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The island horse

Susan Hughes - Author

The story follows a bereaved girl adjusting to a remote island, where a new friendship and her bond with a wild horse become important as the horse family faces a threat.

More about this book

"Ellie believes that she will live in her little village on the coast of Nova Scotia for always. But when her father gets a job on Sable Island, she must say farewell to her beloved home and her mother's final resting place. Not even the idea of seeing the wild horses that roam the island can ease her pain of leaving. And after arriving on the sandy, windswept crescent of land, Ellie feels adrift and alone ... until one afternoon when she wakens on a dune to find herself looking into the curious eyes of a wild stallion. Little by little, as the days pass, Ellie gets closer to the beautiful chocolate-colored horse. Yet she soon discovers something that could take him away from his home, his herd, and her. Ellie has lost too much already. Will she loose her island horse, too?"--Page 2 of cover.

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Book Analysis

At a Glance

Discover

Grief· ExplainedLoneliness· ExplainedFriendship· Explained

Consider

Grief and lossFamily disruptionViolence and harm

Personalised Fit

Beyond the Cover

grieflonelinessfriendshipconnection with animals

FictionIllustrated book

Themes in Context

A changing sense of belonging

After leaving her former home, Ellie feels alone and angry; meeting Sarah and Orchid brings new relationships into her life.Exploratory / explanatory

How the book presents it: The plot links a major change in Ellie’s circumstances with the relationships she begins to form, tracing a shift in her emotional world.

Talk about: What seems to change for Ellie as she gets to know Sarah and Orchid?

Why It May Be Worth Reading

It brings together bereavement, loneliness, adapting to a move and care for animals, giving readers several strands to think about beyond the island setting.

What Deserves Attention

Ellie's mother has recently died, and Ellie leaves her former home and her mother's resting place. Her anger and grief are part of the story.

A Conversation Worth Having

If Ellie feels alone after the move, what might help her feel more connected—to people, to the island, or to the horses?

Reading Approach

Consider pausing around the move to let your child talk about changes or loss in their own terms; return to the story when they are ready.

Confidence & Basis

Theme indicators describe how the book presents a topic; they are not a verdict on the whole book or your family's values. Confidence reflects how much book-specific material was checked. Only part of the book information was available, so some details remain unconfirmed.

What remains unconfirmed

A changing sense of belonging: The thread focuses on Ellie’s adjustment to the move and the new relationships she begins to form.

The Island Horse - Susan Hughes - Google Books

Limited information

Checked: 1 October 2026.

Relevant to: A changing sense of belonging

The island horse by Susan Hughes | Open Library