A Horse of Her Own

This book is a great read for middle-school girls (and their mothers, too). Annie Wedekind's descriptions of the relationship between Jane and the horses gave me a whole new understanding and appreciation for why people who ride are so devoted to it. I learned a lot about the details of equestrianism, too. The portraits of the other teenage girls with whom Jane competes are entertaining, true, and, for those of us on the other end of adolescence, sometimes cringe-inducing. I look forward to reading more books by Wedekind.

I enjoyed this book wholeheartedly. I grew up on Long Island, NY and I had a pony when I was a teenager. I did the hunter/jumper and dressage training and could identify with the character 'Jane' very much so. I found this book to be correct in depicting the 'culture' and the author knows exactly what she is talking about when it comes to horses. She showed this subtly but a horseperson can pick up on it. The fact that she makes reference even to the horseshoer's dog who would be dissapointed that day there were no hoof scraps for him! She brought those experiences back for me! Not often does an author capture the honesty of a fourteen year old relating to horses, her family and her peers. All too often author's write a fanasty or drama of what an equestrian camp is like. Reading the book I felt like it really happened and I was THERE! I do hope Annie Wedekind writes more books. I will buy every one!

I never expected to find an author who could so perfectly capture a young girl's passion for riding in quite the same way as Marguerite Henry did years ago, but this book is proudly stands up to such classics as King of the Wind and Black Beauty. As a young reader, I was obsessed with horses and riding, much like the heroine in this book, and poured over every Henry book written. I haven't dabbled in this genre for years, but this book completely transported me to Jane's world filled with an young girl's excitement and heartbreak. This book's appeal is ageless and is bound to capture the heart of anyone who has ever loved a horse.

I bought this book for my 12 year old daughter, and she loved it so much I read it myself! It is heart warming and exciting, all the characters vivid and true to life. I wouldn't be surprised if this became an instant classic. I'd recommend heartily for any teen or pre-teen--even those who are not horse fanatics.

The story has good drama and you often wonder what's coming next. I liked the inside jokes and humor too and the relationship Jane has with her sister and with Robin. I liked the descriptions of the courses, which were really accurate and fun. The ending is also really good.