The Transfigured Hart

By Jane Yolen

Book Overview

In this new novel by the author of The Wild Hunt and Wizard's Hall, a boy and a girl form an unlikely friendship to protect a unicorn from hunters. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0152011951
• ISBN13: 9780152011956
• Release Date: January 1975
• Publisher: Harcourt Childrens Books
• Length: 110 Pages
• Weight: 0.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.0" x 0.5" x 4.5"
• Age Range: 10 to 14 years
• Grade Range: Grades 5 to 9

Customer Reviews

The Power of Belief

I have just read two short novels by Jane Yolen. The second of these is THE TRANSFIGURED HART. Hunting season is about to begin and a white deer is spotted separately by to schoolmates. One believes him to be a unicorn while the other believes him to be a white deer. Soon the two discover that their secret is known by the other. But the boy manages to convince the girl that the creature really is a unicorn and they must save it from the coming hunt. This is an interesting tale that has a white deer transformed by the power of belief into a creature of magic and legend. A very entertaining, but short, tale of conviction and desperation.

Sweet story

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.

The Transigured Hart

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.

"Hart" Enchants

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.