The Devil in Ol' Rosie

Ol' Rosie, a cranky, old mare, has escaped the corral and has led ten of the Nolan's other horses into the stark mountains of eastern Oregon. It's not the first time, but for Wart's pa, this is a particularly desperate situation. On their ranch -- as on any ranch in 1907 -- horses are the key to a rancher's livelihood. So when Ol' Rosie and the other horses run off, somebody has to go catch them. But Wart's ma is having a baby. His pa needs to stay with her and to watch his little brother Danny. That leaves twelve-year-old Wart with the dangerous and critical charge of rounding up their runaway horses by himself. Struggling through the rugged wilderness and facing almost overwhelming peril, Wart must keep his wits about him. "I stood there for another minute trying to think. The wind had been knocked out of me but I was beginning to breathe better. I was miles from home. It was late afternoon -- soon to be dark. I was hurt. Gypsy was lame. Worst of all, I knew that the cougar was out there -- close to me. I was bleeding and he was hunting." With each successive threat, Wart becomes more determined to defy the frightening odds against him and prove his worth to his stern, critical pa. Wart is sent on a mission to save his family's ranch, and along the way he learns that despite his youth and insecurity, he possesses the knowledge and spirit to survive and eventually triumph.

Author: Louise Moeri
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Published: 06/02/2009
Pages: 208
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.42lbs
Size: 8.00h x 5.00w x 0.53d
ISBN: 9781442402027

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 5.3
Point Value: 6
Interest Level: Middle Grade
Quiz #/Name: 45349 / Devil in Ol' Rosie

About the Author
Louise Moeri is the author of a number of books for children, including Star Mother's Youngest Child and Save Queen of Sheba. She lives in California.

Dan Andreasen is the illustrator of numerous picture books, including By the Dawn's Early Light: The Story of the Star-Spangled Banner by Steven Kroll, which was named an ABA Kids' Pick of the Lists and a Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies; A Quiet Place by Douglas Wood; and Sailor Boy Jig by Margaret Wise Brown. He has also authored several picture books, including With a Little Help from Daddy and A Special Day for Mommy. Dan lives with his family in Medina, Ohio.