Gift Horse

From School Library Journal Grade 4-6-Matt's dream of owning a real horse seems about to come true when his eccentric Uncle Oliver promises to send him one. Forty long pages later, with no real notice to the boy or his parents, a Norwegian Fjord horse and four bales of hay are delivered to his house. With help from his brother, sister, and best friend, Matt attempts to keep the horse happy and healthy in the converted barn/garage behind their house. Then they try to convince their parents that this is feasible in a modern neighborhood. Problems with zoning laws come to a head at the local pet show, when Matt is also forced to confront his horse's need for room to roam. A slow and awkward beginning, with an overwhelming number of undeveloped characters and extraneous events, distract readers from the overall plot. A rather abrupt ending, in which Matt finally realizes and resignedly accepts that his gift horse was only temporary, is a little harsh. This novel is not outstanding among the many stories of this genre where ignorant child gets horse, and both child and horse are fortunate not to be injured.