Jackie Merchant, The Homecoming Horse, Walker Books, March 2022, 320 pp., RRP $16.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781760653569
…I was afraid he’d forget about me, but I had to go. I remember telling my grandma that, and she said to me I must not worry, because ‘what is for you, won’t go by you’.
Everyone deserves a home. But when you’re forced to give yours up… things get complicated.
In The Homecoming Horse, we follow Kennedy — whose life has been packed up and put into storage. Her two horses are sold off, and her life as a local campdraft champion on hold.
Living on the road with her dad and their old dog Mack isn’t as bad as the ‘friends’ she left behind make out. The bush is a beautiful place to work, and Kennedy will do anything not to have to move to Bondi with her mum.
When Dad takes on a new horse named Ugly (later renamed Douglas) as payment from a dodgy stockman, things change overnight. Of course, Kennedy will train him to be sold like Dad asks; they need the money. But what if she can convince him Douglas belongs with her?
The Homecoming Horse is a beautifully written exploration of family, loyalty, and the growing pains of adolescence. The tension and pace of the novel is well-crafted, keeping readers guessing at every turn.
Kennedy and Douglas’s relationship will capture the hearts of readers and is a soothing backdrop to some of the challenges the characters face. The other star of the narrative is the setting itself. Merchant captures the unique beauty of rural Australia with skill: Some of the dream had been stuck to her this morning, like sweat dried on her skin. But out here, it was driven away by the sunlight and birdsong.
Readers will fall in love with the characters and their lives on horseback. And without giving too much away, a surprise ending is always a joy! Overall, a heart-warming read with a lot to say about growing up in rural communities.
Overall, a funny and unique middle-grade novel that will leave readers wanting more.
Recommended for ages 9 years and up.
Reviewed by Sarah Stivens
