Horse Boy

A prehistoric survival adventure about a boy and a horse who rescue one another, from the Carnegie Medal-winning author of Apache and Buffalo Soldier.

“A boy without a clan was nothing. No one. A boy without a clan was easy prey.”

Oak, son of the Deer clan chief, hopes that this summer he will finally be allowed to join the hunt and make his father proud of him. But this year is not like other years – the rains have failed, his father has fallen out with the Bear chief, and everyone is mistrustful of the new creatures that have been spotted near their encampment: horses. Then Oak becomes separated from his clan with only a young horse for company, and it seems that surely the worst has happened. But perhaps not all animals are prey. Perhaps Horse can be clan too.

This is an excellent adventure - perfect for lovers of Michelle Paver's Wolf Brother for 8+. Crisp writing, sympathetic characters and great love between hero + horse in Stone Age times. -- Amanda Craig
Landman is a natural storyteller, always engrossing, and this tale, which sees boy and beast grow side by side, is a happy addition to the shelf of child-animal friendship stories. The Times
Landman writes with crisp, vivid prose and a deep sympathy for hero and horse as they battle to return to their tribe together. It contains real wisdom about accepting change, innovation and humility. New Statesman
I like that the horse is given its own voice. This helps the reader to understand its feelings. I would recommend this book for anyone who loves animals and nature. People who like exciting adventure stories too would also enjoy it as it is a real page-turner. I found myself sinking into it and wanting to read on to find out what happens to Ash and the horse on their journey. Books Up North
Horse Boy will appeal to all children aged nine and upwards who love a good story, particularly those who love horses and understand the bond which can form between a horse and its rider. The bond between them grows and this enhances the vivid story-telling of a tale which is thrilling, and often very moving. NewburyToday

Tanya Landman has written numerous books for children and young people, including Buffalo Soldier, winner of the Carnegie Medal; Apache, shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal and the BookTrust Teenage Prize; The Goldsmith's Daughter and Hell and High Water, shortlisted for the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize; and the Sam Swann and Poppy Fields mystery series - the first of which, Mondays Are Murder, won the Red House Children's Book Award. Most recently she has turned her hand to historical novels and classic retellings for middle-grade readers, and she also wrote the picture book The Song of the Nightingale, illustrated by Laura Carlin and shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal. Tanya lives in Devon. Visit her at

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