Customer Reviews

Horse in the House (Animal Ark Series #26)

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3 star:		(1)
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Horse in the House is a great book for horse lovers or just people who want to become vets. This book kept me reading non-stop. I hope other people like it as much as I do. This book was great because I want to become a vet and also I love horses.

This book was TOTALLY entertaining.I loved it. It was about a poor horse and it's life after his wonderful stable was gone.Mandy and James, helpes and solved the problem of "Horse in the House"It wasn't really 'Scary' so small kids can read them too.In my opinion, THIS IS THE BEST BOOK EVER!!!!! Hope this helpes!

As always Ben M. Baglio did a great job. Not scary, so great for little ones to read. I'm glad Mr. Baglio dropped his pen name of "Lucy Daniels" and is now using his real name. He should be known for such great children books. My Sarah loves his books.(for those who don't know, Lucy Daniels was the "Pen" name Ben M. Baglio used in the beginning of his series. Since then, he has dropped the name and uses his own. If you see a Animal Ark book with Lucy Daniels name on it, rest assure it is by Ben M. Baglio.)

Twelve-year-old Mandy Hope, and her best friend James Hunter feel horrible that their good friend, Wilfred Bennett, is being forced to sell his riding stables. Since the death of his beloved wife, Rose, both Mandy and James have assisted Wilfred in various menial tasks, including taking care of his eight remaining horses. The stables hold fond memories for Mandy, as she learned to ride on Rose's favorite mare, Matty. So when Mandy and James must accompany Mandy's veterinarian father, Dr. Adam, to a horse auction to watch each and every one of Wilfred's horses be sold to the highest bidder, they both find themselves extremely down. Mandy can't bear to part with the lovable Matty, and, deep down in her heart, she knows that Wilfred is feeling the same sadness. Matty was Rose's favorite horse, and by selling Matty, Mandy is convinced that Wilfred is selling off the last piece of Rose that he has. Unfortunately, by donating so much of their stables' business out to disabled riders, Wilfred is in quite a tight position with money, and can't keep even one of the horses. Besides, with Sam Western having already bought up all of Wilfred's land, and begun setting up a campsite for travelers, there's no room for an aging horse. However, when all of Wilfred's horses have been sold off, Matty is nowhere to be found, and Wilfred is being hush about the whole situation. The town of Welford is worried about Wilfred. With Rose gone, and now having to lose his horses and his stables so soon after her death, the townspeople begin to wonder if Wilfred will be able to cope. Mandy and James are curious about the same thing, and spend quite a bit of time trying to visit their older friend, and find out more about Matty's bizarre disappearance. But Wilfred's lack of appearances within Welford quickly takes a backseat to the newest mystery that has hit the tiny town. Sam Western's campsite is booming with business, and bringing all sorts of new people to Welford. But when rumors begin to fly that the campsite is haunted, Western's Campsite becomes one stop that people don't want to make on their vacations. According to campers, in the middle of the night, a headless horseman comes galloping through the campsite on a white horse, then manages to vanish into thin air. The rumors state that the horse and her rider are surrounded by a ghostly white light, and do nothing more than gallop through, then disappear. Mandy and James can't believe the rumors. Wilfred owned the land for years, and there were never any reports regarding a headless rider and his horse. So, under the pretense that they are holding a "badger watch," Mandy and James decide to do a little investigating of their own into the haunted campsite, to learn just how accurate the rumors are. But with all of the spooky tales floating about around them, the friends begin to wonder if Western's Campsite is truly haunted, or if someone is simply playing a joke on the unsuspecting campers.

Of late, Ben M. Baglio has added a handful of horse tales to the ANIMAL ARK series. However, his writing talent is so great, that he is able to weave a very different, very unique tale, to accompany each title. HORSE IN THE HOUSE is no different. Mandy is, as always, generous to the extreme. Along with James, the two of them donate their time - unasked - to help an elderly man cope with the grief of losing his wife of countless years, and help him with chores around his home and land. The two are such wonderful company for Wilfred, and really manage to cheer the man up; and the kind gesture that they extend to the aging fellow is a prime example for young/middle readers to help their elders, and volunteer for the people around them. While Blackie has been missing from many of the ANIMAL ARK books lately, Baglio inserts the feisty, misbehaving dog into the thick of HORSE IN THE HOUSE, making him as lovable - and troublesome - as ever. His perpetual smile, and boundless energy is humorous, and will leave readers - both young and old - with a grin on their face. Wilfred was an interesting character. He's kind and jovial; while, at the same time, mysterious and sneaky. His friendly treatment towards Mandy and James instantly makes you enjoy his appearances throughout the story; while his dedication to both his deceased wife, and his horses - especially Matty - is admirable. While Wilfred is a rose, however, the character of Sam Western is rather like a bushel of thorns. Sam Western is scruffy and grumpy, and seems to dislike kids to the extreme. He can't stand Mandy and James butting into his affairs, and is always out to earn some extra money. At the same time, he takes wonderful care of his bulldogs, so you know that he can't be that bad. His tough attitude is a nice contrast to the kindness that usually surrounds Welford, and provides a little controversy throughout the tiny town. Once again, Baglio has woven a tight, clean, fresh story that will intrigue readers of all ages. Animal lovers will adore the mystery that accompanies HORSE IN THE HOUSE.

Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer

Hansi confer,The plot is that a man named "Wilfred Bennett" had to sell a familiar stable.And he wants everyone to forget that the stable even existed. so the man makes it into a camp site for all children.But Mandy hears that campers are telling these stories of a ghost horse and a rider but Mandy does not believe that is true.Then Mandy thinks a little " it might just be just a horse"? so she keeps on hearing all these stories about the horse and ya,ya,ya.so every single night she goes to sleep she thinks about the horse ghost the horse ghost.But then that next morning she said she could not take it any more she asked one of the campers if she has seen the ghost horse any where and she said no but in that house i have heard that their has been a lot of witnesses of a horse that has been scene.So that night Mandy stayed in the camp site house\old stable and when she saw a horse shadow she turned on the light and she saw a beautiful white horse and she saw that their was haw all over the house but no rider so Mandy says"maybe Wilfred Bennett let you stay here and he kept you oh how i would love to have you" so the next morning Mandy talks to Wilfred Bennett and says you know you have a horse in your campsite house /very old stable and Mr.Wilfred says yes his name is "Matty" and i hide the horse i my own house because when i turned my stable into a camp site i decided to keep Matty in my house.Mandy and her friend came back to Wilfred's house and fed Matty some sweet union and some sugar cubs.Mandy and her friend got scared and dropped the food when Wilfred opened the door .so know that the campers now that it is Matty the horse that was in the old stable/camp site house they stopped telling those stories and everyone relaxed and then the story "The horse in the house" ends on pg.160.so this is my name,specific details,i completed and made the reader be aware of the setting,the problem,and the solution,and i completed my grammar,spelling,punctuation,and complete sentences.

My 7 yr old loves horses. I read reviews and decided to get it. I also ordered about 30 other titles in the series not necessarily about horses.

The book was read in 2 days by herself.

She loved the book and recommends it to her brother. She thinks he will go bananas (in a good way) when he reads it.

This is a great book for kids. I loved it so much and it gets to be great at the end. I recommend this book for ages 7 and up. There are 160 pages plus a preview of Pony in a package.(another book by the same author)

Horse in the House(Animal Ark Series #26) by Ben M. Baglio

I bought this book for my daugther and she love it.She's an animals lover especially horses.She already read it 3-4 times. Thanks!!!

This book rocks! Read all of Ben M. Baglio's Animal Ark books. Don't forget the Animal Ark Hauntings. They're mysterious and sad. Don't read Lucy Daniel's versions of Animal Ark and Animal Ark Hauntings. She's a copycat, copying Ben M. Baglio's books!

Is this an animal ark haunting, 'cause of the ghost stories? I love horses and dolphins, so I love Animal Ark and Dolphin Diaries.