I don't love the title, or the cover (my physical copy is different than the Storygraph Audio cover), I'm not a horse lover (although I have enjoyed other books by this author), so I was a little surprised at how much I liked this little book! While cleaning out bookshelves I came across this and stuck it in the pile for my Little Free Library. I then double checked ratings and availability (two different audio editions, both included in AudiblePlus, NO Kindle copies at libraries although they were available for purchase. The physical copy has quite a few illustrations, which add a little something extra. I'm afraid I may selfishly put this back on my home bookshelf instead of sharing it with the Little Library. 

Unlike so many fiction titles today, the physical copy had a Table of Contents complete with chapter headers. I love a TOC like that, one that I can look at and at a glance be reminded of the story ...
1. Joel Meets Little Bub
2. A Fuzzy Shadow
3. Northward to Vermont
4. Horse-Trader Hawkes
5. Pa Gets An Idea
6. Seven Years!
7. A Stranger Knocking
8. The Pulling Bee
9. Stronger'n a Ox
10. A Challenge from New York
11. High-Duck Dandies
12. Out of the Satchel
13. Bub Travels the Singing Circuit
14. The Auction Block
15. Little Bub Lost
16. "I'll Go to Plattsburg"
17. A Whinny in the Night
18. Justin Morgan and the President

The headers were NOT included in the audio TOC ... there were two choices, one narrated by Patrick Lawlor, the other by John McDonnough. At least the former had the same chapters as the book, the latter had "four" chapters, each about an hour in length, just basically broken up into parts, not actually following the chapters. I gave a little listen to both, and went with the former more for the chapter setup than the narration. 

There was one point (chapter 4) where Justin Morgan sings a little song. This is something I note. Does the narrator sing it, or patter-speak it? Lawlor did patter-speak, while McDonnough sang (even though it was a made up song). Later in the book, when The Star Spangled Banner was being sung, Lawlor did sing ... so maybe he was less confident in making up a melody than the singing itself. 

The book was published in 1945 - I can't recall the exact dates (I know the year, late 1700s... 1798 or something, was mentioned, couldn't find it again with a quick flip) ... a while later, the war of 1812 was taking place. I haven't read the book Warhorse (although I do have it in my TBR), I did see the movie, and this had shades of that - with the horse being taken for war, the boy following, hoping to find him. 

Times sure have changed! Young Joel, sent along with the school master on a journey (not something really allowed in today's world), then apprenticed (pretty much slave labor). The gambling/races, war ... there are SO many books set in WW2 times, it's interesting to get some insight into other wars. 

There is a foreword, and a bibliography (books consulted, as well as institutions and individuals). Like the "Misty" book, the inspiration is based on some real life people, places, events ... a real horse.