First published 1995
Joel Goss sees something remarkable in Little Bub, a small colt that others dismiss as a runt. When schoolteacher Justin Morgan entrusts Joel with training the young horse, Joel eagerly accepts the challenge. As Joel works with Little Bub, the colt's extraordinary abilities become clear. This small horse can outpull teams of oxen and outrun the finest thoroughbreds. News of Little Bub's feats spreads across the Northeast, drawing crowds who refuse to believe such power could come from such a modest frame. Joel must prove his faith in the colt while navigating the doubts of those who judge horses by size alone. The story follows the transformation of an underestimated animal into a legend, capturing the bond between a determined boy and the remarkable horse that would establish an entire American breed.
Genres: fiction, animals, american-fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, american, adventure, 19th-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking, whimsical
Tropes: determined-protagonist, found-family, underestimated-hero
Setting: Northeast
Period: 19th-Century
175 pages · Paperback · Aladdin