This gorgeous book for young readers is set in the
colourful American southwest. Quincy, a bright red Quarter
Horse, is inexperienced and takes advice from an older
friend at his stable. He is afraid of all the wild
creatures that he might meet on a trail ride. The
knowledgeable horse Beau tells him that rattlesnakes and
coyotes would prefer to get out of his way than harm him,
and the dangers come from other sources.
QUINCY AND BUCK go trail-riding one day; Buck is a grey
horse that Quincy has not met before and their owners are
friends. Buck knows all about the desert so Quincy decides
to follow him and be safe. But Buck turns out to be a
bully, and Quincy not only risks harm to himself and his
rider, he finds himself with a broken bridle and nobody
telling him what to do.
The paintings by Michelle Black which adorn every page
warmly bring the characters and surroundings to life.
The vibrant colours and textures jump off the page, while
mushroom-shaped rock formations look sparkling by morning
but sinister by evening. The trusting horse is a very
sympathetic character. Young readers everywhere will love
this series of adventures, which provide guidance on coping
with the challenges of growing up. The author Camille
Matthews suggests that this work will suit readers from
kindergarten to fourth grade. Personally this adult would
buy QUINCY AND BUCK just for the illustrations.
In his third adventure, Quincy the red horse finds himself
face to face with a bully. Afraid of the wild animals he
might encounter while trail riding in the desert, he seeks
out Buck as a trail buddy. But Quincy quickly learns that
Buck is a bully, and because bullies can be dangerous, it is
best to give them a wide berth where possible. Over the
course of the day, Buck shows that he is a coward underneath
a mean facade, and Quincy falls back on his own strengths,
conquers his fears, and makes it home safely. His tale takes
young readers on a very real trail ride where they will feel
the sun on their backs, hear the crunch of Quincy's hooves
in the sand wash, and see the ominous late afternoon shadows
as the sun begins to set. The story encourages empathy and
love for animals while expanding horizons and providing a
framework for helping children identify and deal with the
complex emotions and interactions involved in bullying.
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