The Island Horse is a story about the summer adventures of two characters: Janna and Alex. Both Janna and Alex have just finished the fifth grade. Janna is vacationing with her Grandmother and Grandfather at the Inn (The Inn of the Weary Traveler) on "Lovely Island." Janna and Alex meet one morning when Alex encounters Janna while hiding in the Inn's barn.He is hiding there because he is a runaway from the summer camp his parents sent him to: Camp Acadamia. Alex is a very intelligent but difficult young boy. Janna is a very intelligent but sheltered young girl. Alex presents himself superior to all others because of his high IQ and greater knowledge. This mode of presentation generates the story's conflict.

Janna's reaction to this conflict leads her to discover the existence of a legendary horse. The horse is legendary because it lives wild in the island and is rarely seen. Of course Alex challenges the veracity of this discovery and the chase is on to prove and/or disprove the reality of the legend.

On a deeper level this is a story of self-discovery for both Janna and Alex. In the process of discovering the horse and why the horse exists as it does they also discover certain qualities about themselves. Janna discovers that she has a heritage as deep as that claimed by Alex. As Alex discovers that the value of a person has more to do with what is unique about him or her rather than IQ or any specialized schooling. Alex discovers something very unique about himself.. Both children, in the process of adventure and tragedy, discover something very wonderful about the horse.