Summary A quick trip around the track as a jockey in Lexington signals the end of twelve-year-old Gabriel’s childhood. His father has left to enlist with the Union Army to fight for freedom, and Gabriel must care for the horses in his father’s place. Not only must Gabriel protect the horses from the cruel trainer and new Irish jockey Giles hires, but he must keep them safe from One Arm Dan Parma and the Rebel Raiders, Confederate militiamen who plunder farms and steal horses.
Topics Horses. Racing. Slavery. The Civil War. Bandits. Cities. The Union Army. African American soldiers. Freedom. Gambling. Winning. Enlistment. Grief. Cruelty. Disobedience. Hiding. Poverty. Hunger. Families. Racism. Responsibilities. Telling the truth. Training animals. Fear. Bravery. Rewards. Making choices.
SRC Level 4.500000
SRC Points 11.000000
Lexile 730L
Trim Size 5 1/2" x 8 1/2"
Language English
JLG Release Date Jul 2007
Minimum grade 5
Maximum grade 8
Reading level Middle
Format Print
Sports Middle Plus (Grades 5-8)
Sports Middle Plus
Sports Middle Plus (Grades 5-8)
For Grades 5-8
An action-packed level devoted exclusively to sports. These fiction and nonfiction selections are sure to be a hit with your middle-school sports fans. And the hits arrive each month with this 14 book category.