Oh my! I just realized that this post went up this morning without the review!!! I'm so sorry for anyone who stopped by and saw the white nothingness beyond the Goodreads link. Yep, I make mistakes. Tons of them...more than I wish I had to admit.
Anyway, for anyone taking a look at this now, the review is below!
I don't think horse books will ever run out of style for young readers, especially girls. So, it's fun to pick one up, every now and then, and see what the latest ones have to offer. Today's read is the third in the Show Strides series, which I'm assuming circles around show horses. Nope, I haven't read the first two in the series, but I'm also going to go out on a limb and assume that each book will work as a stand-alone, too.
Maybe, I'm wrong, but that's why I'm going to take a peek and find out! So off we go!
MOVING UP & MOVING ON
Show Strides #3
by Rennie Dyball & Piper Klemm
Illustrated by Dolores Okecki
Andrews McMeel
Middle Grade Contemporary
160 pages
ages 8 to 12
COMING...
MARCH 25th!!!
This is the third book in the popular Show Strides series. Tally and Mac continue to pursue their horse riding goals at Quince Oaks, gearing up for a big summer competition.
After a successful trip to Devon, the Field Ridge team returns home to Quince Oaks for the summer, where life at the barn is as busy as ever. A jumper rider named Jacob and his horse Carlo begin trailering in for lessons with trainer Ryan, and the girls learn that being a boy in the sport has its own unique challenges. Tally and Goose are improving with each show, and Mac struggles with body confidence as they head toward their big summer Pony Finals.
Join Tally, Mac, and the rest of their friends as they navigate the exciting world of equestrian competition! Unique paths converge, forming heartwarming friendships among riders and their horses.
After a successful trip to Devon, the Field Ridge team returns home to Quince Oaks for the summer, where life at the barn is as busy as ever. A jumper rider named Jacob and his horse Carlo begin trailering in for lessons with trainer Ryan, and the girls learn that being a boy in the sport has its own unique challenges. Tally and Goose are improving with each show, and Mac struggles with body confidence as they head toward their big summer Pony Finals.
Join Tally, Mac, and the rest of their friends as they navigate the exciting world of equestrian competition! Unique paths converge, forming heartwarming friendships among riders and their horses.
MY TIDBITS
Horse goodness and life lessons about friendship and competition make this a read for equestrian fans to pick up and enjoy.
Tally's still sinking into the new direction the trainer is steering her and her horse in as he prepares them for the up-coming competitions. She has a lot to learn not only on the technical end, but the growing competitiveness and shifting relationships with those around her. This is especially true when a boy joins their trainer's schedule, which seems to put the entire equilibrium off-balance, at first. Add the problems Mac is having with her own preparations, and Tally has quite a bit to deal with and learn.
This is the third book in the series, and while it works best when read as a series, it's still no problem to hit it as a stand-alone.
Horse fans are going to enjoy this read. While Tally, Mac, and friends are fairly at ease with their horses, they still have a lot to learn...and it's often in the details. The hard work involved with training for the competitions becomes evident and opens up the respect for the sport to readers. The authors also, obviously, knows their stuff as they hit upon exact aspects of the competition requirements (without adding weight to the story flow) and show how even the seemingly small things can make a huge difference. It teaches a bit about the sport and raises awareness at the determination, time and effort required.
The social aspects also play a huge role in these pages. Tally and Mac are both kind and fun characters. They have their highs and lows, and their reactions as well as emotions are very understandable. The topic of jealousy slides through the pages without growing overpowering. There's also a message surrounding how to deal with the frustration, when things aren't going as smoothly as planned. These, along with a couple other wholesome thoughts, add depth and make the characters easy to connect with and root for.
But for all things, this is a book about the love for horses and the special bond that a rider and their horse can share. It inspires, educates, and entertains the entire way through, while staying at a level for those chapter book readers, who are sure of their words, but prefer slightly lighter reads still.
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