Dirt by Denise Gosliner Orenstein - OPTIONAL

Dirt by Denise Gosliner Orenstein, 214 pages. Scholastic, 2017. $17.

Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS – OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Yonder’s mom has died four years earlier and her dad has withdrawn into his room and the bottle. She knows that even her screams would not bring back her mom and has decided to stop using her voice completely. Now, however, bullies are riding her mercilessly at school, and the teachers do not see the abuse, blaming her for the ensuing disruptions. When she encounters a shaggy, fat, one-eyed Shetland pony who’s wandered into her yard from the neighbor’s to eat the pumpkin off her porch, she's found a soulmate. By week’s end, they are fast friends. The pony seems to be the only one who can hear her inner voice and respond to her needs. When Yonder is removed from her home by Child Protection Services, she is more determined than ever to save her pony from an awful fate.

This is an intriguingly quirky but emotionally sad story. Inviting your best friend into your home, even though he is a fat pony, is quirky. Being removed from your home due to neglect and malnutrition is sad. Despite such heavy circumstances, there are moments of humor and interesting freshness. It is a gritty realistic fiction book without gritty language. The violence comes in the form of bullying, and mistreating animals. While most of the characters are not very fully developed, Yonder's adventure is crazy, showing extraordinary effort, ingenuity, and courage in the service of her animal friend. 

P. K. Foster, teacher-librarian

The Whole Sky by Heather Henson - OPTIONAL

Henson, Heather The Whole Sky, 235 pages. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2017. $17.00. Language: G; Mature Content: G; Violence: G.

Sky is a horse whisperer. Shortly after she arrived at the Shaughnessy farm in Kentucky, the mares started complaining of prickly feelings in their mouths and swollen tongues. She did not know how to help all of her favorite mares who were foaling. Normally, she would turn to her father for advice, he too is a horse whisperer, but he had changed ever since Sky’s mother died a few months prior. He had turned to alcohol. This left Sky, a twelve-year-old girl, to grieve for her mother alone; care for her favorite horse, Poppy; become friends with Archie, the bug loving grandson of the owners of the farm; and deal with her alcoholic father when she needed him the most.

I enjoyed reading this book. The author really made me believe that Sky could be a horse whisperer. Her character was real to me. She was not a brat like some characters in books portray to be when faced with trials. She was strong and bold and did not give up. I am excited to read it with my daughter who loves horses. The book is based on true events that happened to foaling mares in Kentucky in 2001.

EL, MS - OPTIONAL. Reviewer: Candice Woolley

Snowman by Cathering Hapka-ADVISABLE

Hapka, Catherine, Snowman: True Story of a Champion. Pgs. 160. Aladdin Books, 2016. Language: G, Mature Content: G, Violence: G

When Henry DeLayer showed up to pick a horse, all that was left were the horses bound for the meat market. One Grey Gelding, however, caught his eye. At first, Snowman was used to teach riding lessons to kids, but was eventually sold to a neighbor, Snowman, however, had other ideas. Jumping high fences to return back to Henry, Henry was soon persuaded to buy him back. Soon, Snowman became one of the most famous jumping horses in history. This is his story.

Beautifully adapted, this novel is well-written, engaging, and heartwarming. The characters seem true to the time period of the 1970s and are easy to relate to. Fans of horse stories and fiction based off of real events will enjoy reading this book.

EL, MS - ADVISABLE. Reviewer: Jessica M, Library Media Specialist, Olympus Jr. High. 

Storm Horse by Nick Garlick - OPTIONAL

Garlick, Nick Storm Horse, 256 pages. Chicken House, 2017. $17. Language: G (0 Swears 0 “F”); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG-13 (Kids use slingshots to shoot people, little description of blood).

With the tragic death of his thief father and the abandonment of his loving mother, twelve-year-old Flip has to move to the island of Mossum in the Netherlands. His never before seen in his life uncle, came and took Flip in. A week after, Flip goes out into the ocean not knowing how to swim and saves a black Friesian with the help of a mysterious girl he soon calls the Ghost Girl. Many more challenges await this young boy.

This book was very well written. The dialogue was well transitioned and inspiring. It had lots of detail along with everything. The story though was a bland classic horse story. The concept was not very hooking. The ending felt like the writer did not want to write anymore and suddenly cut it off. I would not recommend this book for the plot or theme of the story.

EL  - OPTIONAL. Student Reviewer: JDT, 7th Grade

Welcome Home! by Kristin Earhart -- OPTIONAL

Earhart, Kristin Welcome Home! (Marguerite Henry's Misty Inn #1), illustrated by Serena Geddes. Aladdin (Simon & Schuster), 2015. $5.99. Content: G.

Willa's family has just moved to Chincoteague Island, an area that -- together with Assateague Island -- is known for its wild ponies. Helping her family prep for the opening of their new bed-and-breakfast is a lot of work for Willa, but the new locale pays off when someone drops off a pony at her grandparents' house -- and Willa's there to witness the whole thing.

Horse stories still have a good audience in many libraries, and quite a few children will relate to the feeling of moving to a new town. The plot could have moved a little faster and been more focused, however, and some of the issues -- such as the relationship with the neighbor girl -- are quickly and superficially resolved.

EL (K-3) -- OPTIONAL. Reviewer: Caryn

A Winning Gift by Catherine Hapka - OPTIONAL

Hapka, Catherine   A Winning Gift  (Marguerite Henry's Ponies of Chincoteague, book 5) 182 pages. Aladdin, 2015. $6.99 (paperback). Language: G ; Mature Content: G ; Violence: G

Madrid loves riding Cloudy and does so as often as she can. She is even going to have her upcoming twelfth birthday party at the stables. But when she takes her sister's expensive nail polish, without asking, to paint Cloudy's hooves, she knows she is only one infraction away from having her party cancelled. So when she sees a letter in her parents' office that seems to indicate that their family is moving, one she only saw because she was snooping where she didn't belong, she knows she can't say anything, at least until after her party, even though it is causing her considerable distress.

     This is book 5 in a series, but the story also works well alone. It will definitely appeal to girls who love horses, and honestly, that was all I was expecting. However, it is more than just that. It is also a good example of well-written realistic fiction for this age group that convincingly and compellingly writes about friendship and family. I would definitely add it to my collection if I needed more horse stories, though the appeal may be limited to female horse fans.

EL (4-6) - OPTIONAL. Reviewed by P.K.Foster, teacher- librarian