First published 2014
Ah-Chim-Hai races crowds to their feet on Seoul tracks until war changes everything. The four-year-old chestnut Mongolian mare with white markings gets sold to American Marines who rename her Reckless and train her to haul artillery shells through combat zones. She carries heavy ammunition loads up steep Korean hillsides while bullets fly and bombs explode around her. The Marines watch her march alone through enemy fire, never flinching from shrapnel or explosions. During one crucial battle, Reckless makes fifty-one trips up and down a strategic hill, covering thirty-five miles under constant attack. Chinese forces specifically target her after recognizing her military value, but she keeps moving supplies to keep Marine guns firing. The men begin seeing her as more than equipment or animal. She becomes their fellow Marine, earning their respect through months of brave service and inspiring them with her determination under the worst conditions.
Genres: animals, historical-fiction, 20th-century, military-fiction, adventure, action, biography-memoir, american-history
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, thought-provoking
Tropes: animal-companion, based-on-true-story, heroic-animal
Setting: Korea, Seoul
Period: 20th-century
320 pages · Hardcover · Caliber