The Outside Of A Horse [With Earbuds] (2011) - Plot & Excerpts
The Outside of a Horse is about Hannah Gale, a girl who struggles with the issues of having a badly scarred, freshly returned from war father, and discovers the wonders of healing horses. Before her dad went off to war, Hannah's mother died of cancer. Her father remarried Sonia, and they had another kid named Jeffy, who her dad barely saw before he was deployed to Iraq. Sonia says that Hannah needs to get a job while her dad is away, so she goes to the barn down the street and gets a "job" there - she isn't paid, but she keeps that part away from her step-mom. When her dad returns from Iraq, she first thought it was because he was allowed to go home, but she soon learns that her dad lost a leg in a roadside car bombing. Throughout the book, her dad struggles with nightmares, flashbacks, PTSD, and alcohol problems. Hannah's step-mom leaves with Jeffy, leaving Hannah alone with her paranoid father. Hannah travels with one of the people at the barn to a few horse rescues and an auction, and she learns the horrors of horse slaughter, abuse, and what happens to the leftover racehorses. As the book continues, Hannah's father reluctantly gives into her pleas for him to get help, so he goes to a barn with equine therapy. Hannah, for her birthday, gets Rega, the foal she had wanted for a while. After having Rega for only a few days, dogs from the neighbors house come out and attack her, leaving her leg in bad shape. They end up taking Rega to one of the best animal hospitals, and Hannah has a choice. She can put Rega to sleep, or she can have the leg removed. After much consideration, she has the leg removed, and has a prosthetic put on Rega, just like her father.I really loved the book. It was kind of odd how many similarities I could find between my life and Hannah in the book, not just because her name was Hannah. Her mom leaving, going up to the barn a ton, loving horse racing, and her father losing a leg remind me of my life (though my dad didn't lose a leg).I gave this book a 5 out of 5 because I absolutely loved it. I loved everything about it. The way it was written, the storyline, the characters, and the fact that it was relatable made the book very enjoyable. Overall, I really loved this book. It was soo relaxing, and made me think of a setting in a small town, right next to the beach. It was really interesting to read what Hannah's father went through, and then to think that people in real life had to go through the same thing as him. My favorite part was when Hannah's father told her what Regala meant, and gave her her half-birthday present. I am confused about the ending. The ending happens really fast, so that it is kind of hard to understand at times. It seemed like the climax happened, and after that the author was in a rush to end the story. It was still a very good book though. I would definitly recommend this to my friends because it is such a sweet, calm, and relaxing story, that will keep you hooked from beginning to end.
What do You think about The Outside Of A Horse [With Earbuds] (2011)?
I started reading this over taks week but then i had to return it but i bought it at the bookfair
—Debbie
This book is from a child's prospective but is eye opening. Really enjoyed it.
—Nick
Horsemanship - therapeutic use, people with disabilities, emotional problems
—lukynyc
Good story. A cross-over book that is YA and adults will enjoy it as well.
—brooke
