KING OF THE WIND

KING OF THE WIND by Marguerite Henry

King of the Wind is the story of Sham, the Godolphin Arabian, whose bloodline affects the racing horses we still watch today.

Opening in Morocco, author Maguerite Henry introduces us to Sham, a prize Arabian horse of the Sultan's stables, and Agba, the young, mute boy who cares for him. When the Sultan decides he wants to foster a good relationship with France, he sends seven of his best horses and their stable boys as a gift for the boy king. Included in that group are Sham and Agba. Unbeknownst to the Sultan, the ship captain responsible for carrying the precious cargo across the ocean pockets the money. The horses and their stable boys arrive in terrible condition. What is supposed to be an extremely valuable gift is laughed out of the royal stables. The horses are divided and sent to lives of employment. We follow the life of Sham.

What makes King of the Wind a worthwhile read for this age group? The first reason is that the story covers three countries: Morocco, France, and England. The second is the unwavering dedication of Agba, the stable boy, to Sham. No matter what difficulties they encounter, Agba remains faithful to the care of Sham. His dedication and care are examples to us of what friendship is all about. Third, this is a story of redemption.

Although not all things turn out quite as expected in the end, the life of Sham and Agba are redeemed from a life of hardship to one that finally acknowledges their worth.