Young Isla is a ten-year-old talented horse rider. She has a mother who is supportive of her horse riding and encourages her to compete and do as well as she possibly can. Isla has achieved much on her trusty mare Dusty but the level at which she is aiming to compete is too high for the older pony to consistently compete at. Because of this, her mother has purchased a piebald mount for her named Diablo.  He is the focus pony in Isla Picks Herself Up.

Diablo is an incredible jumper and he is taller, able to competently jump the heights Isla is competing in. He is also a very forward pony and a more challenging mount than Dusty. Isla finds herself a little anxious when riding her ambitious pony. This is further aggravated when she has a fall and breaks her arm.

Isla Picks Herself Up explores how a young rider is able to overcome her fear of falling. Isla needs to have the confidence not only to ride her new pony, but also to compete on him. If she can’t effectively jump him then her mother’s investment in Diablo would have been wasted.

This story for the younger reader is a quick and easy read. It is set in Wales and explores some aspects of horse care that help to educate readers. Unfortunately the images that should be in the kindle version don’t all show up! There are little red crosses indicating broken graphics for three out of the four images.  The last one is a lovely illustration. I am sure these would have added to the story, if they had worked.

Author – Susan Stark
Fiction – children
In my library – Indeed it is as a Kindle version!
Want it? Get it now on Amazon.

Alexandra Anderson finds herself in a situation that no person should find themselves in, in Born to Run. Never mind that she is only thirteen years old. On the run for murder, she goes as far as her body will take her.

When she ends up on the doorstep of a large thoroughbred establishment, all she can think about is her plan. The plan to run away and never be found. And when it seems that the woman who is left in charge of her care doesn’t want her there, Alex sees no reason why she shouldn’t keep running.

As much as she plans to go, the horses pull her in an unexplainable way. She is amazed to find a sense of peace and comfort with one weanling in particular on the farm. The owner of the farm, Stephen North quickly realises how the horses could convince Alex to stay. And this is something that North wants – even needs – in order to secure his farm’s future.

Alex is surprised – and scared – to find herself wrapped up in the large family at North Oak. The two teenage girls who are a little older than her are all embracing. Alex doesn’t know what to do with their smothering presence. Or their blatant faith.

As Alex continues to try and run from her problems, she knows it is only a matter of time before everyone at North Oak finds out what she’s done. Only a matter of time before she finds herself behind bars for taking another’s life.

North Oak is a great introduction to this series that focuses on thoroughbred racing. Alex’s foster life is explored nicely alongside the working family of staff at North Oak. Each of the characters are flawed – human – but they have plenty of room for loving others and allowing grace. Born to Run is an easy read, one that horse fans will no doubt devour.

Author – Ann Hunter
Fiction – teen
In my library – Indeed it is as a Kindle version!
Want it? Get it now on Amazon.