DISCLOSURE: I RECEIVED THIS COMPLIMENTARY PRODUCT THROUGH THE HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW.

One of the things I have loved about being on the Homeschool Review Crew has been the exposure to authors and series that we never would have known about otherwise. Even things you encounter rarely fall into the category of items you’re willing to spend money on without knowing much about it. A few years ago, we were introduced to Mattie Richardson’s Horses in History Series through a review that certainly fed my children’s love for all things horses. Getting the chance to read her latest, Blue Skies West from Appaloosy Books has been a real bonus treat for them, especially my daughter.

What We Received:

We received one 140-page paperback book, Blue Skies West - As told by: BLUE, A Horse on the Oregon Trail from Appaloosy Books in a beautiful turquoise package that included her autograph on the first page too!

How It Works:

The Horses in History series is designed to teach readers more about important events in U.S. History. By telling stories through the perspective of the horses, readers are engaged in a much different way than most history books offer. Blue Skies West introduces you to what it was like traveling on the Oregon Trail years ago, complete with hardships, struggles and deaths. As the author discusses in the back of the book, she does not shy away from the tragic realities of history but strives to remain as historically accurate as possible while treating them with sensitivity. Using dialogue and movements from the horses, there is an element of fairy tale that sweetens up the hard parts but facilitates an added dimension of historical perspective.

What We Thought:

A homeschoolers favorite thing is to combine two or more subjects at once in ways that reinforce everything in a better way than on their own. Horses, history and reading are combined in Blue Skies West and we love it! We will certainly hit historical events in our history curriculum, but this avenue allows all kinds of things to seep in and stick far longer than a straightforward history lesson. Even more interesting is that Mattie Richardson, the author, wrote her first Horses in History book when she was 13 years old! Her story and career are a great example of someone pursuing goals long before adulthood. Supporting her as an author and sharing the fruits of her labor with my family is satisfying thing. My 9 year old daughter is the one who read this one (though her and her 11 year old brother have read all of her others) and she said it was just as good as the others! When I asked her about it, she assured me it was really good except there were some sad parts, where a couple of kids die. She didn’t mention them while she was reading the book though so I don’t think it disturbed her reading or anything. From an educational perspective, this book could set the stage for a further dive into the historical events as a unit study. My children are wild about horses so these are the perfect enticement for engagement and further learning.

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Looking for a different perspective on this book and author? Check out the other reviews through the link below.