by Will James
First published 1954
Smoky begins life as a free-roaming mustang in the wide open ranges of the American West. The young horse learns the ways of survival from his mother and the herd, developing strength and cunning in the wild landscape. When cowboys arrive to round up the wild horses, Smoky faces capture and the loss of everything he has known. A cowboy named Clint takes on the challenge of breaking the spirited mustang, beginning a relationship that will test both horse and rider. Smoky must adapt to life with humans while retaining his wild heart. The story follows their bond as they work cattle drives and face the dangers of frontier life together. Through hardship and adventure, Smoky discovers that freedom can take different forms, and that trust between horse and human creates its own kind of strength.
Genres: fiction, animals, 20th-century, adventure
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: American West
Period: 20th Century
310 pages · Hardcover · Charles Scribner's Sons