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The Princess And The Foal (2013)

by Stacy Gregg(Favorite Author)

4.4 of 5 Votes: 4

ISBN

0007469020 (ISBN13: 9780007469024)

languge

English

genre

Middle Grade & Children's

publisher

Harper Collins Children's Books

review 1: A delightful story of equine friendship.This is a fictional tale based on fact, the story of Princess Haya bint Al Hussein, the daughter of King Hussein of Jordan. An inspirational young woman with an independent, and somewhat wilful, streak. Although clearly fiction, Stacy Gregg has met with Princess Haya, travelled to Jordan at her request, and been given unprecedented access to the stables. Fiction this may be, but it is plain that truth lies at its core.When Princess Haya is but a small child, grave tragedy strikes her family and the young Princess becomes incresingly withdrawn. This changes however, when a precious young life is put into her hands: a three-day old foal, orphaned from birth.And so begins a friendship that will last decades and a love of horses that wil... morel carry the young Princess to international success as a show-jumping champion.The story follows Princess Haya's early years, up to her first equestrian challenge. It is a heart-warming tale, filled with moments of pure happiness; comic, and sometimes downright foolhardy, misadventures; through sorrow and loss and finally triumph. Gregg has captured the voice of the young protagonist to perfection: her determination (bordering on stubborness) but also her fragility. She is no pampered princess, to sit in her palace and await her prince, no, she is a motivated young woman, who will (and has) gone far. The other characters are equally real, at least within the prose, we have stern governness Frances with her disapproving eye; King Hussein who not only permits his daughter's somewhat unruly endeavours but supports and encourages them, and younger brother Ali - a mischevious trouble-maker (who went on to champion football in Jordan and Asia).For lovers of horse stories, there is a colourful equine cast as well: the magnificant Arabian horses of the royal palace, the large and placid "tanks", and even the fat and plodding ponies that the Princess must face when she is sent to a boarding school in England. Gregg's previous novels has included the "Pony Club Secrets" series, and her knowledge and affection for our four-legged friends shines throughout the prose.This is a wonderful tale for young girls, particularly those interested in horses. It is a tale of a Princess, friendship, and determination.It may even inspire the young reader to learn more about the real characters behind the story, and enlighten them to how, despite Jordan being a world away, the love, and friendhsip, of horses is universal.
review 2: I read “The Princess and the Foal” with my 7-year-old daughter over several bedtimes.This book looks the part. It would make an ideal gift for a young girl (I think 7 is probably too young to read this on their own though and the blurb on Amazon says 9+) because of the dust jacket with the pink and shiny silver parts, the girl there on the cover with the horse, and the fact the story is about a princess. There is also a pink ribbon bookmark which all adds up to making this book feel like something special, even before reading it.The princess in the book is Princess Haya of Jordan. She is inspired by the real-life Princess Haya, although the book is a work of fiction, so don’t expect all the aspects to be accurate to real life.The beginning is great. It is a letter from Haya to her dead mama. It is clear that she misses her dearly and she writes of her dreams, things that are to come in the book.After that we start the story proper with 3-year-old Haya back at a time when her mum, Queen Alia, was alive. However the queen has to go to a hospital urgently to see those less fortunate. She tells Haya, “Your father is the King of a nation. The people of Jordan are all your brothers and sisters and we must love and care for them just like we care for you.” Queen Alia takes the helicopter to be quick, as a storm is on the way, but she is not quick enough and Haya never sees her mother again.All through the book the grief for her mother shows through, but she finds a release through her love of horses. “The horses at Al Hummar are the most beautiful in all of Arabia. To Haya they are enchanted creatures, with silken manes, muzzles soft as velvet and dark eyes that can see into the soul.” Her father realises this and gets her her own horse, Bint Al-Rhee (meaning daughter of the wind), or Bree for short, for her birthday later saying, “there was so much grief in you that no one could get through. But from the moment you saw that filly, your heart began to open up again, and you came back.” The journey then takes Haya through bringing up the horse, riding her, and trying to fulfil her dream “to be a champion horse rider. One day I will ride in the King’s Cup.” There are trials and tribulations along the way of course, like Haya being sent to Boarding School in England, and her governess Frances getting in the way of her plans. “Do you think this is what your father wants? He is trying to run a Kingdom and here you are a tomboy nuisance with mud on her knees and horse chaff under her fingernails, causing trouble again with your filthy horses.”But at the end she does fulfil her dream.I liked how the book made the young princess into a normal girl, with her being naughty sometimes, and her getting teased by her younger brother. My daughter said, “I think the book is 5 star because it has exciting things happening to a princess, and it tells you to be brave and what to do if you have a pet horse.” less

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