Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this book, free of charge, from Litfuse Publicity, for review purposes on this blog. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it
And now for a wonderful series for younger kids!
Synopsis:
Thirteen-year old Kate and her friends came up with the perfect way to raise money for her autistic younger brother and others to attend summer camp---a horse scavenger hunt! As local businesses donate money and prizes, Kate keeps the entry fees in her mom's antique jewelry box.
But when the box and the money disappear, Kate and her friends must unravel the clues, hold on to hope, and solve the mystery along the Blue Ribbon Trail Ride.
Review:
Girls love horses. Period. So I was not surprised to hear a squeal of glee when Miss Grace opened up the box for me, that contained this book (and the rest, see below)! She was in the middle of another book, and eagerly finished it in 2 days, so she could start reading this one! It is so funny to me still, that this was the kid who had decided she HATED reading and barely stayed on the honor roll last year, and this year it's all A's in reading and she can finish a book in 3-4 days, when properly motivated! This one took her a bit longer (^) as it was one of the longest books she's read at 210 pages. But she was SO glued to it, that she wanted to NOT be disturbed at ALL while reading! SO cute!
Add a scavenger hunt to horses and helping friends, and you have the start of a promising mystery for the younger 8-14 yr old set! Add to that a Christian value system, and you have a pretty winning combination that teaches and entertains! At its heart the book is about what makes up friendship, how we treat our friends (and expect to be treated in return) and how loyalty to our friends (and to God) can be tested, and thru that we learn what true friendship means. Being able to help Kate and her friends solve a decent mystery was also fun for her! Miss Grace could not stop telling me about the book when she finished, and then telling her friends at school about it! It was an obvious hit!
We were also able to check out the other 3 books in the Horse and Friends series:
While each book in the series is a stand alone book, the previous 3 books really bring to life the Horse and Friends series of characters, by showcasing their different personalities and interests. The series features Kate as the main character, but as the other girls come into her life, the reader gets to know more about each of them, and why they are such great friends for Kate, We can't recommend the whole series enough- it would be a great birthday or Easter present, or a great incentive for some Summer reading!
A Horse For Kate- A horse of her own would be awesome. But Kate figures that might be a long way away, especially since she had to give up riding lessons and move to her late grandfather’s farm. Besides, it would be a lot more fun to have a best friend to ride with. When Kate discovers a barn on their new farm that’s perfect for a horse, and a dusty bridle too, she starts to think that her dream might come true. Then she meets Tori at school, who is totally the best. So when they discover a thoroughbred that appears to be all alone, could it be the answer to her prayers? Maybe. If she can convince her dad ... and figure out what’s going on with that horse.
Silver Spurs- Kate’s dream of owning a horse has finally happened. But now her best friend Tori has no money to buy a horse. So Kate comes up with a plan—she’ll raise money by boarding horses and hosting a show in her family’s barn. It seems the perfect solution until Melissa, the girl who disses Kate and Tori at school, shows up to board her horse, determined to compete in their show and win the silver spurs. Will their plan be ruined—or does God have something better in store for them all?
While each book in the series is a stand alone book, the previous 3 books really bring to life the Horse and Friends series of characters, by showcasing their different personalities and interests. The series features Kate as the main character, but as the other girls come into her life, the reader gets to know more about each of them, and why they are such great friends for Kate, We can't recommend the whole series enough- it would be a great birthday or Easter present, or a great incentive for some Summer reading!
A Horse For Kate- A horse of her own would be awesome. But Kate figures that might be a long way away, especially since she had to give up riding lessons and move to her late grandfather’s farm. Besides, it would be a lot more fun to have a best friend to ride with. When Kate discovers a barn on their new farm that’s perfect for a horse, and a dusty bridle too, she starts to think that her dream might come true. Then she meets Tori at school, who is totally the best. So when they discover a thoroughbred that appears to be all alone, could it be the answer to her prayers? Maybe. If she can convince her dad ... and figure out what’s going on with that horse.
About the author:
Miralee Ferrell is the award-winning author of more than a dozen novels. She and her husband live along the Columbia River Gorge in southern Washington State, where she enjoys riding the wooded trails and spending time with her grown children. In addition to horses and dogs, Miralee once owned two cougars. Connect with Miralee on her website, Twitter, and Facebook
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