A Ride on the Red Mare's Back (Paperback)

by Ursula K. Le Guin (Author), Julie Downing (Illustrator) "Along time ago, when the world was wild, a family lived in the forests of the North, far from any other house..." (more)
Key Phrases: red mare, old troll, High House

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Text and artwork of extraordinary beauty highlight this stirring tale of a girl who rescues her brother after he is captured by trolls. In the haunting, singsong language of an epic poem, Le Guin depicts the primeval northern country where the nameless girl dwells with her family. While her parents grieve over the loss of their son, the girl sets out to find him, taking for comfort her only toy, a painted wooden horse. For that one night, the figure is transformed into a flesh-and-blood mare of fiery red, which helps the girl find her imprisoned brother and bring him home. Le Guin's evocative prose takes the reader on that wild ride through the chill darkness--we hear the mare's hooves on a wooden bridge; we see the piles of refuse and the scampering rats in the interior of the troll's fortress. In Downing's paintings, too, the red mare (based on a Swedish woodcarving) leaps vividly to life, shaking her bridle of flowers as she crosses a silvery landscape bathed in bluish light. The trolls, with their white, moonlike faces, long talons and spikey hair are appropriately hideous. Even the book's design, lovely without being obtrusive, contributes to the old-world feeling of a classic story. Ages 6-9.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal
Grade 1-5-- Le Guin's unnamed heroine is neither flamboyant nor elegant, but she is focused and wonderfully resolute. The tale tells of a little boy stolen by wicked trolls and taken to their High House. Since the heartbroken father is unable to cope and the mother must stay home with the baby, the sister sets out with a bit of bread, knitting needles, red yarn, and a scarf to find her brother. Of course, she is accompanied by her magical red wooden horse that her father had carved. Using traditional folkloric patterns, Le Guin fashions a child protagonist who is not overly frightened by trolls; she just deals with them. She is not even overly impressed with the mare who is her guide and champion. The horse does her thing and the girl goes on with her rescue mission. The language is rhythmic, with well-paced cadences and a tone that calls out to be read aloud. The illustrations do not invade the space of this well-crafted tale, but provide glimpses of what is being shared. Text pages have a decorative gray border that seems to embrace the words and adds a measure of caring to the telling. On the other pages, Downing uses the lovely reds of the horse and the scarf against more sober colors to complete the images. This story is a real gem that demonstrates the value of determination and that one's sense of satisfaction in a task completed is reward enough. Bravo to such a creative work. --Kay E. Vandergrift, School of Communication, Information and Library Studies, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Orchard Paperbacks (September 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0531070794
• ISBN-13: 978-0531070796
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8.2 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #565,512 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magic! Trolls! A Wonderous Horse! and family love..., December 4, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: A Ride on the Red Mare's Back (Library Binding)

I purchased this book for my son, just because it was written by my favorite author. Although I immediately fell in love with it, I wasn't so sure what my 6 year old son would think of it, but, perhaps for different reasons than me, he insists on having it read to him frequently. Like any classic folktale, it uses a simple style and classic images to present timeless and complicated truths. The illustrations are gorgeous and evoke just the right feelings for the story.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb!, October 11, 2002

By	mmx "mmx" (Portland, OR, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Ride on the Red Mare's Back (Hardcover)

This is a fantastic story with beautiful illustrations.

I bought it for my daughter when she was five. At the age of twelve it is still a favorite of hers, and for me as well. Since Le Guin has used techniques from oral traditions, it is simply wonderful to read aloud.

I think this is an example of a perfectly written short story. Everything in the story has a purpose. Not a word can be taken away without detracting from the story, and any additions would be superfluous.

This is one of the few books that will not be traded in or given to a library.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very memorable and inspiring!, October 11, 2004

By	Karen "karenfrances3" (Davis, CA) - See all my reviews

I read this book to my daughters, ages 6 and 4. Several weeks later when we were visiting my in-laws, my oldest daughter ran up to me holding a "red mare", a small wooden horse that her grandparents had purchased in Sweden. She retold the entire story and then offered to rescue her brother if ever he should be abducted by trolls.