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Topic: Horse related novels that are not part of a series

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tigs4999 avatar
Subject: Horse related novels that are not part of a series
Date Posted: 4/18/2008 6:34 PM ET
Member Since: 1/17/2007
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Does anyone have any suggestions for horse related stories ideal for a 13 year old? I am looking for ideas on non-series horse books for my half sister who is an advanced reader. I think she has read just about every horse series out there - hence the need for non-series books. Horses really are her passion and have been for years now, so we are constantly trying to come up with new books to give her. Most recently we got her Blind Beauty which she loved. Thanks!
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Date Posted: 4/18/2008 10:31 PM ET
Member Since: 6/2/2006
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If she liked Blind Beauty, she might like more of KM Peyton's books, like Dear Fred or Darkling.

My Friend Flicka by Mary O'Hara is an old favourite, though I suppose technically, it's a trilogy.

Dancer by Shelley Peterson is about a Canadian jumper.  It's interconnected with Peterson's other books - Abby Malone, Stagestruck, Sundancer - but standsalone, and is quite a lovely book (of Peterson's books, it's my favourite).  The main character is 16, but I don't think there's anything inappropriate for a 13 year old.  The main character of Abby Malone and Stagestruck is younger.

Robin McKinley's The Blue Sword and The Hero and the Crown, while not horse books per se, have horses in them as secondary and main characters, respectively.  She writes wonderful horses; they have personalities without being anything more or less than a horse.  Beauty also features a horse as a secondary character, though he has a little less to do than the horses in TBS or THatC.

Under A Different Sky by Deborah Savage is another great horse book. Though the main characters in this one are also a little older and some of the issues they face might be a bit mature for a 13 year old, although I think I first read this book around that age.  And if Blind Beauty is okay, I think the ones I've recommended would be too.

Willow King by Chris Platt was another one I enjoyed.  I didn't end up loving it quite as madly as McKinley's or Savage's books, but it was still a good read.  Shadow Horse by Alison Hart is another that falls under this category. I think I ended up wishing it was a series so I could read more about those characters, but I don't think it is one.

Marguerite Henry's horse books - Misty, King of the Wind, Justin Morgan, San Domigo, Born to Trot, etc, etc - are must reads, if your daughter hasn't already read them, that is.

Black Beauty, of course.

Man O' War by Walter Farley, though you may have already come across this one, if your daughter has read The Black Stallion series.

The Silver Brumby by Elyne Mitchell. This is a series, but it doesn't seem to be a very well known one, so I'm mentioning it. It's told from the horse's pov and quite well done, from what I remember. There's a movie called "The Silver Stallion" that's based on this book, starring Russell Crowe before he was famous; it's also one of the better horse movies out there, imo.

You might also find this website useful: http://www.ponydom.com/books/index.html

tigs4999 avatar
Date Posted: 4/18/2008 11:00 PM ET
Member Since: 1/17/2007
Posts: 1,260
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Thanks for the great list - her birthday is coming up soon so I will definitely look into getting some of these. 

VickyJo avatar
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Date Posted: 4/20/2008 5:59 PM ET
Member Since: 5/19/2007
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Oh, I recently read "War Horse" by Michael Morpurgo.  It's the story of a farm horse that gets sent from Great Britain to France to fight during WWI....it's excellent! 

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Katy -
Date Posted: 4/22/2008 7:47 PM ET
Member Since: 3/11/2008
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I loved all of Marguerite Henry's horse novels when I was a girl!

You've already gotten some really good suggestions, so I'll just add a couple that I've heard are good:

National Velvet by Enid Bagnold

Smoky the Cowhorse by Will James

 

scrappingsteph avatar
Date Posted: 4/23/2008 12:04 AM ET
Member Since: 1/13/2008
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i have several horse books on my shelf. i think some are series and some are not. i should have more from my little sister soon

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Date Posted: 5/22/2008 5:31 PM ET
Member Since: 5/12/2008
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I definately recommend marguerite henry. i have a few other horse books on my shelf too you could check out. i think i was about thirteen when i first read seabiscuit, you said she's an advanced reader, so it shouldn't be a problem.
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Date Posted: 6/13/2008 5:33 PM ET
Member Since: 5/17/2007
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Blind Beauty by KM Peyton.

I second My Friend Flicka, The Blue Sword, Beauty, and The Hero and the Crown... :)

 

 

tigs4999 avatar
Date Posted: 6/16/2008 8:32 PM ET
Member Since: 1/17/2007
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Thanks everyone for all the great suggestions - I got her the Blue Sword and The Hero and the Crown for her birthday - they looked really interesting.   I am on the waitlist for the Silver Brumby and she's read the classics - National Velvet, Black Beauty , etc. plus a ton of others.  She just loves horses and it gets tricky finding new books for her.

Hwin avatar
Date Posted: 7/7/2008 11:01 PM ET
Member Since: 5/19/2008
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The James Herriot(t?) books aren't precisely horse books, but I love horse books and I love them.  There's a lot of horses mentioned, as well as other animals.

I can't think of anything else that hasn't been mentioned.

Arelsea1990 avatar
Date Posted: 7/12/2008 8:39 PM ET
Member Since: 4/22/2007
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There's also "To Race A Dream" by Deborah Savage.  I read it when I was younger, and it was pretty good.