Review: Katharina Marcus - Eleanor McGraw, a Pony Named Mouse and a Boy Called Fire
Eleanor McGraw is Katharina Marcus’ first book, but I must
say it doesn’t read as if it is. It’s an accomplished piece of writing. Heroine
Eleanor doesn’t have the usual pony book heroine background. She’s the daughter
of a rock star (long since faded from the scene, though he keeps in touch) and
a folk musician. Eleanor’s not had a stable background, but at last her mother
has settled down with Kjell, a Swedish dentist, with whom she’s expecting a
baby. The family have moved to the south of England, and Eleanor’s about to
start yet another new school, which means yet another group of people who have
to get used to the fact the only way Eleanor’s going to look like everyone else
is if she grows another foot and puts on another stone.
Eleanor’s life has given her a fair degree of
self-possession, which she needs. The new school doesn’t go well, but there are
two things that make it a bit more bearable: a pony she’s found near her home,
alone in a field, and a boy, Pike. Pike, it turns out, knows the pony. He lives
on the same farm, which used to be a livery stable until his aunt sold off all
the ponies but this one, Mouse, who’s due to go off to rejoin the other horses
in a couple of weeks. But until then, Eleanor can ride.
There’s a lot that’s odd about Pike. He used to ride, but he
won’t now, and there are parts of his life he refuses to let Eleanor into,
despite their growing attraction. When he does let Eleanor in, what’s there
rocks her to her core.
Eleanor is a fantastic heroine: she’s fierce, funny and
observant. Katharina Marcus treats Eleanor’s dawning sexuality particularly
well: she steps back and lets her characters be as scared, enthralled and passionate
as people are, without ever tipping over into prurience. It’s a real challenge
to write sex scenes, particularly with teenagers. that do not give you the
feeling of being a literary peeping Tom, and it’s one Marcus succeeds in. There’s
considerably more to Eleanor and Pike than this though: both their lives are
changing utterly, and you are absolutely with them both as they negotiate the two
weeks before Mouse must go where she’ll be happiest, back with other horses.
This book is a cracking read, from an author who’s not
afraid to tackle what it’s really like being a teenager.
~ 0 ~
Thanks to the author
for sending me this book
Katharina Marcus:
Eleanor McGraw, a Pony Named Mouse and a Boy Called Fire
Kindle:, £0.98, $1.48
Paperback: £5.99
Age of main character: 13
The book has a parental advisory notice on the front: explicit
content
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