I Rode a Horse of Milk White Jade

Oyuna, a young girl living on the steppes of late 13th-century Mongolia, was "claimed" by the horse as a baby, when a mare stepped on her foot, crushing it and leaving her permanently crippled. Her family and clan members believe her crippled foot is bad luck, and Oyuna comes to believe it, too. But despite her family's efforts to keep her confined to the ger, or tent, Oyuna is determined to spend as much time as possible with her family's horses. Riding provides her with a freedom she cannot experience on the ground. On horseback, her lame foot does not matter. She dreams of having a swift horse of her own, and winning the famed long race at the festival in Karakorum. At last her father gives in, offering to buy her a horse of her choice. But instead of the swift horse of her dreams, Oyuna surprises both herself and her family by choosing an old, lame white mare. Over the winter, Oyuna spends all her spare time with the mare, whom she names Bayan, meaning "rich with beauty and goodness." Gradually Bayan's leg heals until she is once again sound enough to ride. Oyuna's shamaness grandmother recognizes something special in the white mare, and warns Oyuna that she must never lose her. But when men from the army of Kublai Khan arrive to take horses and young boys into their service, Oyuna is heartbroken when they select Bayan as one of the horses they will take. In order to stay with her beloved mare, she disguises herself as a boy and sets off with the army, thus beginning a journey full of both danger and adventure. Can she manage to overcome the bad luck that seems to follow her crippled leg, and make her own luck instead? This book is an excellent choice for any lover of horses and historical fiction. The language is simple enough that it could be read by anyone as young as 10, but the story is so well-crafted and captivating that it can be appreciated by readers of all ages. I received this book as a gift while in junior high and loved it. Now I am in college and have recently re-read it, finding it just as entertaining as ever. Diane Lee Wilson's prose is simple and clear, but possesses great depth and richness of detail. The story abounds with tradition and symbolism. Wilson intersperses the text with traditional Mongolian words for things like tents, animals, food items, and other objects, but their meaning is easily gleaned from the context, and any lingering confusion is solved with a glance at the glossary in the back. "I Rode a Horse of Milk White Jade" is a great tale, full of inspiring messages for young readers. This is one book that simply shouldn't be missed.

An enticing page-turner with thought-provoking twists, cultural reflections, courageous characters that the reader can really feel for, and even a few meaningful life lessons. With the turn of the very first page, Wilson paints a beautifully vivid picture of an ancient world. She does a superb job of writing a beginning that immediately captures the imagination. Right off the bat, Wilson pulls the reader into the fascinating yet dangerous world of the past. I Rode a Horse of Milk White Jade is an excellent recollection of a young girl's wish to succeed, and how nothing, not even bad luck, can stop her. Wilson does a flawless job of conjuring up characters with strong personalities and dreams. With a twist here and a turn there, Wilson keeps the reader interested throughout the course of the entire book. This story of courage, friendship and bravery is complete with the addition of a life lesson that leaves a mark on the reader's heart: never give up on your dreams.

I liked the book. It was very faced-paced and never got boring. It was emotional too. I would recommend this book to people who like to read about ancient China and horses. The book is about a girl named Oyuna who is crippled and her dream to find a swift horse. She has encounters with different people and animals.

This is a story within a story; Oyuna tells her life story to her granddaughter as they wait for the birth of a new foal. Oyuna was crippled shortly after her birth, when a horse stepped on her foot as she lay in the grass. Unable to walk well, she learned that horses gave her freedom of movement, and she learned to regard her disability as an indication that she was fated to be a great horsewoman. She grew up knowing the pain and shame of her difference from others. Not only was she a girl in a time and place where girls had little value, but she was a cripple, too. But having greater limitations than others drove her to even greater determination to attain her dreams. And this is the lesson that she passes on to her granddaughter.Oyuna followed her heart, buying an old mare despite her age and a lame leg because of the bond between them. And her strong bond with her horse, and her cat as well, became the greatest forces that shaped her life.The superstitions of her simple society permeate Oyuna's narrative, and it may require a bright and skillful reader to separate the real from the superstition in the tale. But for that reader, this is an enchanting and gripping story.

I got it for my 13-year-old, and read it before she did, bad move, but couldn't put it down. Humane, moving, never sappy, great girl character, mystery, romance, adventure, coming-of-age, but above all superlatively well-written. Splendid economy of writing. We used the similes for an English project, beautifully done. Even beats Harry Potter. We want more by this author!