A Horse Like Barney [Hardcover]

Jessie Haas (Author), Lindsay Barrett George (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 27, 1993 | Age Level: 10 and up

Finally given permission to have a horse of her own, Sarah looks at a series of Morgans and finds herself being scared, being bored, and falling in love with too many horses.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8-In this sequel to Keeping Barney (Greenwillow, 1982), Barney's owner, teenaged Missy, and Sarah search the countryside for a dream horse for Sarah. She survived Barney's antics when she took care of him last summer, and now she yearns for a Morgan just like him. She has to balance her fantasies with reality, however, as she looks for "the" one. In addition to horse-hunting, she is spending the summer conditioning a neighbor's endurance horse. Readers will sympathize with Sarah's anxieties, and agree with her choice. She makes independent decisions that lead to her final selection. Realistic characters and plenty of equestrian scenes (a show, cross-country jumping, and endurance ride) raise this story above the usual girl-gets-horse title.
Charlene Strickland, formerly at Albuquerque Public Library, NM
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

In Keeping Barney (1982), Sarah, 13, cared for the bright, feisty horse while his owner, Missie, was at college. Now, next summer, Sarah's taking riding lessons from Missie and helping another friend condition his horse for an endurance ride; and Mom has agreed to buy her a horse, but not until she finishes her summer tutoring job and has time to look for one. When Missie offers to drive Sarah on a preliminary search (which Sarah keeps secret, lest Mom forbid it), they find Roy, all energy and intelligence and almost too much to handle; and Thunder, lively and sweet, no longer young, but truly like the ideal Barney. When Mom finds out, she's taken aback--she hasn't told Sarah that the delay was to earn money for the horse, or that she counted on helping Sarah find a better one than she had as a girl. Suiting consequence to infraction, she leaves Sarah to choose without her advice. Skillfully, Haas limns a large cast of horses and people while focusing on Sarah's quest--her thinking through what she really wants, coming to terms with fear of a demanding mount, understanding how privileged she is compared to friend Jill (who'd also love to ride, but is trapped babysitting younger sibs), and taking responsibility for the tough choice between Roy's potential and lovable Thunder, bound for the knackers if no one buys him. Haas lets Sarah balance heart, mind, and her own good sense in admirable fashion before engineering a wholly satisfying (if not unexpected) conclusion. (Fiction. 9-13) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 170 pages
• Publisher: Greenwillow Books; 1st edition (October 27, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688124151
• ISBN-13: 978-0688124151
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,260,791 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic!, November 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: A Horse Like Barney (Hardcover)

I loved this book. I have read it like 5 times it is so good. It shows how much a girl loves one horse but she can't have him and she strives to find another horse that can make her happy and then she finds two. How will she ever choose. This book also provides a good source of information on the Morgan as a breed. This book is wonderful and I would recemend it to anyone who likes horses!

5.0 out of 5 stars A Horse Like Barney, January 19, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: A Horse Like Barney (Hardcover)

I think A Horse Like Barney is a five star book. This book is about a girl named Sarah. Sarah wants a horse just like her friend Missy's horse, Barney. Sarah's mom says Sarah will get her horse in the fall. But Sarah can't wait-she really wants a horse! So what does Sarah do? She sets off to find a horse by herself-but how? If you read A Horse Like Barney, you will find out how. When Sarah starts looking at horses, she finds a horse she likes right away. Later, Sarah finds other horses that she really likes. Which one will Sarah choose? Beau, a quick Morgan? Thunder, a twenty year old horse with great gaits? Or Roy, a happy horse with beautiful horse with great conformation?

This realistic fiction book is a fantastic read filled with suspense, humor, and is perfect for horse lovers like me. I really enjoyed reading this book because I love horses, and if you read it, I hope you do too!

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Too much Barney, December 22, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: A Horse Like Barney (Hardcover)

This book is about a girl going to buy her first horse. THis girl is stuck up and rude, and all she talks about is Barney. As the title suggests she wants a horse EXACTALLY like Barney, and says that over, and over, and over...