse back and feeling guilty for befriending the outlaw, Will joins the posse. Eventually, he finds Star but, equally importantly, through this difficult experience he and his father have begun to understand one another better and balance Will's enthusiasm for trying new things and his father's reluctance to make changes on their farm. Will is an engaging hero whose encounter with an outlaw forces him to do some quick growing up. His everyday life on the family's Minnesota farm is believably depicted and his love for Star and dreams of breeding more refined horses are convincingly told. There is action, suspense, and an interesting slice of history in this story that is based on a real bank robbery by the James gang and the fact that one of the author's ancestors had a horse that was stolen by the outlaws.
Carol Schene, Taunton Public Schools, MA
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
A great tale of the James Gang and their Northfield Raid,
This review is from: Horse Sense: The Story of Will Sasse, His Horse Star, and the Outlaw Jesse James (Adventures in Time) (Hardcover)
Looking for an entertaining read for your kids? Jan Schultz' Horse Sense is a great pick. Boys will love the daring bank robbery and posse ride that follows. Girls who love horses will enjoy reading about the Sasse family and their different horses. And what of Will's beautiful horse, Star? Has she been taken by the infamous James Gang? Will they hurt her? How will her new foal manage while she is gone? Will Sasse survive the hunt for the James Gang and live to achieve his dream of raising horses? The great thing is, by the time kids have finished this book, they have also learned about an interesting time in our country's history. What were the aftereffects of the Civil War on the American Midwest? What was life like in smalltown America? Perhaps the best lesson learned from this book is that people are not all good or all bad. They are often a mix of both, something Will has to learn the hard way. Enjoy!
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