Grand Theft Horse
{{Italic title}}
{{for multi|the video game similar to Grand Theft Auto|Red Dead Redemption|horse theft in general|Horse theft}}{{Short description|2018 graphic novel by Greg Neri}}
{{Infobox book
| name = Grand Theft Horse
| image = Grand Theft Horse.jpg
| caption =
| author = G. Neri
| language = English
| country =
| genre =
| publisher = Lee & Low Books
| series =
| preceded_by =
| followed_by =
| pub_date = September 25, 2018
| pages =
| media_type = {{plainlist|
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| cover_artist =
| awards =
| illustrator = Corban Wilkin
| isbn = 9781620148556
}}
Grand Theft Horse is a 2018 graphic novel written by Greg Neri and illustrated by Corban Wilkin. The book is published by Lee & Low and is a biography of the horse trainer, Gail Ruffu.
About
Grand Theft Horse tells the story of the life of Gail Ruffu and especially chronicles the events surrounding the theft or rescue of the racehorse, Urgent Envoy.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tampabay.com/features/books/Review-G-Neri-s-Grand-Theft-Horse-a-thrilling-true-tale-of-a-woman-on-a-mission_172174561/|title=Review: G. Neri's 'Grand Theft Horse' a thrilling true tale of a woman on a mission|last=Bancroft|first=Colette|date=5 October 2018|website=Tampa Bay Times|language=en|access-date=2020-01-05}} Ruffu was worried that Urgent Envoy would be killed if he was raced again.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/g-neri/grand-theft-horse/|title=Grand Theft Horse|last=|first=|date=|website=Kirkus Review|access-date=5 January 2020}} She decided to take him away on Christmas Eve. The author, Greg Neri, focuses on the drama surrounding the possible injury to a beloved horse.{{Cite journal|last=Karp|first=Jesse|date=2018|title=Grand Theft Horse|url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lfh&AN=131839929&site=ehost-live|journal=Booklist|volume=115|issue=2|pages=46|url-access=subscription|via=EBSCOhost}} Illustrations in pen and ink by Corban Wilkin are described as "balancing realism with gently rounded and slightly exaggerated features that foreground emotional stakes," according to Booklist. Publishers Weekly compares the illustration style Wilkin used in Grand Theft Horse to Will Eisner's work.{{Cite web|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-62014-855-6|title=Grand Theft Horse|last=|first=|date=|website=Publishers Weekly|access-date=5 January 2020}}
The book includes photographs of Ruffu at the end of the story and also includes her "personal plea for reforms in the horse-racing industry."{{Cite journal|last=Auger|first=Tanya D.|date=2019|title=Grand Theft Horse|url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lfh&AN=133516620&site=ehost-live|journal=Horn Book Magazine|volume=95|issue=1|pages=118|url-access=subscription|via=EBSCOhost}} It is written for middle school and high school readers.
In 2019, Booklist named Grand Theft Horse as one of its "Top 10 Biographies for Youth" for the year.{{Cite journal|last=Khuri|first=Ronny|date=2019|title=Top 10 Biographies for Youth|url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lfh&AN=137121462&site=ehost-live|journal=Booklist|volume=115|issue=19|pages=74|url-access=subscription|via=EBSCOhost}}
Reviews
Horn Book Magazine wrote, "Intense and candid, the story underscores the risks and rewards of uncompromised activism." ForeWord Reviews calls the book "an inspirational tale, demonstrating the universal moral of standing up for one's beliefs, even if there's a steep price."{{Cite journal|last=Dabbene|first=Peter|date=2018|title=Grand Theft Horse|url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lfh&AN=131284616&site=ehost-live|journal=ForeWord Reviews|volume=21|issue=5|pages=70|url-access=subscription|via=EBSCOhost}}