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Summary
Summary
Molly wants a horse of her own, but when her father's mare gives birth to a mule, Molly changes her mind and raises the newborn.
Author Notes
Marguerite Henry was born on April 12, 1902 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. After high school, she attended the Milwaukee State Teachers College. She became an English teacher.
She sold her first published story to a woman's magazine in 1913. Her first book, "Justin Morgan Had a Horse" was named a Newberry Honor Book. This and her other titles to follow were written in collaboration with illustrator, Wesley Dennis. They worked together until his death in 1996. Her other works included "King of the Wind," the story of the Godolphin Arabian horse, which won a Newberry Award, "Misty of Chincoteague," which won the Junior Book Award Medal of the Boys' Clubs of America, and "Justin Morgan Had a Horse," which won the Junior Scholastic Gold Seal Award. She was presented the Children's Reading Roundtable Award for her lasting contribution to children's reading in 1961. At the time of her death she had written 58 books. Her works have been translated into eight languages.
Marguerite Henry died of complications from a series of strokes on November 26, 1997 in California.
Reviews (5)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-5Molly Moore wants nothing more than to own a sleek, fancy show horse, so when her family buys a skinny old mare at a local auction, she's very disappointed. In due time, however, the mare blooms with good health and produces a surprise for Molly's familya baby mule. Brown Sunshine becomes a handsome mule, inspiring Molly to write an award-winning essay on the history of these animals. The story is pleasant and predictable, with the somewhat sentimental dialogue and description typical of this genre. The plot moves quickly enough for readers who need encouragement. Black-and-white drawings appear on most pages and capture the action and spirit of the text. A good addition for libraries with avid Henry fans.Christina Linz, Alachua County Library District, Gainesville, FL (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
A new book by Henry, author of the Newbery-winning King of the Wind (1948) and two Newbery Honor books, including Misty of Chincoteague (1947), invites high hopes. Sadly, this slim novel disappoints from the start. When 10-year-old Molly and her father purchase an aging mare at auction, the animal is a far cry from the sprightly young horse the girl has long coveted. Yet with a little care Lady Sue begins to thrive, and brings much happiness to Molly and her parents. Soon she gives birth to Brown Sunshine, a spirited mule who, in an easily foreseen ending, is crowned king of the pivotal Mule Day Celebration. In addition to its predictable plotting, Henry's story suffers from hackneyed characterization (the relentlessly teasing bad boy ends up, in Molly's view, "looking taller and wiser, and more wonderful to me"); awkward writing ("To spend more time with Brown Sunshine, Molly's classroom work improved sharply"); and a grating overuse of exclamation points ("Molly!... we each have our own animal now! The baby mule with the handsome ears is all yours!"). A generous sampling of Shields's realistic line drawings dresses up the text. Ages 8-12. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Horn Book Review
Known for her classic horse stories, Henry offers readers an engaging tale about a mule, in chapters alternating between diary entries and narrative. A beast of burden with personality, the mule makes a small mark in history and fills a big place in the heart of his owner, Molly. For animal lovers, this predictable story with an old-fashioned flavor is satisfying. From HORN BOOK 1996, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Molly wants a horse of her own, but money is tight in the Moore household, making it unlikely that she'll ever realize her dream. When the sale of an old tractor brings in a windfall, Mr. Moore resolves to buy a present for her tenth birthday. They come away from the weekly horse auction, however, with a skinny, mangy-looking old mare, not the young steed Molly has always envisioned. Back home, Lady Sue is a pleasant surprise; she is not young, but she is a fine, intelligent, well-trained animal. The ``weight'' Lady Sue puts on turns out to be a foal, and the foal turns out to be a mule, a beautiful, long-haired male with whom Molly falls in love, and whom she proudly names Brown Sunshine of Sawdust Valley. Brown Sunshine proves to be such a quick study that he's chosen to be King Mule at the county's annual Mule Day Celebration. Vintage Henry (Misty's Twilight, 1992, etc.)--a lighthearted version of the old girl-meets-horse story; only this time, the horse is a mule. That fact will send readers to their encyclopedias to find out more about these much- maligned animals. Shields's black-and-white drawings bring warmth to the story. (Fiction. 8-12)
Booklist Review
Gr. 4^-6. Although she has always yearned for a horse, Molly is disheartened when the only one they can afford is an old mare the auctioneer introduces with this faint praise: "Meet Lady Sue. She has good years left." Over the next few months the family grows to love Lady Sue, who surprises them all when she gives birth to a mule. Molly names him Brown Sunshine and shares his moment of glory when he is chosen King Mule in the Mule Day Parade. Although written mainly in the third person, the book also includes chapters representing entries from Molly's diary. The illustrations capture the action and characters in a most appealing way. A different sort of horse story, this engaging novel will be appreciated by Henry's many fans. --Carolyn Phelan
