Horsefeathers!

You’re fond of this horse, aren’t you, Sarah?” asked Ralph Dalton. “You should see if Dotty can come up with some cash. Anyway, one way or the other, we’ll just have ‘’til the end of the month to find a home for Orphan.” He eyed the barn. “That’s when the bank note comes due. They’ll foreclose if Dad Coop can’t make the payment again.”

Book: Horsefeathers! by Dandi Daley Mackall, Concordia Publishing House, 2000
 

Genre: Realistic Fiction/Horse story

Target Audience: Girls 13-17

Subjects: Trust in God, Friendship, Judging others, Family relationships

Summary: Scoop is an orphan – twice over in fact. So is her horse. It’s mom died giving birth to it and when Scoop was only 3, she was the only one who got it to eat, making Orphan her horse ever since. But now, Scoop and Orphan are about to be homeless. They’ve been living on Granddad Coop’s farm, but he’s developing Alzheimer’s and can’t make payments anymore. The bank is ready to foreclose and the relatives are ready to bulldoze the barn into the ground. Scoop can’t let that happen! But she has no money, her aunt that is caring for her and her brother has no money and her friends have no money. When a new boy (who most don’t even believe exists) offers a way to help her get the money she will have to figure out how to become someone she isn’t in order to do it.

Notes: This is the first in another beautiful horse series by this author. In this story Scoop learns some extremely valuable lessons about jumping to conclusions and making cruel judgments too quickly. She nearly loses a good friend over it. It also includes a very brief salvation message as Scoop recalls the day her aunt led her to the Lord. The final lesson theme in the book is trusting in God to provide. Scoop prays, but really relies on her own efforts. In the end though, it is God who comes though and provides answers, not Scoop.

Recommendation Scale: 5/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Philippians 4:6 - Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.