Olympic Dreams (High Hurdles #1) - Softcover

Lauraine Snelling is an award winning author of over 30 books, both fiction and non fiction for adults and young adults. She has two horse series for young teen girls, the GOLDEN FILLY SERIES which is completed and HIGH HURDLES. Lauraine is also the author of the popular RED RIVER OF THE NORTH series set in North Dakota in the past part of the 19th century. The Bjorklund brothers bring their families from Norway to begin a new life on the land they will turn from prairie to fertile farms.

Besides writing both books and articles, Lauraine teaches at writer's conferences across the country and has an active speaking career. She and husband Wayne have two grown sons, four grand dogs and live in the country where Lauraine can garden, sew, do crafts, cross stitch, enjoy her birds and eventually have a horse again.

size : 5.2 x 7.5

Grade 4-7?In this first book in a new series, 13-year-old DJ Randall dreams of owning a horse and competing in the Olympics. DJ is a self-sufficient young woman who holds an afterschool job grooming horses, sweeping stables, and teaching younger equestrians in exchange for riding time. Because of her concern with paying back her grandmother for special jumping lessons, she and her friend Amy advertize that they will bring a pony to birthday parties to offer children rides. DJ's prayers to God for guidance are not obtrusive and fit her personality. Yet she has her stubborn, sarcastic, and hurtful ways of dealing with her mother, who is frequently away on business. Snelling has a good ear for teen dialogue. However, readers may be put off by the unexpected subplot involving James, a mere acquaintance mentioned at the beginning of the book, and his drunken, abusive father. There's a pat conclusion, which wraps everything up in a mere four pages. A satisfying story for those looking for fiction with inspirational values.?Blair Christolon, Prince William Library, Manassas, VA
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