Shadow Horse [Mass Market Paperback]

Alison Hart (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

Horses + mystery + rescuing abused animals = a triple crown of perpetually popular preteen genres!

Thirteen-year-old Jasmine is found guilty of assaulting Hugh Robicheaux, the owner of the horse farm where she works. But she's still determined to prove that Robicheaux killed Whirlwind, the mare she loved. Jas is sure that Shadow Horse, a scrawny brown gelding she rescues at a horse auction, is the key to the mystery—but just how is Shadow Horse connected to Whirlwind?

Deftly written by a teacher and equestrian who has authored more than sixty books, this heartwarming and inspiring Edgar Award nominee will have special appeal for mystery fans as well as young horse lovers.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8-Jas Schuler, 13, knows that attacking Hugh Robicheaux, owner of the High Meadows Farm, after the death of her favorite horse was a serious offense. However, she never expects for the courts to place her under house arrest in a foster home, not even allowed to visit her grandfather after his stroke. Slowly Jasmine finds herself returning to a reasonably normal life by helping to keep Second Chance Farm running and finding comfort in caring for Shadow, an ill-treated horse bought by her temporary guardian, Miss Hahn. As the horse improves, Jas grows suspicious about Mr. Robicheaux's secretive actions surrounding the death of several other horses on his farm and is determined to bring him to justice. The author does an agreeable job of weaving suspense and character growth into a fluidly written mystery. She incorporates information about horse care seamlessly throughout each chapter. Readers will enjoy the interaction between Jas and the other characters. They will identify with the realistic situations and will find satisfaction in Jasmine's discoveries. This book won't need much space, since it will be grabbed by young mystery enthusiasts and horse-story fans alike.
Jana R. Fine, Clearwater Public Library System, FL
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Inside Flap

After assaulting the owner of the horse farm where she works, 13-year-old Jasmine Schuler must face the inside of a courtroom and then juvenile hall. No one believes Jas's charge that the man she attacked had killed her horse. Put into foster care at the Second Chance Farm for abused animals, she remains determined to prove her charge against the wealthy horse owner. The key becomes a horse she rescues. Written by a teacher and equestrian who has authored over 40 books.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Laurel Leaf (March 27, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375802630
• ISBN-13: 978-0375802638
• Product Dimensions: 4.8 x 0.8 x 6.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (72 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #57,858 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #36 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Animals > Horses > Fiction
  • #37 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Family Life > Orphans & Foster Homes
  • #89 in Books > Children's Books > Animals > Horses

More About the Author

Alison Hart has been writing since she was seven years old when she wrote, illustrated and self-published The Wild Dog. (A book she still shows young readers to prove that it's never too early to be an author.) Today she is an adjunct college instructor teaching reading and writing as well as the author of over twenty mysteries and historical suspense novels for children and teens, including Gabriel's Horses, which has been nominated for over eight state awards. "I honed my craft writing Nancy Drew mysteries and quickly developed a love of strong characters who are thrown into suspenseful situations; in other words, I love writing books that keep young readers glued to the pages."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!, February 27, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Shadow Horse (Random House Riders) (Hardcover)

This is a great book! It starts where Jas is waiting to see a judge for assaulting a rich horse owner who killed the horse she loved, Whirlwind. The horse owner, Hugh, claims Jas's grandfather accidentally poisoned the horse, but Jas knows that is not possible. Jas is sentenced to live under a kind of 'house arrest' on Second Chance Farm, a place where abused and neglected animals of all kinds are brought, cared for, and adopted out. Jas secretly collects clues as to how and why Hugh killed Whirlwind, whether he has killed before, and how she can prove it. In the meanwhile, she also takes care of and trains a large but sick horse bought at a 'meat auction,' begins to ride again, and comes to trust other people in her life. The story is well-written, fast-paced, poignant, and funny at times, and full of fascinating details about the juvenile system and about horses in general. Buy this book for yourself or the horse- or mystery-lover in your life!

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The horse in the Shadows, July 23, 2000

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Shadow Horse (Random House Riders) (Hardcover)

The book shadow horse was an adventure to read. Alison Hart combined two of my fav. subjects, horses, and mystery. Often times I would find myself feeling as though I were in the book. With each horse that was sick or was killed it didn't just hurt Jas (one from book), it also hurt me. This story is amazing the way that it paints pictures in your head and it's as if you are there doing everything she is. This story about a lost horse and a lost soul is one of the greatest books I have ever read. I reccomend it to anyone.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great mystery for horse lovers, September 5, 2001

By 

Erika Sorocco (Southern California, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Shadow Horse (Mass Market Paperback)

Shadow Horse is about a 13 year old girl named Jasmine (Jas) who is sent to live in a foster home at Second Chance Farm after she assaults the owner of a horse farm. Jas becomes friends with Chase, a young boy who helps out a Second Chance. Together they become determined to figure out if Jas' new horse is a look-alike for the one who was poisoned for insurance money.

Overall, this is an excellent book for horse and mystery lovers alike.