The Horse's Shadow, By Lawrence Scanlan, Penguin Canada

I wasn't warming up to the idea of reading a teen fiction novel about a gender bending girl and her horses. But in the Horse's Shadow, Lawrence Scanlan captured the feel and camaraderie between a human and animal. Scanlan has written several horse related books, including, Wild About Horses, Little Horses of Iron, and worked with Monty Roberts on the New York Times Best Seller, Man Who Listens to Horses. He has successfully captured the life of a habitant, on a Quebec farm, the hardships that were endured and the choices that had to be made to survive in Canada during the mid 1800's.The story unfolds from the eyes of thirteen year old, Claire Vigere, the youngest of four children in the Vigere family. She sees two options. First, she sees her future her mother's life, "with endless tasks". "From cradle to coffin, from dawn to dusk, and then some, the women of the Canadas worked. Sometimes they worked themselves to death." They worked as cleaners, cookers, planters, harveste
rs, knitters, mothers and fixers of all things.The other option is to follow her "heart and not her head", and become a groom and horse trainer, a gift that has been bestowed on Claire since birth. This would mean leaving her secure village and her family to pursue something that would take her away from the fate presented to most teenage girls of the area. This idea secretly pleased Claire's mother who dreamed of a better future for her only daughter.One night, Claire's life changed forever. Claire's most beloved Canadian horses, Beau Albert and Petit Albert, had been sold to a dealer, Tip Weldon, buying mounts for the United States Civil war that raged south of the border. The setting invites you to become a part of the action, and you feel the betrayal that Claire felt.Under the cover of nightfall, Claire stealthily hid in the back of the dealer's wagon and travelled unnoticed, south to Massachusetts, where her horses were to be assigned to cavalry officers.She disguised
herself as a deaf, mute, war orphan, named Clint Flynn. "Good Worker. Good with horses," Clint's calling card stated. Proving that Clint was good with horses was an easy task and Tip Weldon was ready to "Sign him on, find him a uniform that fits and give him some food." The story of Clint (Claire) as a member of the 1st Massachusetts Cavalry is told with clarity and excitement.I thought it was a farfetched idea that girls could disguise themselves and flee to fight in a Civil war in another country. I was mistaken. Although not too common, it did occur. One such story is of Sarah Emma Edmonds (1842-1849), Nova Scotia born, dressed in men's clothing, cut her hair, took a man's name and was 'sworn in' as a male nurse in the Union Army. Her masquerades continued as she took on spying missions. She disguised herself many times and penetrated confederate lines as a black man, an Irish peddler woman, a black laundress, and southern sympathizer. The many disguises of Sarah Emma Edm
onds makes Claire's story all the more believable.The history of the Quebec area is incomplete without including the impact the 'little horse of iron". They were, and still are, a part of the French Canadian way of life. Lawrence Scanlan's knowledge and love of the Canadian breed is apparent as he marries the story of Claire Vigere, a Quebecois Habitant, with his love of the breed. It is interesting to note that one of the foundation sires of the Canadian breed is the Viger line. Very close spelling to Claire Vigere.On many occasions I felt myself be drawn into the story and felt the power of the horses as they surged over obstacles. The kinship between Claire and her horses is true to form and honestly depicted throughout the book.Throughout the story, you are lead into the meagre life and rich history of the era. This offers the opportunity to introduce some interesting and truly Canadian characters. You meet offspring of Irish immigrants, descendants of slaves and the fam
ous Canadian artist Cornelius Krieghoff even makes an appearance.Each chapter of the book reveals a vignette that shaped Claire's existence. At times, the introduction of the vignette stories catches you off guard, sending you down a path that seems unrelated. Ultimately, the stories show how the character was shaped and developed by past events. One such account is the "Bailiff's Wagon" which seemed out of place but later showed how genuinely penniless the habitant were.Lawrence Scanlan has developed a believable story of a French Canadian family and their strong family bonds. Claire Vigere is The Horse's Shadow as she has a gift of 'the horse' and also she follows the horses and becomes their shadow as they travel to new territories. The Horse's Shadow is the realistic chronicle of a young habitant girl, her struggle to overcome the obstacles thrown in her path and her courage to follow her heart.

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