From a structure, story, and writing perspective, I find it pretty much perfect. I read Indian Horse, his previous novel and rated it 4/5. I recall that it sat inside me for days after I finished reading it and I suspect this one will too. 
 I liked the way that Franklin's birth story was revealed over the course of the book, as Eldon slowly talked about the past. (view spoiler)[The reveal that "the old man" was Bunky was excruciating, as was the story of the circumstances of his birth. That love triangle was beautiful and heartbreaking: Bunky, Eldon, and Franklin's mother. (hide spoiler)] 
 I particularly liked the travelling bits. I am not a horse person, but the details about the mare, leading her through the foothills, how Eldon was tied to the post and stirrups, how Franklin made camp each night and cleared up when they left. Those sections were written so beautifully, so respectfully of the forest and demonstrative of the skills that Franklin had learned from the old man. Like in Indian Horse, Wagamese has this very authentic way of exposing indigenous knowledge and experience to those of us who are emigrants to Canada. 
 There was deep spirituality in this novel. Not in a commonplace, or organized religion way, but in a communion with nature and human life. Franklin's care for his father, even after the crushing disappointments that he'd faced all through his young life, was a testament to deep love, even if Franklin didn't realise it. (view spoiler)[The sections on the death and burial of his father were intensely moving. My sense is that this was Franklin's Bar Mitzvah, or initiation into manhood. When he returns to the old man's house, he rides the other horse, Bucky's horse, out to the mountain where he has the vision of his ancestors. To me, that symbolized his manhood. (hide spoiler)]