Grand Theft Horse

For the video game similar to Grand Theft Auto, see Red Dead Redemption. For horse theft in general, see Horse theft.
Grand Theft Horse
AuthorG. Neri
IllustratorCorban Wilkin
LanguageEnglish
PublisherLee & Low Books
Publication date
September 25, 2018
Media type
ISBN9781620148556

Grand Theft Horse is a 2018 graphic novel written by Greg Neri and illustrated by Corban Wilkin. The book is published by Lee & Low and is a biography of the horse trainer, Gail Ruffu.

About

Grand Theft Horse tells the story of the life of Gail Ruffu and especially chronicles the events surrounding the theft or rescue of the racehorse, Urgent Envoy.[1] Ruffu was worried that Urgent Envoy would be killed if he was raced again.[2] She decided to take him away on Christmas Eve.[2] The author, Greg Neri, focuses on the drama surrounding the possible injury to a beloved horse.[3] Illustrations in pen and ink by Corban Wilkin are described as "balancing realism with gently rounded and slightly exaggerated features that foreground emotional stakes," according to Booklist.[3][2] Publishers Weekly compares the illustration style Wilkin used in Grand Theft Horse to Will Eisner's work.[4]

The book includes photographs of Ruffu at the end of the story and also includes her "personal plea for reforms in the horse-racing industry."[5] It is written for middle school and high school readers.[2]

In 2019, Booklist named Grand Theft Horse as one of its "Top 10 Biographies for Youth" for the year.[6]

Reviews

Horn Book Magazine wrote, "Intense and candid, the story underscores the risks and rewards of uncompromised activism."[5] ForeWord Reviews calls the book "an inspirational tale, demonstrating the universal moral of standing up for one's beliefs, even if there's a steep price."[7]

References

  1. ^ Bancroft, Colette (5 October 2018). "Review: G. Neri's 'Grand Theft Horse' a thrilling true tale of a woman on a mission". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2020-01-05.
  2. ^ a b c d "Grand Theft Horse". Kirkus Review. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  3. ^ a b Karp, Jesse (2018). "Grand Theft Horse". Booklist. 115 (2): 46 – via EBSCOhost.
  4. ^ "Grand Theft Horse". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  5. ^ a b Auger, Tanya D. (2019). "Grand Theft Horse". Horn Book Magazine. 95 (1): 118 – via EBSCOhost.
  6. ^ Khuri, Ronny (2019). "Top 10 Biographies for Youth". Booklist. 115 (19): 74 – via EBSCOhost.
  7. ^ Dabbene, Peter (2018). "Grand Theft Horse". ForeWord Reviews. 21 (5): 70 – via EBSCOhost.