Hi everyone, this first booklist of sorts will take you to a trio of reads featuring animal stories from a different era in time. I’ve tried to change things up a bit and have given you a short selection of titles from different time periods. I hope you all enjoy this and I promise you there will be a few more titles in next week’s post.
This first book takes us to those years during World War Two in England.
The Emergency Zoo by Miriam Halahmy (Alma Books, 2016) takes us to late 1939 when preparations begin to evacuate London’s children to the countryside. When twelve-year-old Tilly and her best friend Rosy find out they will not be able to take their beloved dog and cat with them, even worse, their pets will, along with countless other animals, be taken to the vet to be put down, they decide to act. The two girls come up with the idea of hiding them in a derelict hut in the woods. However, when other children discover their secret and start bringing their rabbits, guinea pigs and hamsters, their secret den turns into an emergency zoo. I really like books inspired from real events. Finding out about the Dumb Animal League that existed during that time to save the pets of Britain was very heartwarming. Halahmy brought a different side of London to life. Those of the young children and their pets during the war years. I liked the variety of animals and their young owners. Tilly and Rosy are portrayed as brave and courageous, not afraid to stand up for what they believe is right. This is the perfect read for those who love animals as much as history stories!
In Thunder from the sea by Joan Hiatt Harlow (Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2004) we have to jump across the Atlantic to those cold islands just off the eastern coast of Canada just as the 1920’s is ending. The year is 1929 and thirteen-year-old Tom Campbell yearns for a real family with a real house and a dog of his own. Sent to work with a fisherman, Enoch, and his wife from the Mission orphanage, Tom can finally see his dream within reach. And when he rescues a Newfoundland dog in the middle of a terrifying squall, Tom feels as if both he and the dog, which he calls Thunder, have found a place to call home at last. I really liked this heartwarming read of the country life young people endured back then. Despite the harsh living conditions in the Newfoundland Islands back in the early twentieth century, young Tom faces joy in his friendship with Thunder. I liked how some of the events were based on factual events as it brought another quality to the story. Quite funny at times but a lovely read for young animal lovers!!
My last selection will take you across the world towards what is now Mongolia. I rode a horse of milk white jade by Diane Lee Wilson (Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 2010) is a story about a young girl and her horse. When Oyuna was a baby, a horse accidentally crushed her foot, cursing her family with bad luck. One fateful day, soldiers from the great Khan’s army invade her village to steal horses and gather new soldiers. In hopes of bringing honour to her family, Oyuna courageously disguises herself as a boy and joins the soldiers on their quest. With only her horse and her cat to keep her company, Oyuna sets off on an amazing journey across deserts and mountains – a journey that will change her life forever. Set in the Mongolian Steppes in the days of the Great Khan, this enchanting story of one girl’s courage, bravery and friendship who forges through that vast area that is now Mongolia. Oyuna is one impetuous and feisty young girl who doesn’t give up on her dreams. I loved the way Wilson describes the life of villagers back then under the savage rule of the Khan. If you are a reader who enjoys horse stories, then this is definitely for you!!
I hope you enjoyed this short selection of historical animal reads. If you and your tween have read any others that are similar, I’d love to hear from you and add them to my ever-growing TBR!
Stay safe and keep reading
Miss Mahee
Miss Mahee's Library of Reads 