Sierra (Spirit of the Cimarron) [Paperback]

Kathleen Duey (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Series: Movie tie-ins

Adventure, drama, wild horses running free. The American West is brought to life through the eyes of the horses who were there in a new program of books inspired by Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, the new film coming May 2002 from DreamWorks.

Sierra is a feisty young filly when natural disaster separates her from her herd of free horses. Alone and struggling to survive in the harsh elements, she encounters another horse who leads her to a Lakota encampment. But can Sierra find a place with them without sacrificing her freedom and independence?

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grades 4-6--Sierra goes from wild horse to semi-tame in this story. She is accidentally separated from the rest of the horses, almost dies, but meets a young stallion that leads her to a Native American village. There a patient child accustoms her to humans and Sierra bears a foal, Rain. Each of the 12 chapters starts with Sierra's brief italicized reminiscences, followed by a third-person narration that fleshes them out. While there is much anthropomorphism, it is usually consistent with a horse's reality. However, the story line is only moderately compelling. Sierra's early life is rich with wild-horse behavior and herd interaction but the mare seems as much an observer as a participant. The other horses whose lives readers become involved with then disappear from the scene and children follow her almost reluctantly into her new life. The ending is not conclusive, but from reading about the DreamWorks film mentioned on the back cover (Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron), it is clear that Rain is a main character in the movie and that this story serves primarily to supply her background. With its handsome jacket illustration, it should attract horse lovers. Amy C. Laundrie's Whinny of the Wild Horses (Four Winds, 1990; o.p.) is a better story but movie fans will enjoy Sierra.
Louise L. Sherman, formerly at Anna C. Scott School, Leonia, NJ
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Kathleen Duey is the author of numerous books for young readers, including the American Diaries series and the Survival series.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (April 15, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0142300969
• ISBN-13: 978-0142300961
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,013,264 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I have published over 80 books for children of all ages and YA/Adult readers. Many have won state and national awards and all of them have brought me the kind of fan mail that writers love to get.

Two from today's email (Jan 27 11)
Dear Ms. Duey,

I am 8 years old and I live in Catalonia (Spain). I just finished reading your book "Moonsilver" with my mom, and I really liked it. I want to ask you, what was your dream in 3rd grade? I'm asking you because at the end of the book, it says that the series of the Unicorn's Secret books is based on a dream you had in 3rd grade. I am in third grade right now, so I'm really curious!!!
Please tell me

(writer's name)



Dear Ms. Duey,

I loved your book the Unicorn's Secret. Me and my mom read it together. I like your books because I like unicorns and your story was very exciting. I like to draw unicorns. They are one of my favorite animals. I have two stuffed animal unicorns. One is named Sparkle. I sleep with her every night. Did you always want to be a writer? Have you ever seen a real unicorn? I am in 1st grade. I love to read. When I grow up I want to be a animal trainer and I want to train unicorns if I can find one.

LOVE , (writer's name)


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YA readers are writing a lot, too. Most say something like this one:

I have been waiting for the third book in Skin Hunger trilogy forever. Ok not forever but it feels like it. When is it coming out? How long will you make me wait? I love these books and am really needing to know what happens to Sadima and Hahp!!!!!


I know, me, too. Please read below.
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If it is later than 6:30am PST, I am probably writing, even if I am on an airplane. I might be working on a faerie book or writing about unicorns for grade school kids, or I could be lost in something dark, detailed, and strange for YA/adult readers. The third book in the Resurrection of Magic Trilogy is dragging me through the woods. I am working on it every day, and am Skying instead of traveling to schools and libraries until I get it DONE. It's taking wild amazing turns and I love it.

If I am not working...I might be answering readers who contact me through my website: http://www.kathleenduey.com Thanks to everyone who gets in touch with me on Facebook, my blog, http://kathleenduey.blogspot.com/, Twitter, and all the other ways to reach me. I can't keep up anymore, but I try to answer questions and I send out signed bookplates when I can. It means so much to know that you like my books.

I appear at schools, bookstores, and teach at writers' conferences nationwide and internationally. There is a schedule on my website and I try to keep it current.
And more and more... I Skype. It's a wonderful way to meet readers in classrooms and at libraries, I love to drop in on book clubs and critique groups, then get back to work!

Book news: The Unicorn's Secret books are getting lovely new covers by Sandara Tang, an amazing artist based in Singapore. The fan mail astounds me.
Sandara is the cover artist for the new kid's series The Faerie's Promise, too. Excerpts from all my books are on http://www.kathleenduey.com

YA NOVEL ONLINE/IN PROGRESS: RUSSET fans: http://russet-one-wing.blogspot.com/
I am accumulating entries and will tag you all when there is more to read. Give me your contact info and I will add you to the alert list. kathleenduey at earthlink dot net

The third book of my YA/adult trilogy is in the works now. I don't have a release date yet because I still writing like MAD. But it will be ASAP, I promise. The story is taking amazing turns and dragging me through the woods the way the first two did. Thanks!!!! to the thousands of people asking when it will come out.

You have no idea how happy that makes me.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spirit Of The Cimarron: Sierra, December 16, 2002

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Spirit of the West/Sierra (Spirit of the Cimarron) (Hardcover)

Sierra is a wonderful book. It is even better for a horse lover. It is about a young foal of the untamed West. She was born in a free herd there. But then a young proud stallion comes to take over the herd. Sierra carelessly runs to far from the herd which leads to a total disaster. She meets up with a lone stallion who takes care of her while taking her to an Indian Campground. She relizes that she has a new home here with these people and with the stallion. This book is a great adventure tale. But is probably even better if you are a horse lover. I give you my word that I just couldn't put it down.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Seirra: ( spirit stallion of the cimarron), June 6, 2003

By 

Mercedes (Windsor, ON Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sierra (Spirit of the Cimarron) (Paperback)

This book is awesome!
i read it in 1 day I loved it so much!
It is a good book for horse lovers who like adventure books-and not to mention liked spirit-
It is one of the 4 great books of Kathleen Duey.
This is my favorite one.
Seirra is a rambonciuos filly who enjoys galloping through the valleys- but the new leader of the herd is cruel to her forcing her out of the herd-...........

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sierra, July 6, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Sierra (Spirit of the Cimarron) (Paperback)

I thought this book was so good I read it 3times.Kathleen Duey is great at discribing Sierras' fellings.My favorite part was when Sierra meets Storm.