Darkest Hour (Heartland, Book 13) [Paperback]

Lauren Brooke (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up

In the thirteenth book of the popular Heartland series, the horses come down with an equine flu and the entire stable is quarantined, forcing Amy to realize there is a limit to how much she can do.

A fierce flu strain is infecting Heartland's horses, and, despite Amy and Ty's fervent efforts to treat and isolate those infected, the flu spreads to other horses and the vet quarantines Heartland. To make matters worse, the late summer heat heightens the tension. Ben is frustrated when Red starts to exhibit flu symptoms because their show season will be cut short. Ty thinks Ben is being selfish, and Amy feels caught in the middle. Then, just as some horses start to get better, a tornado devastates the valley. When the storm is over, everyone is forced to gain a new perspective.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

LAUREN BROOKE lives outside London in an old English farmhouse. She divides her time between writing and mucking out the stalls of her two horses. In addition to writing the twenty-four Heartland books, Lauren is the author of the Chestnut Hill series.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks (September 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0439425085
• ISBN-13: 978-0439425087
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #410,104 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Lauren Brooke lives outside London in an old English farmhouse. She divides her time between writing and mucking out the stalls of her two horses. In addition to writing the twenty-four Heartland books, Lauren is the author of the Chestnut Hill series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AWSOME BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!, November 10, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Darkest Hour (Heartland, Book 13) (Paperback)

this was an awsome book! I read it with in a few hours! I couldn't put it down! Laura has done a great job expressing all of Amy's feelings and emotions. It all starts when an equine flu breaks out at Heartland. Many of the horses are becoming very sick. Ben, one of Heartland's stable hands and a succesful compeiter, is crushed when his horse Red comes down with the flu. Ty thinks that he is being selfish, and tention is constantly building between them. Amy feels as if she is caught in the middle. Amy feels that the only person who understands is her friend Dainel who is currently taking care of her old show horse storm. When Amy goes to vist storm, Daniel lets his feelings for Amy overwelm him. Amy has no idea how to tell Ty who is also her boyfriend, about Daniel. But then a terrible tornado ripps across Heartland. When Amy and Ty go to check on the horses, one of the frightend horses shakes the unstable barn and it all comes crashing down. I can't tell you what happens to the horses, Amy, and Ty but i can tell you that this is one of the best books Laura Brooke has written. I can't wait till the 14th book comes out! It will tell the fate of everyone after this terrible storm! YOU HAVE TO READ THIS BOOK!!!!

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Darkest Hour, September 5, 2003

By 

"dfhgioiegkva" (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Darkest Hour (Heartland, Book 13) (Paperback)

I really couldn't believe how many people think this is the saddest book of all the Heartland series.I definitely thought #1,3,and 11 were defintely the saddest.i cried my eyes out in thsse three books but don't get me wrong,Darkest Hour is a fantastic book.however i do agreee with people in that Lauren's last few books weren't that great and something dramatic needed to happen to get this series back off the ground.things at Heartland start getting bad when a horse is diagnosed with an equine flu.it continues to spread to the other horses and Heartland has to be quarinteend.the dangerous flu is spreaing to other horses.Ben's horse, Red, comes down with this flu and Ben is crushed.He has been working so hard competing in shows.Acting very selfish because of not being able to compete for a few more weeks(the horses must stay at Heartland in fear the the sickness will be spread)Ty argues with him.Meanwhile, Amy's friend Daniel seems to be getting fonder and fonder of her.When she goes to visit him and Storm,Daniel kisses Amy.She is very confused,she tries to tell Ty what happened but the deadly storm hits before she has a chance to tell Ty about Daniel's kiss(but in the end they decide to just stay friends).A tornado accompanies torrents of wind and a downpour of rain.Everyone rushes inside and takes refuge in the basement.After most of the lightning and thunder disperses,Amy and Ty decide to go check on the horses after hearing a loud crash.they go in the barn,and many of the horses are very frantic.the barn's beams and walls creak after one of the horses kicks the wall out of terror and panic,the beams collapse where Ty and on of the horses are.Amy is knockes unconciousness.the fire department and ambulance come.Ty is takin to intensive care,but Amy is not allowed to see him and has no idea about his condition.Amy returns to Heartland to help with the horses and finds out that the horse that was crushed along with Ty had to be put down because the horses injury is so awful,Ty's mother calls Amy,telling her to come down to the hospital.there, the doctor gives her the devastating news.Ty has a broken collarbone,a shin fracture,and internal bleeding.that is the least of it.he has intenal head damage and is now in a coma.they don't know how long he will be in such a state or if he will come out of the coma at all.and even if he does he might not remember anyone or anything.Amy's heart is nearly broken and she promises to visit Ty every day and to talk to him,whether he can hear her or not.Amy comforts Mrs. Baldwin, Ty's mother,Who eventually wants to take an interest in Ty's work at Heartland and wants to care for him more,but she thinks it is too late.Yet, Amy is strong and is hopeful that Ty will come out of the coma....but when?and can Amy cope with all the work at Heartland without her beloved Ty?(sorry if i've given the whole book away, but i had to.it is so good)

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ONE OF THE SADDEST BOOKS SO FAR ! ! !, November 4, 2003

By 

Holly horse lover (Dublin,Ireland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Darkest Hour (Heartland, Book 13) (Paperback)

It all started off with Amy looking after Willow a bay pony who was beaten by her owners, but now amy was trying to cure her. Suddenly Amy's thoughts were stalled. Candy a strawberry roan came down with the flu. Other horses then start getting flu symtoms and puts Ben on the high because Heartland is isolated, He then can not compete on his horse Red.It then puts Ty in a position that he calls Ben selfish, then something happens between Daniel and Amy and sends her in all directions. Just when all flu symtoms are clearing up. A terrible storm hits the barn and puts Ty's life on tenderhooks.A MUST READ