Horse from the Sea: An Epic Horse Story Book

Nora came to the farthest end of the beach. The waves had drawn back with the tide, exposing a swathe of boulders and seaweed strewn with yet more wood, and here and there a gleam of metal.

But there was nothing else: a pale gray shape lying close to the edge of the water. Nora slithered down the rock to the beach. Her heart started to beat faster as she made out a smooth, arched flank the color of seafoam and a long mane tangled with seaweed and sand.

Then the horse on the sand lifted his head and snorted, and Nora realized that it was alive.

Judy Crowder - Children's Literature

During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, 14-year-old Nora Donovan and her family live a precarious existence. They are Catholic, as are most inhabitants on Ireland's coast, while Elizabeth is intent on her father's policy of doing away with anything Catholic. The family must worship in secret, yet the chieftain under whose protection the Donovans live owes his rich estate to the crown. Now comes the frightening news of Spanish ships spotted along their coast. When a fierce storm causes a Spanish ship to wreck on their shore, Norah's family salvages whatever supplies wash up, thankful that the sea god, Manannan mac Lir, claimed the sailors' lives since sheltering a rescued Spanish sailor could mean trouble—a visit from English troops. Nora discovers a beautiful Andalusian stallion on the beach; she nurses him back to health, hiding him in a seaside cave, where another survivor—a young Spanish sailor—is also recovering. When she decides to help the sailor find a homebound Spanish ship, Norah must call upon every bit of courage and resourcefulness she has—including her gift of being able to tame the wild horses of the hills—to find safety for Jose and Lir, the stallion she cannot keep for herself. This beautifully-written book is an exciting read for young adult readers. As with any well-researched period novel, it is a great history lesson, too. 2005, HarperCollins Children's Books, and Ages 12 to 15.