Out of the Valley of Horses

An unusual tale about a hidden valley and majestic horses, Out of the Valley of Horses by Wendy Orr is a timely story about survival.

Honey’s family packed their bags one day to try and escape an illness that was threatening the world. They hopped into the ice cream van and drove until they crossed a river and through the mist to a beautiful valley filled with mysterious horses. For seven years they have lived in the valley but when one of her family members is in danger, Honey must lead the family out of the valley no matter what may be waiting for them.

This story did take me a couple tries to complete. It goes to show that oftentimes readers may not be ready for a story, that sometimes we have to put things down and revisit them at a different time because life will ebb and flow and our ability to process stories will ebb and flow along. My first attempt was on my own, just reading before bed. It was when I started reading the story with The Bee that it really came alive for me and for her.

Wendy Orr captivates readers with her clever and timely narrative. We, too, are living in a time, post a fast spreading and unknown illness. The story of Honey and her family seems quite idyllic at first. Wouldn’t we all have loved to escape to a beautiful valley instead of being stuck in our homes day in and day out? I love how this story reflects the comfort of the initial time spent in the valley with the need to escape and have some faith that things on the other side will be okay.

I particularly love the text messages and email messages at the end of each chapter, sent to Honey’s family from the “outside world” so that readers know that there has not been an apocalypse and there are people that love their family looking for them and worrying about them.

The story comes to a dramatic head, taking the story in an exciting direction and leaving the readers' hearts pumping. It’s a beautiful story of family and rebuilding with a little bit of magic sprinkled throughout.