Horse Crazy (Saddle Club(R)) (Paperback)

~ Bonnie Bryant (Author) "... AND THAT'S FINAL, Stephanie!..." (more)
Key Phrases: Pine Hollow, Stevie Lake, Polly Giacomin (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The first of the four-book Saddle Club series introduces readers to Pine Hollow Stables and the girls who ride there: Stevie, Lisa, Veronica and Carole. Aspiring equestrians will enjoy the novel's wealth of detailed, accurate horse lore. Unfortunately, the convincing riding scenes are linked together by a predictable story line that drifts aimlessly between Stevie's efforts to earn money for an overnight trail ride and the difficulties Lisa encounters when she tries to make friends at the stable. Much of this action is curiously motiveless: Why, for instance, is Lisa's domineering mother so eager to push her daughter into riding lessons? And what, if anything, is the real reason for spoiled rich-girl Veronica's nastiness? Even horse-crazy readers may lose patience with this cavalier treatment of the story's human elements. Ages 9-12.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description

Carole and Stevie are happy to find that Lisa, the new student at Pine Hollow Stables, shares their enthusiasm for riding and horses and, as their friendship grows, the three girls decide to form the Saddle Club.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Yearling (April 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553484028
• ISBN-13: 978-0553484021
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #48,716 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars good, not great, September 27, 2005

By	E. M. Bristol "bibliophile" (boston, mass) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is the first book of the popular Pine Hollow and Saddle Club series. It focuses on three very different girls: straight A Lisa, practical joker Stevie, and horse crazy Carole who become friends after Lisa begins riding at Pine Hollow. At first, Stevie and Carole aren't sure Lisa will fit in, but she soon proves herself to have genuine potential and a desire to learn. When she helps Stevie do a math project to raise her gradese (and permit her to go on a horseback riding campout), the Saddle Club is born.

As a review mentioned, the book suffered by not exploring the characters' motivations. Lisa's mother and Veronica, the stable's spoiiled little rich girl, remain one dimensional.
However, it is hard to believe an author who knows enough about horses to write a book would put an inexperienced young rider (Veronica) on a stallion.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Three completely different girls forms the Saddle Club!, February 20, 2002

By	Maria "Maria Kanai" (Yokohama, Japan) - See all my reviews

Saddle up for great riding-with the girls of Pine Hollow! This book is just great and once you read this book, you'll want to read the other books in the Saddle Club series!

12-year-olds Carole Hanson and Stevie Lake have been the best of friends ever since they met at Pine Hollow Stables where they and other girls take riding classes. Carole Hanson is a girl who had been raised in the Marine Corps and she just loves horses! Stevie Lake comes from a wealthy family but is not in the least spoiled. She just loves practical jokes and of course, she loves horses too! So when snobby-looking, straight-A student, Lisa Atwood comes to Pine Hollow in fancy riding gear, they aren't really sure that Lisa will fit in. Lisa is not really spoilt but her worrying mother always tries to make her into a 'young lady'. Mrs. Atwood thinks that every 'young lady' needs to know how to ride, but Lisa isn't really crazy about riding and horses.....yet.And things don't get any better when Stevie plays a rather mean joke on Lisa, calling it as 'one of the traditions' of Pine Hollow. Lisa, in return, plays an equally rather mean joke on Stevie and they become more like enemies instead of friends.

Lisa soon shows herself to be a quick learner and she finds out that she actually likes horses and riding. But she is still friendless..until Carole invites her to come to her favorite ice cream shop. Soon, Stevie, Carole, and Lisa becomes fast friends.
They start making plans for the MTO, the long-awaited Mountain Trail Overnight campout for the students of Pine Hollow. But, things aren't looking good when Stevie's parents tells her that unless she improves her grades, they won't pay for it. And Lisa doesn't really think that her mother will let her go. Stevie gets this idea to make money for her own, her parents told her that THEY won't pay for it. Lisa has no solution but she decides to just wait and see what happens. Carole doesn't think that Stevie will be able to go but Stevie seems somehow very sure.

This book was really interesting and I loved Stevie the most! She is so funny and.......well, just FUNNY! If you liked this book, you'll love the other books in this series. The next one is "Horse Shy".

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing start to an Amazing series, September 30, 2001

By A Customer

lisa atwood is starting to take riding lessons. She meets a girl named Carole Hanson. She thinks Carole is nice but she doesn't like Carole's friend Stevie Lake. Stevie has problems of her own. Evey year Pine Hollow Stables goes on a mountain trail over night. Stevie's grades are slipping and her parents threaten not to pay for the overnight. Steivie tries raising the money on her own but when she finally gets enough she spends it all. Meanwhile Lisa has no friends except for the stable snob and Carole is woried she will have to go on the overnight without Stevie. Then the three girls come together to help eachother. This is an amazing book! So is the rest of the series! Some bring unstoppable tears while others bring fits of laughter. Every time I read a saddle club book I feel like I am right there with th characters! I strongly reccomend this series to all horse lovers!