The Secret Horses of Briar Hill
There are winged horses that live in the mirrors of Briar Hill hospital. In the mirrors that line its grand hallways, which once belonged to a princess. In those that reflect the elegant rooms, now filled with sick children. It is her secret.
One morning, when Emmaline climbs over the wall of the hospital’s abandoned gardens, she discovers something incredible: a white horse with broken wings has left the mirror-world and entered her own.
Tucked into the garden’s once-gleaming sundial, Emmaline finds a letter from the Horse Lord. He is hiding the wounded white horse, named Foxfire, from a dark and sinister force—a Black Horse who hunts by colorless moonlight. If Emmaline is to keep the Black Horse from finding her new friend, she must collect colorful objects with which to blind him. But where can Emmaline find color when her world is filled with gray?
From Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children's Books.
Praise for The Secret Horses of Briar Hill:
A Kirkus Best Book of 2016
“Emmaline's narration is unreliable, flawlessly childlike, and deeply honest; her faith in magic brings her solace and, possibly, healing. The magical realism is reminiscent of the Chronicles of Narnia, Elizabeth Goudge, or a child's version of Life of Pi...Readers will love this to pieces.” —Kirkus Reviews, Starred review
"Endearing characters, metaphors for life and death, and a slow revelation of the horrors of war give this slim novel a surprising amount of heft."—Booklist, Starred review
"In clear, gripping, flawless prose . . . this exquisite, beautifully illustrated middle-grade novel explodes with raw anguish, magic and hope, and readers will clutch it to their chests and not want to let go."—Shelf Awareness, Starred Review
"Magical, terrifying, and full of heart. Open these pages, and ride true."-Kathi Appelt, Newbery Honor-winning author of The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp
"A remarkable book. Astonishing!"-Michael Morpurgo, author of War Horse
“A story that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.” —MARY BROWN, BOOKS, BYTES & BEYOND, NJ
“A classic magical feel with a heart-pounding story.” —RAE ANN PARKER, PARNASSUS BOOKS, TN
“The seven-to-ten-year-old version of myself would have been in love with this book, reading and rereading until it fell apart as badly as my well-worn copy of The Secret Garden.” —KARI MEUTSCH, PHOENIX BOOKS, VT
“The Secret Horses of Briar Hill has all the elements of a lasting classic.” —CHRISTOPHER ROSE, ANDOVER BOOKSTORE, MA
“A masterful novel.” —CINDY NORRIS, MALAPROP'S BOOKSTORE/CAFÉ, NC