Orenstein, Denise Gosliner. Dirt.

Orenstein, Denise Gosliner. Dirt. Scholastic Press  2017  212p  $16.99  ISBN 978-0-545-92585-3    elem/ms     Animal Stories  VG-BN         

Yonder is eleven. Her mother has died and her father is sunken in depression and she will not speak. She is teased at school and lonely.  Her only friend is Dirt, the overweight Shetland pony belonging to her mean next-door neighbor. When a sign goes up offering Dirt for sale for horse meat, Yonder takes action. She cleans out her bedroom and brings Dirt into the house. However, social services get involved and Yonder is taken to a foster home. She runs away. Tracking down the buyer of Dirt, she discovers a failed zoo that is mistreating the animals. Yonder shows great courage and perseverance to rescue Dirt and the other animals. She has exciting adventures and learns how to trust again. The ending is hopeful.
 

Girls and animal lovers will gravitate to this title. The reader will want to cry, rail out at injustice and finally cheer for Yonder.  A great read for grades 3-7.  

Summary: Yonder has her troubles but moves a Shetland pony named Dirt into her house to prevent the sale of him for horse meat.  Adventure ensues as she rescues Dirt and other animals. 

Horse Stories                                                                                                  --Joan Theal

Kendall, Christine. Riding Chance.

Kendall, Christine.  Riding Chance.  Scholastic Press  2016  212p  $16.99     ISBN 978-0-545-92404-7    Hardback  ms/hs Realistic fiction  VG

Troy’s mother has died and he has lost his father, Pops, to a deep depression. He ends up hanging out with the wrong crowd and getting into trouble, along with his best friend Foster. His social worker suggests an alternative punishment for the crime: to enroll the boys in a prevention program in Fairmount Park in Philadelphia, taking care of horses and mucking out their stalls. The boys are not happy about this alternative but agree to participate. That’s when Troy finds his passion. He loves getting to know the horses and riding them, and then he discovers his ultimate opportunity, the sport of polo.

This heartwarming story will engage, delight, and appeal to adolescent and young adult readers. Troy reluctantly enters the program and finds he is not sure whom he can trust. He also meets a young lady that he is attracted to there, Alisha. The plot is unique and will keep readers on the edge of their seats as they root for Troy and his success, with his new love of horses, polo, family relationships, friendships, events and circumstances, and his resolution of all the confusion he has felt since his mother’s death.
           

This book is highly recommended for all middle- or high-school libraries and will engage and delight readers as coming of age is accurately captured in this novel.

Summary: Troy’s mother has died and he has lost his father Pops to depression.  Troy starts acting out with the wrong crowd and is placed in a program in present–day Philadelphia taking care of horses.        

Horses-Fiction, Polo-Fiction                                —Virginia McGarvey

Amateau, Gigi. Dante: Horses of the Maury River Stables.

Amateau, Gigi.  Dante: Horses of the Maury River Stables.  Candlewick Press  2016  306p  $6.99  ISBN 978-0-7636-8754-0  ms  Animal  VG 

A retired racehorse finds a second chance at life.  Told from the horse’s point of view, this is the story of Dante’s Inferno -- a racehorse whose grandfather was the greatest racehorse of all time.  However, Dante fails as a racehorse and ends up at a rescue facility run by rehabilitating prisoners before being adopted by the Maury River Stables, where he becomes a project horse.  Dante slowly befriends other horses, Daisy and Napoleon, and he lowers his guard.  Can he succeed on the cross-country course?  Readers will race through the book to find out.

Some readers may find the use of dialect off-putting, but animal lovers will embrace this engaging horse story. While it is not packed with action, it offers emotional depth and Dante is an appealing character.  Readers who enjoy the book will be delighted to learn that it is part of a series, although this volume can stand on its own.

Summary: A retired racehorse finds a second chance at life as a project horse on a stable run by prisoners.

Horses-Fiction, Horse racing-Fiction                  --Hilary Welliver

DeLaCroix, Alice The Best Horse Ever

DeLaCroix, Alice The Best Horse Ever
Holiday House 2010 74p 16.95
978-0-8234-2254-8 elem Horses -- Fiction. VG


“ When nine-year-old Abby gets her own horse, a bay named Griffin, she realizes that taking care of him could mean giving up almost everything else in her life.” Girls and boys who enjoy reading about horses will appreciate this new title by Alice DeLaCroix. Young readers will relate to Abby, a nine year-old girl who loves horses and takes riding lessons on a boy horse named Griffin. When Abby’s parents buy Abby this beautiful horse, she learns and demonstrates responsibility of taking good care of her horse. Abby takes pride in her new horse and concentrates all of her energy on him, forgetting about other important kid things, like maintaining a friendship and having other types of fun. Devon is Abby’s best friend and the two got into an argument over Griffin and the new kittens that Devon has at her house. Abby’s parents help her balance her life with her new horse and other important things. Through her parents encouragement, Abby apologizes to Devon and the two not only make-up, but learn to appreciate each other and the things that are important to them.

Nicely illustrated with pencil sketches in each chapter, this short chapter book will appeal to elementary readers who love horses. Animal stories Forba-Mayer, Charleen