Thoroughbred #67: Breaking the Fall

I really enjoyed this book but am terribly upset that the series is ending and that this seems to be the final book focusing on Christina and Star. I don't know why people ever thought that Christina acted like a brat. She is my fav. character!

I loved this book. It is about Christina in a race with Charisma and she falls and gets hurt. She is disappointed about not being able to ride Star, and he won't behave for Melanie. An orphan named Allie comes to stay with Cindy, and she helps Chris to find out how to get Star to behave for Mel. Meanwhile, Chris looks into becoming a vet! This book showed a lot of promise for the TB series, along with Sammy's unborn twins. However, we will never see them, nor will we see much of Allie, because HarperCollins decided to end these books forever. That is too bad, not only because I adore these books, but because they were the only thing I ever buy from that publisher.

This book definitely represents one of the best in the "New Generation." To echo the sentiments of a previous reviewer, I found Chris's consideration of other careers in the horse world refreshing -- and intriguing. It seems the series in definitely on the upswing; I would definitely keep purchasing books as they keep coming out! I've been a Thoroughbred reader for 10 years, ever since I bought Pride's Challenge (#9) at an elementary school book fair. Needless to say, I was incredibly disappointed to hear that the publisher has decided to end the series. Generations of horse lovers (and me!) are going to be missing out.

About the book: Christina is in a race when another horse bumps her and causes her to loose her stirrup. She ends up with severe injuries that put her out of commision for at leats 3 months. During that time she needs someone to keep her horse, Star, in shape for upcoming races. She is dissapointed that she wont be riding him but her cousin Melanie will. In the meantime she takes a part-time job at a vet's clinic to see if she likes the idea of becoming a vet. You'll have to read the rest to find out if she does and what will happen to her and Star's future! My Opinion: The book was okay. One thing really bothered me though...On the back of the book it says that "...Christina reluctantly agrees to let Melanie train Star -- a situation that will begin to tear the cousins apart. Will they be able to mend their differences for Star's sake?..." However none of that happened throughout the book. It didn't tear them apart, they never fought or anything, and it seemed to me they got along great. Christina was dissapointed that she cant ride star but who wouldnt be? She never got mad at Melaine. Another thing that bothers me is those Famous horse things...ENOUGH ALREADY!!!! It was okay the first time but the authours are really overdoing it. These books are supposed to be fiction, not refer to famous REAL horses! Not only that but this story sounds rather familair....if i recall,in Living Ledgend (#39) Christina doesnt want to race star because she feels she is too inexpirenced so Melaine rides him. Hmmm do I sense the authors are running short of ideas? Anyway there IS a plus in this story; you meet a new character whose name is allison or Allie for short. Remember way back when in the beginning when we met Jilly Gordon and her boyfriend Craig Avery? then they got married? Well aparently they had a daughter too...Allie! In this story you find out that both craig and jilly died and their daughter was in foster care. Snotty Cindy McLean was in foster care too and decides that she and Ben will adopt Allie. I think Allie will be a wonderfull addtion to the Thoroughbred series. Book #70 Allie's Legacy has more about her! CANT WAIT!

I did like the book because it's a horse book and I love all horse stories and things to do with horses. In the book a girl who loves horses and loves racing on horses. Christina is in one of the races the day after it had rained all night. Christina is on her own horse called Star. One of the other horses runs into Star and Christina loses one of her stirrups. When the horse runs into Star again Christina's ankle twists in the stirrup very painfully. I recommend to girls because they will like more than boys will. The book is really interesting for people who love horses. Younger kids can also read this book. Once you read this book, you will definitely want to read more books out of the same series.