Starlight's Shooting Star

Reviewed by April Sullivan for Reader Views (5/06) "Starlight's Shooting Star" is the fourth book in the Starlight Series for young readers and it continues the momentum of the first three. This book starts exactly one year after we first met Miranda Stevens in "Miranda and Starlight." Two of the three wishes she made on the first day of school a year ago have come true. Her first wish was to have friends. She now has many including her best friends Laurie and Chris, Mr. Taylor's grandson Elliot, and finally Margot, Adam's daughter. Miranda's second wish was to own her own horse. She is now half owner of Starlight and is allowed to ride him whenever she would like, with the stipulation that she must show a jockey how she has trained Starlight. It seems she is the only person that the horse will not throw off his back. Miranda shows Colton Spencer how love and respect have won Starlight's heart. Colton takes her advice and Starlight wins first place in a race. Miranda's third wish was for a regular family. And this wish looks more and more unlikely to come true. Her real dad is dead and she does not like Adam, her mom's new fianc?. But in an exciting turn of events we find out that her father Barry Stevens is actually alive and well. And he makes an appearance in Montana shaking up the entire new family situation. The multiple plot lines and long term investment in the characters gives children in a classroom or family setting the chance to discuss the many complex issues in the series. For example, in "Starlight's Shooting Star" a foal is born to Queen and Starlight, named Shooting Star. Mr. Taylor is upset to find out that Miranda let her stallion get close enough to the mare to produce a baby, but he is even more distressed when he finds out that their offspring is not pure black in color. A DNA test proves that Starlight does not have the dominant genes needed to produce the pure black foal his ranch is known for breeding. It is interesting to note how the horses are prized for their pure black color, while Mr. Langley is ostracized for his African-American heritage. The Starlight Series gets better and better as I find myself more involved with the characters. Janet Muirhead Hill uses the chapters to their fullest potential. As each one comes to an end, she leaves the reader hanging and wanting to know more. This technique is essential in keeping young boys and girls interested in reading. And perfect for a family reading the book aloud together. With two more books to go, there is still so much more that can happen!

Miranda Stevens was now in the sixth grade. Laurie and Chris were still her best friends. They rode their horses together as often as possible. It was becoming less and less due to Chris's horse, Queen, being pregnant and Mr. Taylor had decided it was time for Starlight to begin racing. Colton Spencer was hired to be Starlight's trainer and jockey. Unlike the previous trainer, Adam, this one was kind. Colton actually listened to Miranda and took her advice on how to train Starlight. Miranda's mother was still engaged to Adam and the wedding day was drawing near. Miranda went to visit them briefly and met Adam's daughter, Margot. A shaky friendship began between the two girls. Margot kept to herself, seldom spoke, and cried every night because she missed her mother. Margot had seldom seen her father before her mother died. Worse, Adam was showing his temper more often and Miranda's mom never noticed Adam's cruelness to anyone. When Miranda goes back to her grandparents, Margot goes with her. Slowly Margot begins to bloom. **** I know a great series when I read one! They are hard to find, but here is one just waiting for young readers to discover! I can not tell too much more without spoiling the story. So much happens in this book! Grandpa has an accident while with a calf, Miranda and a few classmates become lost while exploring some caves (during a school field trip), and a surprising new character throws everyone for a loop! This is book four of six and, in my opinion, the best one yet! Apparently I am not the only reader who believes this to be an outstanding series. A recent article in "The Billings Gazette" reports that shooting has begun in Montana for the MOVIE "Miranda and Starlight"! Yes, you read that correctly. It is all about to become a movie. EXCELLENT! *****