A HORSE CALLED WONDER (Thoroughbred Series, #1)
by Joanna Campbell
HarperCollins
ISBN: 0061061204
Ages 9 - 12
184 Pages

Ashleigh Griffin's family has moved to Townsend Acres where her parents are starting over as breeding managers. Her parents used to have their own breeding farm but a terrible disease killed many of the horses and they had to sell those that were left. Ashleigh isn't happy about moving, and even less happy that the Townsend's son, Brad, is so unfriendly. To make matters worse, her older sister, Caroline, thinks Brad is cute and acts silly everytime he's around. When a foal is born that looks just like the horse she had loved that had to be sold, Ashleigh isn't sure she wants to become attached. But the little foal is so sickly it needs constant care, and Ashleigh is the only one with the time. Will Ashleigh follow her heart and try to work a miracle to save it?

WONDER'S PROMISE (Thoroughbred Series, #2)
by Joanna Campbell
HarperCollins
ISBN: 0061060852
Ages 9 - 12
184 Pages

Ashleigh was 11 when she was allowed to start exercising horses. Now the Townsend Acres trainer has decided it's time to start her favorite horse, Wonder, in training as a Thoroughbred racer. Ashleigh has nursed the filly from the time she was born, and is thrilled that Wonder if finally going to get a chance to prove she was worth saving. But suddenly Wonder seems to be tempermental, and balks at everything the trainer wants her to do. She doesn't even seen to know who Ashleigh is anymore. When Ashleigh gets thrown off, she worries that Wonder will be sold along with the other horses that are not worth training. Will Ashleigh figure out the problem and be able to prove that Wonder has the stuff to be a champion race horse?

WONDER'S FIRST RACE (Thoroughbred Series, #3)
by Joanna Campbell
HarperCollins
ISBN: 0061060828
Ages 9 - 12
184 Pages

Wonder is showing promise as the next filly to win The Kentucky Derby, and everyone is excited about the upcoming race. Ashleigh, Wonder's jockey, Jilly, and Wonder's trainer, Charlie, are working hard with Wonder to get her ready for the big day. But Brad Townsend, the arrogant son of the stable owner, wants to show Ashleigh that Wonder is their horse not hers. On a frosty morning, when the ground is too slippery for a routine exercise, Ashleigh and Charlie watch in horror as Brad gallops Wonder too fast, and the filly stumbles on the frozen track, badly injuring her shoulder. Now Ashleigh fears Wonder's chance for victory has been ruined by Brad's irresponsibility.

WONDER'S VICTORY (Thoroughbred Series, #4)
by Joanna Campbell
HarperCollins
ISBN: 0061060836
Ages 9 - 12
185 Pages

Life is looking pretty rosy for Ashleigh. Her favorite thoroughbred filly, Wonder, is the star of Townsend Acres and she's become good friends with a handsome event rider, Mike Reese. He's even asked her to go with him to her very first Prom. But just as Townsend stables is about to enter Wonder in the prestigious Breeder's Cup race, her jockey, Jilly, is injured and unable to ride. Ashleigh knows that Wonder won't perform for anyone but herself or Jilly, but Ashleigh isn't a seasoned jockey --- she's never even ridden in a race! Will Wonder have to miss this major race, or will Ashleigh have to test her amateur skills against a field of professional jockeys?

ASHLEIGH'S DREAM (Thoroughbred Series, #5)
by Joanna Campbell
HarperCollins
ISBN: 0061067377
Ages 9 - 12
185 Pages

Samantha McLean and her father are the newest residents of Townsend Acres. Her father has taken the position of trainer and Samantha is thrilled with the idea of being able to help with some of the Townsend thoroughbreds. But Samantha's father won't let her exercise any of the horses, because her mother was recently killed during a training session when she was thrown from a horse. Ashleigh has just purchased her first filly, Fleet Goddess, at an auction and Samantha desperately wants to help train her. When Ashleigh is injured and can't ride, Samantha tries to convince her father that she can take over Fleet Goddess' training but he's not listening. Will Samantha convince her father to let her fulfill her dreams and ride again, or will this be the end of her hopes for the future?

BOOKS #6 THRU #10:

These next five books in the Thoroughbred Series see some major changes take place at Townsend Acres. Wonder's first foal, Wonder's Pride, has grown into a handsome racehorse but he may have to be auctioned off because the stables are in financial trouble. With Mr. Townsend is away in England attempting to start another breeding operation over there, Brad and his new wife, Lavinia, are in charge of things at home. Brad has made a mess of the stables, making unwise business decisions like hiring a new trainer who is anything but professional. Samantha McLean and her father go to live at Whitebrook Farm, where her father becomes their trainer.

Brad's feud with Ashleigh continues, too, as he accuses her of deliberately losing races which could cost her a career as a jockey. Brad's horse, Lord Ainsley, is a champion racehorse but Brad knows he can't compete with Wonder's Pride, so he and Lavinia conspire to send Pride to auction. Then Pride falls ill with a life-threatening disease and Samantha is afraid he will die. Enjoy these next five stories in the continuing saga of Ashleigh's thoroughbred family.

BOOKS #11 THRU #48:

Samantha McLean raises and trains her very own horse, Shining, who is a half-sister of Ashleigh's Wonder. As she becomes an important part of the Whitebrook Farm's staff, she is still involved with Wonder's Pride, and must help him recover from a career-threatening injury. Another young girl, Cindy Blake, comes to live at Whitebrook Farm. Running away from foster care and a troubling past, Cindy finally finds a home with the McLean family and is soon longing to be a jockey herself. But it seems her troubles aren't all in the past. First Lavinia accuses her of stealing, then she actually does steal a horse --- a beautiful colt that is being mistreated by it's owners.

Ashleigh Griffin and Mike Reese finally get married, and eventually Ashleigh must take a break from riding to have a baby. In the meantime, Wonder is giving birth to prize-winning foals, and Mike's horse, Jazzman, is siring a new line of champion showjumpers. Ashleigh's niece, Melanie, comes to live with them and their family of thoroughbreds and riders continues to grow.

As Christina Reese grows up, she becomes a star in her own right, rivaling the skills of her famous mother. But Christina's love is for the jumping competitions instead of racing at first, which leads to some interesting conflicts --- especially with the son of Brad and Lavinia Townsend. As Melanie and Christina eventually turn to riding racehorses and competing in The Triple Crown, Parker Townsend battles his parents to become a member of the Olympic team, and Cindy must find her confidence again as she relives her experiences competing in the male-dominated race world of the Middle East.

As you follow Ashleigh, Samantha, Christina, Cindy and Melanie through their lives, you'll travel all over the country. You'll even cross the ocean to Arabia, land of the original thoroughbred sires, where the history of racing is centuries old.

Here's a sampling of the more recent entries in Joanna Campbell's Thoroughbred Series:

RISING STAR (Thoroughbred Series #49)
by Karle Dickerson, Joanna Campbell
HarperCollins
ISBN: 0061068241
Ages 9-12
176 pages

Christina Reece has a dream: to ride her horse, Wonder's Star, in the Kentucky Derby. But Star has been ill, and no one believes he'll ever be able to race again. Christina is sure she can bring him back into racing form, if he can endure a race or two before the Derby, but time is short. It looks like the only option is to enter him into the grueling Derby prep race. Is Christina pushing her favorite horse past his limits to reach her own goal?

PERFECT CHALLENGE (Thoroughbred Series #52)
by Alice Leonhardt, Joanna Campell
HarperCollins
ISBN: 0061068217
Ages 9-12
176 pages

Melanie Graham has big plans for her horse Image. She wants to run Image in the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness and the Belmont --- the three races that make up the Triple Crown. After all, her family's horses have a long history of winning these races, so why not Image? She knows her horse needs a lot of practice before facing the top competition, especially since she has a history of being tempermental. She decides to try Image in an easy little race in Florida, but then Melanie discovers her father needs money to save his business and has entered Image in the tougher Florida Derby. Will Image settle down and show what a great thoroughbred she truly is?

DERBY FEVER (Thoroughbred Series #53)
by Alice Leonhardt, Joanna Campell
HarperCollins
ISBN: 0061068233
Ages 9-12
167 pages

Christina's beloved Star is in training for the Kentucky Derby, and so is she. But Christina is worried that he's getting impatient to run and needs at least one minor race before he runs in the big one. Her mother, Ashleigh, refuses to let her enter him in any other races this close to the Derby and cautions her daughter to just keep working him on at a steady, easy pace.

Christina is convinced that her mother is delibertly holding Star back, because Wonder died giving birth to him. Ashleigh is hurt by the accusation, but knows that she felt the same way at her age. She used to battle with the old trainer, Charlie Burke, over running Pride, too. And she believes that it's nerves that are causing Christina to be so defiant.

As if things weren't bad enough, Christina learns that her cousin, Melanie, is going to be racing her thoroughbred Image in the Derby too. Things haven't been too comfortable between them since Melanie accused Christina of bumping her horse, and now the two of them will be competing in the same race. This could cause their friendship to become even more shakey than before.

Will Christina trust her mother's advice and stick to the training schedule that Ashley worked out? Who will win the Derby? Image or Wonder's Star?

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