I would like to start this post by thanking Gita V. Reddy for providing me with a copy of her book, Hunt for the Horseman. She thought I might enjoy it because of past reviews I’ve written of books such as Serafina and the Black Cloak. She was right! Hunt for the Horseman is an adventure story for young readers in which Sandy, who has lived her whole life in the United States, travels with her parents to her mother’s home country of India. There she meets her very large extended family, complete with several cousins, who are descendants of royalty and still own the family palace. The children embark on a hunt throughout the palace, which was built with several secret passageways and hiding places, searching for the legendary horseman toy that was supposedly hidden by an ancestor long ago.

This story was not only creative and adventurous but also had a good mystery. Sandy’s family is at risk of losing the family palace to some dangerous people and when strange things start happening and people go missing, no one knows quite what to think or do.

I enjoyed this book because the adventure and double mystery of looking for the horseman while trying to save the palace held my attention. I enjoyed Sandy’s extended family, especially their diversity. The children each had their own unique qualities that made them stand out in the huge family, which is important. It’s easy for kids to feel “lost in the crowd” or like they don’t fit in or stand out. I liked the way Reddy gave each character his or her own qualities and personality rather than describing Sandy’s cousins like a generic pool of relatives. There was also a nice peek into Indian culture. When Reddy’s characters used an Indian word that may be unfamiliar for young readers (or even some of us older readers!) she also included a definition of the word, so this book was educational as well as entertaining.

All in all, this was a delightful read which held my interest. If you or your young ones enjoy adventure and mystery stories or stories involving big families, family heritage, or Indian culture, you should definitely check out this book.

My Review: 4 out of 5 stars!

One of my favorite passages from the book:

“Sandy relaxed after that. Though she sometimes forgot to join her hands while saying Namaste, she happily submitted to some more hugs, kisses and handshakes and even the friendly punch she received. No longer self-conscious, she enjoyed the very warm welcome. She did not try to understand the relationships either. They were all family and a very loving one at that. By the time she went to bed, she already felt very much at home in the beautiful palace which was filled with the happy voices of people, old and young.” – Hunt for the Horseman

You can order Hunt for the Horseman here.