Race the Wild Wind

K-Gr 3—Approximately 300 wild horses live off the coast of Nova Scotia on Sable Island. There are no answers for how they got there, but Wild Wind is Markle's imagined story of how they might have survived. Rendered in oils, the realistic illustrations show the beauty and strength of the animals. Life on the island is revealed through the eyes of a young stallion. He's not used to facing snorting gray seals, eating grass, or running unshod, but he has adapted to his new surroundings. The chill of winter brings death to the island; spring brings new life. But no matter what the season, danger is on the stallion's mind. He challenges rivals and herds young colts and frantic horses back to safer grounds. The stallion is the hero of this book, but after reading the author's note, it's clear that all the horses on the island must have heroic qualities.—Tanya Boudreau, Cold Lake Public Library, AB, Canada