This enchanting new adventure story, set in medieval England, is the tale of two brothers, called by King Richard to fight in the Crusades; the fair maiden they both love; and the small stallion that binds them together. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

Gr 5-9 Based on the Third Crusade with England's King Richard I and the Muslim leader Saladin, this novel takes readers from the de Granvilles' Hartslove Castle to the bloody battlefields of the Middle East. It is a story of loyalty, honor, and nobility and centers around the lives of two brothers, Gavin and William; the fair maiden Eleanor whom they leave behind; and Will's beloved red horse. Readers are caught up in the bloody battles, with alternating chapters revealing what is happening on the "home front," and in the Christian and in the Muslim camps. Tying these stories together is the red horse, Hosanna, who is the book's most compelling and empathetic character. The futility of war is a theme throughout and readers will discover that, much like war today, combat in the 12th century had devastating consequences. The historical setting and the vocabulary may challenge younger readers but ensure that older ones will find the book a rewarding adventure, one not soon forgotten and one that lends itself to great discussion. Denise Moore, O'Gorman Junior High School, Sioux Falls, SD Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

Gr. 6-9. In the tradition of Kevin Crossley-Holland's Arthur trilogy and Catherine Jinks' Pagan novels, this epic of the Crusades offers a historical perspective on modern conflicts, and lays bare the gap between propaganda about the Crusades and the dismal, stinking nightmare of warfare's reality. Onlookers scoff when 13-year-old William de Granville chooses Hosanna, a charismatic red stallion with a puny, impractical build, for his first warhorse. But after what seems to be a miraculous recovery from a grave injury, Hosanna earns widespread respect and a celebrated place in the campaign for Jerusalem, which William and his elder brother, Gavin, have zealously joined. Left behind is Ellie, who is promised to Gavin but feels more connected to William. Awaiting the Crusaders is the noble strategist Saladin and his young ward, Kamil, who eventually lays claim to Hosanna--and is similarly inspired by the horse's soulful presence. The parallel coming-of-age stories are compelling, and Grant portrays both sides of the conflict without demonizing or idealizing either. The novel's only false note is the overdone mysticism surrounding Hosanna; in the end, perhaps the stallion's most amazing achievement is the way in which its story--the first in a planned trilogy--transcends boundaries of gender and genre, with something to offer fans of equestrian fare, historical fiction, and battlefield drama alike. JenniferMattson. From: Syndetics Solutions, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.