January 1, 2021
Follows a seventh grader's quest to move from novice rider to being one of the #HorseGirls. Despite being entirely horse crazy, Wills (short for Willa) was only allowed to start lessons at a riding stable in her Nebraska town when her mom, an Air Force pilot, was deployed overseas for a year. Wills doesn't tend to make friends easily, but when she falls off on her first attempt at jumping a fence, someone at Oakwood Riding Academy sends her an encouraging note, and she's determined to find out who it is. Hijinks ensue, some of them more realistic than others. Eventually Wills triumphs in a jumper competition; saves her favorite horse, Clyde, from being sent to auction; and befriends everyone, including top mean girl Amara. Melodrama, angst, over-the-top writing, and clever footnotes make this a quick, breezy read for tweens. Some horse-related elements do not ring true--for example, the handling of both lameness and recruiting for the U.S. national equestrian team is unrealistic--which may keep knowledgeable #HorseGirls from completely buying into the action. Riding is presented as being primarily for rich kids, which feels like a missed opportunity to show a more inclusive side of the sport. The novel adheres to a White default although the author cues some characters as people of color. (This updated review reflects edits made to the book after the original review was published.) This has strong reader appeal, but an equestrian expert reader could have improved it fourfold. (Fiction. 8-12)
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February 1, 2021
Gr 3-5-Seventh grader Wills (or Willa) has always been a true horse girl, so when her family moves to Nebraska from California, she finally gets her chance to take horseback riding lessons. Wills is excited to begin her horse girl journey, but there are challenges. Whereas Wills is just learning how to properly ride and jump a horse, her riding partners at Oakwood Riding Academy are years ahead of her. Plus they all seem to ride their thoroughbred horses so elegantly, while extra-tall Wills gets paired with an equally tall Clydesdale horse named Clyde Lee. Needing one more rider to participate in the annual Oakwood Invitational competition, Wills must gain the approval of horse captain and champion Amara, learn how to ride without Clyde, and find out who is leaving her mysterious handwritten notes. This narrative offers a fun story of fitting in, a slight mystery, and friendly competition. Wills's mom is deployed overseas as a pilot in the air force, and her father is caring for Wills and her 16-year-old sister. Pages include footnotes with further information on horse etiquette and vocabulary, handwritten notes, and text message conversations. Characters are described only by their hair color. Wills has frizzy dark hair, and three of the other girls (triplets) have blonde hair. VERDICT A great alternative to the more mean-girl "Canterwood Crest" series, without losing the relatable preteen voice and story line.-Anna Taylor, Chattanooga, TN
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