I saw my first horse before I could walk or talk – a humble mare with flies in her eyes and a feed basket tied to her nose. I was drawn to her with a magnetic force, and that attraction to horses never diminished. Over the years I’ve presided over their birth, raised them, and conditioned them to various disciplines. When it exists, the bond between horse and human is undeniable. In my novels—through family disfunction, hardship, adventure, and mystery – I explore how this connection gives young people confidence and the courage to overcome any obstacles.
I wrote...
Jockey Girl
By
Shelley Peterson
What is my book about?
Estranged from her classmates and unwanted at home, Evangeline Gibb feels alone in the world except for No Justice, a talented but difficult racehorse. All her life she’s believed that her mother is dead, but on her sixteenth birthday, a message from her Aunt turns her world upside down. To win enough money to find her mother and leave her father for good, Evie secretly enters No Justice in the Caledon Horse Race under the alias, Kazzam.
With help from Aunt Mary and a stray dog named Magpie, Evie unearths long-hidden family secrets, enters the underground world of drug addiction, defies her father, finds unexpected love, and takes the racing world by storm with single-minded determination.
When you buy a book we may earn a small commission.
The Books I Picked & Why
Horse Heaven
By
Jane Smiley
Why this book?
Horse Heavenbrims with engaging characters who inhabit the world of thoroughbred racing, both animal and human, and will break your heart and make you laugh out loud. Jane Smiley folds her humor and astute knowledge of horses into an immensely readable adventure that travels to racetracks around the globe and brings you along for the ride. It was pitch-perfect and delightful, and my only regret was that the story eventually had to end.
When you buy a book we may earn a small commission.
Lord of Misrule
By
Jaimy Gordon
Why this book?
Jaimy Gordon has written a beautiful, unforgettable novel that takes place at a run-down racecourse in West Virginia, where a has-been trainer forms a get-rich-quick plan with used-up racehorses. The story of Lord of Misrule, the legendary stakes winner, brings us into the heart of it, where everybody’s searching for something, everything has a price and what’s truly valuable is right in front of your nose.
When you buy a book we may earn a small commission.
Seabiscuit: An American Legend
By
Laura Hillenbrand
Why this book?
Seabiscuit was arguably one of the finest horses ever to race and he became a true American legend. As you read this remarkable book, you’ll grow to love this horse and admire his talent and spirit. I couldn’t put it down. Laura Hillenbrand goes deep into the facts of how his story unfolded and fully describes the people who believed in him right to the end. It will touch your heart.
When you buy a book we may earn a small commission.
The Horse Whisperer: A Novel
By
Nicholas Evans
Why this book?
The Horse Whisperer is a stirring novel about pain and redemption, and the healing power of horses. A young girl and her horse are hit by an out-of-control truck on a snowy road. The girl’s mother believes that the key to unlocking her daughter’s desperation lies in curing her horse, which motivates their journey across the country to the man who she hopes will help. It’s a must-read.
When you buy a book we may earn a small commission.
Break In
By
Dick Francis
Why this book?
I’ve always enjoyed Dick Francis’s hair-raising novels about steeplechase racing, crime, and intrigue, and it was difficult to choose only one. His inside knowledge of the sport and his connection with horses makes all his novels authentic and informative. Break Infeatures the jockey Kit Fielding, who comes to the aid of his twin sister, Holly, when her racing stable owner husband is slandered by the newspapers. Kit has a telepathic relationship with his sister, which adds to the mystique of this fast-paced adventure.
