A Whisper of Horses

"In this densely plotted dystopian novel, newly orphaned 12-year-old Serendipity sets out in search of supposedly extinct horses. ...Bethell's inventive heroine propels an action-packed adventure."--Publishers Weekly

"Bethell turns all the old formulas on their head.... As with all good fantasy, there is a strong requisite of reality...the narrative is driven by the skillfully articulated sentiments of a horse-obsessed girl."--The Telegraph (U.K.), five stars

"Inside the walled city of Lahn Dan, Serendipity and her mother live as Pbs, the lowest of the city's three castes. When Serendipity's mother dies, she leaves Serendipity a figurine of a horse, an animal that has long been extinct in the world. Soon, she learns more about her mother's history and discovers a map that might lead to horses. ...This debut offers up a solid dose of middle-grade adventure."--Booklist -Bethell turns all the old formulas on their head.... As with all good fantasy, there is a strong requisite of reality...the narrative is driven by the skillfully articulated sentiments of a horse-obsessed girl.---The Telegraph (U.K.), five stars

-Inside the walled city of Lahn Dan, Serendipity and her mother live as Pbs, the lowest of the city's three castes. When Serendipity's mother dies, she leaves Serendipity a figurine of a horse, an animal that has long been extinct in the world. Soon, she learns more about her mother's history and discovers a map that might lead to horses. When unnerving members of the upper caste start showing an interest in Serendipity, she joins forces with Tab, a scrappy orphan boy, and his dog, Mouse, fleeing out into the world in search of horses--if only the world they're running from doesn't catch up to them first....This debut offers up a solid dose of middle-grade adventure.---Booklist "Bethell turns all the old formulas on their head.... As with all good fantasy, there is a strong requisite of reality...the narrative is driven by the skillfully articulated sentiments of a horse-obsessed girl."--The Telegraph (U.K.), five stars

"Inside the walled city of Lahn Dan, Serendipity and her mother live as Pbs, the lowest of the city's three castes. When Serendipity's mother dies, she leaves Serendipity a figurine of a horse, an animal that has long been extinct in the world. Soon, she learns more about her mother's history and discovers a map that might lead to horses. When unnerving members of the upper caste start showing an interest in Serendipity, she joins forces with Tab, a scrappy orphan boy, and his dog, Mouse, fleeing out into the world in search of horses--if only the world they're running from doesn't catch up to them first....This debut offers up a solid dose of middle-grade adventure."--Booklist "Bethell turns all the old formulas on their head.... As with all good fantasy, there is a strong requisite of reality...the narrative is driven by the skillfully articulated sentiments of a horse-obsessed girl."--The Telegraph (U.K.), five stars