WILDWOOD STABLES #4: LEARNING TO FLY
by Suzanne Weyn
Scholastic Paperbacks
ISBN: 9780545149822
Ages 8-12
176 pages
p>Teenage horse rider Taylor Henry loves riding at Wildwood Stables, especially on rescued black gelding Prince Albert. One autumn day, while taking the horse out for a walk, Taylor and Prince Albert are almost hit by a speeding SUV with Plum Mason and her mother inside. Frightened and confused, Prince Albert stands in a blind curve up a hill. While Taylor tries to coax him from the middle of the road, another car swerves to avoid hitting him.
The occupants of the second car are 14-year-old assistant junior barn manager Mercedes Gonzales and her mother. After Mrs. Gonzales’s car plows into a tree, she is injured and transported to the hospital. Prince Albert gallops off, nowhere to be found, and Taylor doesn’t know if he is injured or just scared. Taylor’s worries deepen as the Sheriff’s department is unable to find Prince Albert. When the runaway horse is finally tracked down, the searchers discover a surprise.
Taylor feels guilty about the accident, which threatens the livelihood of Wildwood Stables. Mrs. LeFleur, the owner, can barely keep the ranch running, and a lawsuit will cause her to close down and go out of business. To keep it open, Mrs. LeFleur relies on paying customers like Plum Mason, a spoiled brat with more money than sense. Plum leases Shafir, a young, chestnut Arabian mare, and pushes him to perform regardless of his condition.
The accident brings Mercedes and Taylor closer, but Mercedes remains secret about her past while she helps train Taylor to ride English-style. Taylor wants to compete at Ross River Ranch, but riding English-style takes skill, practice, the right horse and a lot of nerve. Plum also trains to compete and will take unnecessary risks and endanger Shafir if it helps her win.
LEARNING TO FLY is the fourth book in the Wildwood Stables series. Award-winning author Suzanne Weyn uses her insider’s knowledge of the world of horseback riding and competitions to craft an entertaining and educational story. She does not shy away from timely issues such as the effects of divorce, adjusting one’s lifestyle after a financial setback, and rescuing abused and abandoned animals. Middle-grade readers, especially girls who love horses or who thrive on drama, suspense and adventure, will find this book a real page-turner.
--- Reviewed by Donna Volkenannt (dvolkenannt@charter.net)
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