The Winter Horses

3.5 StarsThis book turned into something unexpected for me. Not necessarily a bad thing as the turns were interesting in their own right, but my expectations going in and how the book started made me not appreciate them as much as another reader might.I went into the book expecting an engaging survival story against the elements (Ukraine in winter, enough said!!), escape from the Nazis, and a helping hand from fellow humans. And I got all those. Kalinka was a smart girl who found herself swept up into the tragic events of the Holocaust and WWII. Striking out on her own across Nazi-occupied Ukraine, she finds help from some unexpected quarters. I found her journey through the many parts of this devastated land suspenseful and illuminating for her character.I also liked the secondary characters; they were well-fleshed out and enthralling. Of course, Max shines as Kalinka’s savior. A sweet older man who has made it his life’s work to protect and work with the animals on his preserve, he stands as a bright light against the darkness of persecution and despair. I even liked the Nazi Captain Grenzmann. He had a certain charm about him, even though he also embodied all that was evil about the Nazis. He actually illustrated well how scary the Nazis could be: outwardly helpful and charming but willing to put a bullet in your head at the slightest cause on the inside.The main animal characters of Temujin, Borte, and Taras were also given pretty strong personalities, to the degree that they could hold “conversations” with Kalinka and each other. They had distinct personality traits like stubbornness, protectiveness, and a strong will.This is actually where the book started to go in a different direction than I expected. It never comes out the animals are having actual conversations with Kalinka; it’s more like an intuitive knowing what the other is trying to get across and what-not. Yet, it’s enough that the book slides into historical fantasy rather than a survival/WWII story. Those elements are still there, but the fantasy elements start to take over, with more and more of these “conversations” happening to the point that they are most of the exchanges we see.There’s also the whole tomb thing as the finale of the book. That is pretty much ENTIRELY fantasy with visions, dream chats, and help from celestial bodies. Maybe the animal conversations were building up to this so it wouldn’t completely feel out of step with the book, but I was still jarred. I was looking for more of a realistic showdown/resolution with the chasing Nazis rather than this fantastical stuff. Left me a bit disappointed and feeling cheated.So not a bad book but not what I was expecting. I loved the characters, even the horses and dog, as well as the WWII/survival elements. The story itself was suspenseful and kept me engaged. But the heavy presence and use of fantasy elements drove the book into unexpected directions and left me jarred. They didn’t work for me. Maybe another reader would appreciate them and like them better. I don’t know.

The Winter Horses is a middle grade book about a young Jewish girl who escapes death at the hands of the Nazis in her small village and ends up in an old Ukrainian zoo that is looked after by an elderly man named Max. The zoo has been overtaken by the SS and many of the animals, much to Max's horror are slaughtered to feed the soldiers. When Max discovers that two very special and nearly extinct Przewalski (pronounced Shuh-VAHL-skeez) horses have been spared and are being tended to by a thin, freezing girl he steps in to help them and puts his own life on the line.Blending magical realism and history, Kerr has spun a unique story of survival during a bleak time in history. The name Kalinka is taken from a Ukrainian folk song and she is a great heroine in this book as she makes her escape from the zoo bound southward to find the Red Army as the SS close in on her and the horses which are to be put to death as they're too deemed an inferior breed and should be cleansed from the Earth.I enjoyed this tale. Though it deals with the random killing of zoo animals by the brutal SS, it isn't too graphic in nature. I enjoyed the tale of Kalinka and her love of animals made the story worthwhile. Old man Max is a gentle soul who adds character and depth to the story. The descriptions of war and brutality are given a go over in this book but not overly so, and I think this is an age appropriate tale for kids who like history.

More timely than the author and publisher could have known. I foresee some prize nominations. This book is magical and real, filled with love and death and hope. I was lucky to receive a review copy from the publisher, but I have just bought two copies to send as gifts. I wish I could see the author's note, for I am sure there is a personal connection for him somewhere.At any rate: It's WWII. The Germans have invaded Russia. Young Kalinka is on the run after everyone in her village is killed by the Nazis. No one will take her in, for she is a Jew. Old Max lives in a cottage on a nature preserve (founded by a German). The horses, living history--the horses of the cave-paintings--take Kalinka under their wings, taking pity on her. Nazis come to the nature preserve.War is a force that brings meaning to our lives--it reveals the worst and the best of the human character, and it's all on display here. Good and evil are everywhere, it's up to each of us to choose--and the natural world is caught up in the drama, too. Story is a wonderful vehicle for not only thinking about these things, but feeling our way to what our own reactions and answers will be as we grow into our futures. There are a couple of places where the dialogue seems stilted and unreal (fictional!), but the story is meant to be mysterious and compelling, and it is. The author never plays it false with feeling.Keeping it on my personal shelves for re-reading. Highly recommended. For middle-schoolers, I would read as a class and discuss or make sure my advanced reader had somebody to talk to about it.

I found the story very interesting. Of course, you have a young girl during WWll, in the winter, trying to save some horses from the NAZI's - what could be more interesting!!!. It's ot boring. If you're a fast reader, you'll probably finish it in one sitting!!!

Philip Kerr can usually be relied upon to deliver intelligent, witty, and enjoyable reading, often with WW2 going on around the "action".This book follows this formula without being similar to any of his other books set in this period.He succeeds in creating real, but unconnected people- a female sniper, rare horse preservers, some real baddies,and some good guys all of who come together convincingly and excitingly.I am only now starting to read Kerr's non-WW" books- all excellent so far-but enjoyed what could have been a harrowing tale-but wasn't because it focussed on the good in people rather than the darker side, though baddies were always around and threatening to upset the apple cart!

While I am a big fan of his Burnie Gunther series, I found this, although well written, to be a bit too maudlin and anthropomorphic.

"The Winter Horses" is a real change of pace and style from Philip Kerr. Because of that it may not be as easy to get into as many of his other books for loyal readers, but it is certainly worth persevering. The story builds slowly and proceeds somewhat in the style of a folktale, but don't be put of by that.There is a lot of heart in the book. It strikes me as perhaps aimed at the young adult demographic, but it is a good read for adults as well, provided they are willing to suspend disbelief to an extent, as one would do reading a magical-realist novel.Overall I enjoyed it very much, once I got into its rhythm, and would have rated it 5 stars, or 4.5 if possible, but for some of the dialogue which struck me as clunky and badly in need of an editor's blue pencil.This was quite unexpected from Philip Kerr, who elsewhere has shown himself a master of dialogue and witty one-liners. In this book, however, when seeking to transmit big chunks of historical or zoological information Kerr often chose to do so by inserting it into spoken exchanges between characters which I, at least, found quite impossible to imagine them ever actually saying. This blemish is my only real criticism of the book

Very good book, very touching story.

Reading

,my friends I like his books and have a number of the. Fuentes series and will continue to read the Josip broz