Firehorse

Gr 58In 1872, 15-year-old Rachel leaves Illinois and her beloved pony for Boston, where her father has taken a newspaper job. The city is beset with fires, and there are rumors that they are the work of an arsonist. When Rachel accompanies her older brother to the local fire station, she meets The Governor's Girl, a fire-station horse that has been severely burned. She hears the fire captain and veterinarian discussing putting the horse down and saves her, finding new independence and adventure along the way. The author conveys the tenor of the times, especially the severe restrictions facing women, the hazards of living in cities, and the difficult and sometimes tragic lives of city horses. Rachel is a strong-willed, kindhearted heroine. She is resilient in the face of her father's continuous opposition to her dream of becoming a veterinarian. The mystery of the fires and the drama surrounding the life-and-death struggle of The Governor's Girl will keep readers hooked until the end."Carol Schene, formerly at Taunton Public Schools, MA" Copyright 2007 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.