Asian Trips - I Rode a Horse of Milk White Jade
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List Price: $7.99
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Manufacturer: HarperCollins
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Binding: Paperback
EAN: 9780064407731
ISBN: 006440773X
Label: HarperCollins
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 304
Publication Date: 1999-09-30
Publisher: HarperCollins
Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Release Date: 1999-09-08
Studio: HarperCollins
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Editorial Reviews:
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Born on the Mongolian steppes during the reign of Kublai Khan, Oyuna's future seems decided when, as an infant, her foot is crushed by a horse. Her clan believes she has been cursed by bad luck, and she is confined to her family's tent to cook and sew. But Oyuna dreams of bringing honor and good luck to her family. Disguised as a boy and with only her beloved old mare and heroic cat for company, she sets off on a journey--a journey that will change her luck forever. In her debut novel, talented new author Diane Lee Wilson--chosen as one of Publishers Weekly's Flying Starts for 1998--spins an inspired tale of courage, faith, and determination. 00-01 Young Hoosier Book Award Masterlist (Grds 6-8) and 01 AZ Young Reader Award Masterlist (Teen Bks cat.)
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Mulan-esque story, but from a Hun's perspective
Comment:
I Rode a Horse of Milk White Jade by Diane Lee Wilson was selected as a Best Book for Young Adults in 1999 by the American Library Association. I didn't know any of that when I read the book back in 2000. My copy has since disappeared, but at the time, this was a rare book that I owned. Thinking about it now, my mom must have procured my copy during her tenure as a researcher at Harper Collins.
But enough about me, this is about the book after all.
A quick and dirty way to define this book, oddly enough, is in terms of a cartoon movie. The plot here is similar to the legend of Mulan, which I know from the Disney version released in 1998 (I can't believe it's been a decade, good grief). Although her motivations are different, our heroine does follow a group of soldiers while disguised as a boy. The difference? Mulan went to war to fight the Huns. The main character of I Rode a Horse of Milk White Jade is a Hun.
At the best of times, living on the Mongol Steppes involves harsh conditions. For Oyuna that is even more true. As a young child, almost beyond the range of her memory, a beautiful horse came near Oyuna. Fascinated, the child knew that her future-her entire life-would be tied to horses. She knew this to be true even as a horse stepped on her foot, effectively crippling her for life. Add into the bargain the fact that every member of Oyuna's family are now anxious to keep her away from horses for fear of another unlucky incident that will further burden the family with bad luck.
Every family member except her grandmother that is, who (as the back cover convenienty points out) tells Oyuna "The horse claimed you as its own and invited you upon its back to travel with the wind." Oyuna believes in her grandmother's words even more when she crosses paths with a swift, white horse.
Positive that their fates are cobbled together, Oyuna dresses as a boy and follows her horse when it is commandeered by the Khan's army. Oyuna's path leads her not only to her horse, but also directly to the court of Kublai Khan, and-even more valuable-the knowledge that she has the power to change her own luck once and for all.
If my mom hadn't given me a copy of this book, I never would have picked it up. But I'm glad the book came into my possession. Oyuna is an arresting character, with a strong narrative voice that makes this work of historical fiction feel very contemporary and relevant. Not an actual princess, Oyuna can't strictly be called an "anti-princess" heroine. All the same, I Rode a Horse of Milk White Jade presents a strong girl making her own way (in a great story).
Customer Rating:
Summary: A girl, her horse and their incredable journey together!
Comment: A really enjoyed reading this book! I had orignally purchased this book for my daughter and surprisingly finished the book in 2 days.
I main character Oyuna is very likeable, is a strong young woman despite of her crushed leg. She is a true horse whisper and chooses a remarkable horse that takes her on an incredable journey! I also like how the story takes place in a stable, with Oyuna being a happy grandmother who is passing on her story, love for horses and heritage on to her young granddaughter.
Definately a wonderful read for your daughter, regardless to whether she is from China or not! Not to be a spoiler, but keep a box of kleenex close by for the last chapter!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Captivating adventure story for any young horse lover!
Comment: Oyuna, a young girl living on the steppes of late 13th-century Mongolia, was "claimed" by the horse as a baby, when a mare stepped on her foot, crushing it and leaving her permanently crippled. Her family and clan members believe her crippled foot is bad luck, and Oyuna comes to believe it, too. But despite her family's efforts to keep her confined to the ger, or tent, Oyuna is determined to spend as much time as possible with her family's horses. Riding provides her with a freedom she cannot experience on the ground. On horseback, her lame foot does not matter. She dreams of having a swift horse of her own, and winning the famed long race at the festival in Karakorum. At last her father gives in, offering to buy her a horse of her choice. But instead of the swift horse of her dreams, Oyuna surprises both herself and her family by choosing an old, lame white mare.
Over the winter, Oyuna spends all her spare time with the mare, whom she names Bayan, meaning "rich with beauty and goodness." Gradually Bayan's leg heals until she is once again sound enough to ride. Oyuna's shamaness grandmother recognizes something special in the white mare, and warns Oyuna that she must never lose her. But when men from the army of Kublai Khan arrive to take horses and young boys into their service, Oyuna is heartbroken when they select Bayan as one of the horses they will take. In order to stay with her beloved mare, she disguises herself as a boy and sets off with the army, thus beginning a journey full of both danger and adventure. Can she manage to overcome the bad luck that seems to follow her crippled leg, and make her own luck instead?
This book is an excellent choice for any lover of horses and historical fiction. The language is simple enough that it could be read by anyone as young as 10, but the story is so well-crafted and captivating that it can be appreciated by readers of all ages. I received this book as a gift while in junior high and loved it. Now I am in college and have recently re-read it, finding it just as entertaining as ever. Diane Lee Wilson's prose is simple and clear, but possesses great depth and richness of detail. The story abounds with tradition and symbolism. Wilson intersperses the text with traditional Mongolian words for things like tents, animals, food items, and other objects, but their meaning is easily gleaned from the context, and any lingering confusion is solved with a glance at the glossary in the back. "I Rode a Horse of Milk White Jade" is a great tale, full of inspiring messages for young readers. This is one book that simply shouldn't be missed.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Will Oyuna complete her mission?
Comment: I liked the book I Rode a Horse of Milk White Jade. It is okay. My favorite parts in the book are when Oyuna befriends the Khan and when she wins the long race, too. My least favorite parts are when Oyuna's mother and grand mother die. The book is told in first person, so it felt as if I were Oyuna, experiencing everything she did. I like it a lot, but I can't help but wonder what the names of Oyuna's parents are. Otherwise, I loved the book, mostly because animals are involved.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Good for ages 12-20
Comment: This is an enchanting book of a strong female heroine who loves horses. It is one of those books that has 3D characters who you really want to succeed. I would recommend this book to young women who have or dream of owning their own horse regardless of the training and work that must go into owning one.The ancient time period was a nice bonus because it made the story different fromt the typical "girl finds run-down horse at local auction" story that I'm sure we've all seen.
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