Olympic Dreams

DJ stared after her for a moment before slamming the glass down on the lawn. Jerking weeds out of the ground was probably better than jerking the hairs out of a certain policeman’s head. When she stabbed herself on a hidden thistle, she said a word she was glad Gran wasn’t around to here. Maybe getting a horse wasn’t her biggest problem after all.

Book: Olympic Dreams by Lauraine Snelling, Bethany House Publishers, 1995

 

Genre: Horse Stories/Realistic Fiction

Target Audience: Girls 11-18

Subjects: Relationships with family, Horses

Summary: DJ thinks her biggest problem in life is dreaming of being an Olympic rider with no horse or money to buy a horse. That’s until her Gran meets a man she finds attractive and starts dating him. DJ has never gotten along well with her mom. Gran has raised her all 13 years of her life. DJ and her mom don’t do much beyond arguing with one another. But if Gran leaves, DJ and her mom will be on their own. DJ can’t let that happen! But how can she get rid of this guy without destroying Gran’s happiness?

Notes: DJ and her Gran are Christians, her Gran a very strong believer. She has taken the role of spiritual parent in DJ’s life. There are just as many conversations about faith as there are about other aspects of parenting DJ. DJ has to learn to trust God with the change He is bringing about in her life and see that even when she can’t understand what’s going on, He does have a plan for her. This is the first in the High Hurdles series.

Recommendation Scale: 5/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Ephesians 3:20-21 –Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.