Spring 2006 Review:

    It started off with Will who stood out side in the cold dripping wet because his brother, Gavin, had pushed him into the horse trough. Will was mad and completely embarrassed, especially since he still wasn't allowed to have a war horse of his own, all he could have was a courser. Ellie ran to Will, she and Will had always been the best of friends and had actually hoped that someday they would get married, but because Gavin was the oldest son he would end up marrying Ellie and inheriting the land.

   Will and Gavin had never been close, they were always competing over something, whether it was jousting out in the field or just over a game of chess, each longed to beat the other. There was a monk monastery not far from the De Granville palace known as Hartslove, and at the monastery there was a monk known as Brother Ranulf. Brother Ranulf had always loved horses and the day that Will passed by on his way to the royal stables to finally pick out his war horse, Brother Ranulf saw Will's courser, Sacramenta. When Will reached the stables he tried out many horses, but when he was about to pick, a flash of red in a nearby stable caught his eye. Will was told that it was the foal of his horse he had now, Sacramenta. The horses name was Hosanna, and he was beautiful. His coat was red and in the middle of his forehead there was a white star, the only white on him. Will rode Hosanna back to Hartslove and when he arrived Gavin teased him because he never did get a war horse, Ellie became annoyed and blew up at Gavin.

   Months went by and Gavin was called to go and serve with the king in a battle, during that time Ellie and Will grew closer together. When Gavin came home, he had changed, too much to Ellie's liking, but at least he was still alive. One day Gavin went on a hunting trip with a few of his friends, but his horse Dargent had gotten hurt and Gavin had no more horses. Since Will was away Gavin sent to get Will's horse Hosanna. Gavin kept pushing Hosanna to go faster and faster, he showed no mercy for the horse. When Gavin finally caught what he was hunting he was the only one of the hunting party left, and Hosanna's nose was bleeding very badly. When Gavin dismounted, Hosanna fell to the ground unconscious. When Will found out he was devastated and he absolutely refused to talk to Gavin, Ellie didn't talk to Gavin either. Eventually Hosanna healed while he was at the monastery. When Ellie went with Will to pick up Hosanna she asked Brother Ranulf to teach her how to read. Brother Ranulf agreed. Finally the great crusade called for the De Granville father and two sons to go and fight God's crusade. As soon as they left for war, everything changed at the palace.

    I really enjoyed this book because it was full of twists and turns. I would recommend this book for middle school students.

 ~ Ashley Aldan, grade 7, Boardman Center Middle School