An unusually short novel, "White Hart" is poignant and mysterious, magical and an unusual tale of friendship. Jane Yolen draws on some of the themes she does best for this book, and the result definitely won't disappoint.

Richard is a dreamy young boy who is sick a great deal, and as a result he reads a great deal. And when he gets a glimpse of a white animal running through the woods near his home, he is convinced that it is the mythical unicorn. But it is also seen by Heather Fielding (referred to simply as an "enjoyer") who becomes entwined in Richard's search for the unicorn.

Heather is skeptical of Richard's claim, thinking that the creature is really an albino deer. However she begins to agree with Richard, and the two becomes friends as they research unicorns. But when the white hart is threatened by discovery, will their friendship be strong enough?

Perhaps the worst thing about "Transfigured Hart" is that it can be read in about half an hour, and as a result the reader may be left craving more and finding that there's nothing more. The writing ranges from the everyday to the absolutely mystical, sprinkled through with trivia and legends about unicorns without seeming too instructional. And in true Yolen style, there is always the question of what exactly the white hart is -- did Richard and Heather see a unicorn, or did they see what they wanted to see? What kind of creature is it? The short chapters focusing on it will have readers puzzling it out.

Richard will capture the attention and sympathy of the readers. He's a Fox Mulder of the fantastical, a kid who can wholeheartedly believe in things that others scoff at as legends. At the same time, he acknowledges the origins and legends. Heather is a less believable character, as she often seems a little forced in her attitude. But the testing of their friendship is well-done.

Yolen aptly displays that the unicorn was not always a cute little decoration, but a compelling legend and a powerful symbol. "Transfigured Hart" is a simple and beautiful story, which anyone looking for an unusual, well-written read should check out.

This book is short but sweet. It centers around three characters: Heather, a fairly outgoing young girl who likes to ride her horse in the woods, Richard, a sick young boy who rarely does anything but read, and the Hart, a white Unicorn/stag. They meet in the woods one day and live up to the saying that opposites attract--the kids are complete opposites but take to each other immediately. They meet on accident because they both saw the hart in the bushes and went to look for it.

This book is enchanting, however quite short. You could easily read this in less than an hour, but you'll think about it for a long time. The descriptions of the hart and his feelings are great, as well as the sketches of the characters' personalities. Both kids are so 'loud' to the reader despite the length of the book. They are completely developed and well-rounded. Sweet story. A good read.

Richard is a sickly young orphan living with his aunt and uncle. He prefers the company of books to that of other children, and resents his aunt and uncle's suggestions that he make some friends. One day, while reading in a glade in the woods, Richard spots a beautiful white animal by a shimmering pond. He only sees it for a moment, but is sure that it was either a white deer, a hart... or a unicorn. He decides that it must be a unicorn, and begins studying unicorn mythology. But, unbeknowst to him, someone else has also seen the hart. Heather, a happy, popular girl in his school who comes from a family with three older brothers, has also seen it, though she decides that it's an albino deer.

When Heather and Richard meet in the glade, they are first unhappy to realize that their secret isn't theirs alone, but come to decide that they will try to tame the hart together.

A gentle and truly magical tale of friendship, innocence, and the power of imagination. Richard and Heather are likable characters, and their quest to find and then free the unicorn has both appealingly humorous and realistic details and a true mythic resonance.

Jane Yolen has been called the greatest writer of fairy tales since Hans Christian Andersen, and this book proves it once again.

The book I read was called Hannah of Fairfield by Jean Van Leeuwen. This book takes place in Fairfield, Connecticut during the war of Independence. Hannah's brother Ben wants to join the army but his father says "no" at first . Then they see the British march forward and the people in Fairfield think they are coming there. They walk right past them to Danbury and burn down the town. That is when Ben's father decides to let Ben join the army . Hannah and her mother and her sister have to sew all of Bens clothes in two days. They finish and Ben leaves to join General Washington's army.

I recommend this book for people that like old time books. My favorite part is when Hannah is sewing Ben's clothes. She stitches an "H" in the collar of his shirt. She was hoping one day he would find the "H" and remember her.

This was a sweet story about a little girl, Hannah, who is almost nine years old, and lives with her family on a farm in Fairfield, Connecticut, in 1777. Hannah hates chores like sewing, knitting, and spinning. She'd rather take care of the baby lambs. She gets her chance when she saves the life of a baby lamb she names Smoke. And when her brother, Ben, goes off to fight for freedom in the war, Hannah does her part helping to get him ready. I enjoyed this book.

Mustard is a playful cat that has been with Alex's family for 14 years. They are all very attached to him. When they visit the vet, Dr. Griffith, for Mustard's yearly check-up, they are told to keep Mustard from having any stress. The problem is Barney, the newspaper boy's mean dog...and that's when the trouble starts.

I read this book in the in the 5th grade back in 1986 and loved it. Til this day, I still remember it and will definately purchase it again just so I can read it again. It is a very good book that left me in tears through it. Get out your kleenex if you plan on reading it. I recommend this book to all children and adults.

I bought a used copy of this book after seeing a glowing recommendation on the web.

This fairy tale book is certainly not for children, and probably not for adults either. This book teaches that two young people may have an infatuation that is a "greater love" than anyone else has ever known. And what better way to show your love? The answer of this book: Commit suicide!

What a vile and dangerous lesson, especially for teenagers.