Reviews

Hinton returns to familiar ground in her first novel in nearly 10 years. Her protagonist is a street-wise youth who exhibits both toughness (he once tried to kill his stepfather) and sensitivity (he is a writer who, in the course of the novel, sells his first book). As the story opens, Travis is on his way from juvenile hall to his uncle's ranch, where, for the first time, his toughness leaves others unimpressed, and where he identifies with the Star Runner, a beautiful, dangerous horse that refuses to be tamed. A friend from the city calls on Travis for help when he becomes mixed up in a couple of violent murders, causing Travis to wonder, as he readies his manuscript for publication, whether will or merely luck kept him from a similar fate. Much of the critical action of this novel occurs offstage, between characters readers have had little opportunity to know. As a result, the novel lacks the gripping immediacy and emotional intensity that have distinguished Hinton's previous novels. As in her other works, however, Hinton portrays her characters with sympathy and yet commendably refuses to gloss over rough edges or gritty truths. Ages 12-up. (Oct.)

Gr 7-10 Devoted fans will leap on Hinton's new novel, yet her protagonist Travis is no Tex (Delacorte, 1979). On the surface, this 15 year old resembles the classic misfits from the author's previous books; however, Travis lacks Tex' zest for living. Released from juvenile hall to cool down at his uncle's Oklahoma horse ranch, he acts the role of sensitive punkhe looks like a rebel and flies into violent rages, yet he seeks to publish his novel and he loves his cat. He wants to be left alone, but he suffers from being ignored by the ``hicks'' at school. The high point of his introspective retreat is his attraction to Casey, the riding instructor who leases his uncle's barn. The scenes of stable chores, riding lessons, and horse shows may interest some readers, while the equestrian jargon will mean nothing to the book's primary audience. Hinton uses a horse, Star Runner, as a counterpart to Travis to illustrate her theme of life's quirks: some win, some don't. Without making much of an effort, Travis ends up a winneralive, free from jail, and a published author. Hinton builds a sparse plot around a predominately bleak theme. Although the story isn't fleshed out, tough-guy Travis will appeal to a certain readership. Others will find him forgettable, especially compared to his fictional predecessors. Charlene Strickland, formerly at Albuquerque Pub . Library , N.M