My mother-in-law gave Airs Above the Ground by Mary Stewart to my 13 year old daughter. I am not sure if I should let her read it. If you have read it, please let me know if it is appropriate for a 13 year old. I have a big stack of books that I want to read and am not sure when I will get to this one. Thanks.

Yes, it is appropiate for a 13-year old.

The book takes place in the 1950's.  It is about a married woman who sees her husband in newsreel footage.  The footage was about a circus fire in Vienna-when he said he was in Stockholm on a business trip.  Thinking he is in trouble, the woman then flies to Vienna in search of her husband, and get caught up in a spy scandal.  The title "Airs Above Ground" refers to dancing steps made by a famous horse show in Vienna.  There is a lot of references to horses in this book, so if your daughter likes them, she will like this book.

This book is more of a mystery set in Vienna during the 1950's and really is not a romance.  There is some kissing between the married couple but that is it.  No hands under the blouse or references to 'tight pants.' A boy in the book buys cigarettes, but does not smoke them.  He buys them as a gift for his father but he does NOT light them up (hey, it is the 1950's!) 

I would give this book to my 13-year old niece.  Actually if your daughter likes this book, I would highly recommend Nine Coaches Waiting as well.  It is about a governess in post -WWII France who believes her young student is the target for murder.  Again, some kissing but nothing else.  Oh, and the main male character does smoke a cigarette at the end of the book when the villian is revealed.  I don't think it will make your daughter smoke, but wanted to let you know.  Could lead to a positive discussion?

Both of these books show strong female characters who are smart and can take care of themselves.  I feel that they are positive role models and is a great way to introduce young teenage girls to adult novels.

If I'm not mistaken that's about the time I read Mary Stewart's books.  I can still remember them and highly recommend them for a teen.  As Deborah said, no sex, a great tale about the Lipizzaner horses.  They're also called the dancing horses.  When they jump (one of their "dance steps" they are actually completely off the ground and extended like a swimmer diving in the water.  They seem to hang in the air.  The riders are trained with the horse. 

I'd recommend all of Mary Stewart's books and Helen MacInnes books too.  They're very similar.  But, many of them encompass WWII, spy situations.  Nothing graphic in them just situations that might have a spy or two.  Not gory, I think they're reality rather than blazing guns and bullets flying.

I suppose I should say if your daughter like Airs Above the Ground then let her try the other Mary Stewart books.