Crystal's Rodeo Debut

“Crystal do you know what that means? Shawn said he thought his grandfather had a copy of Bonneville’s Adventures. He’s going to find the part about his burying the cache. Crystal, it’s right out there somewhere!” “What’s right out there somewhere?” Mr. Blake asked. “Crystal’s mind had already begun organizing the expedition. “Why, Dad, it just might be a … an undiscovered page out of history!”

Book: Crystal’s Rodeo Debut by Stephen Bly, Chariot Books, 1986

Genre: Adventure

Target Audience: Girls 12-15

Subjects: Sharing your faith, boldness, courage, friendships, dating relationships

Summary: The treasure could be right here, in the dried up lake by Crystal’s own home! It seems like since she first arrived in this town, Crystal has had adventure after adventure. The latest is discovering clues in an old book that may lead to gold! In between getting moved in to a new home, enrolling and starting in a new school, trying out for the rodeo group at school, and participating in a new friend’s wedding, Crystal and Shawn and some of the other friends she’s made in the past couple of weeks go treasure hunting.

Notes: This is the third book of a semi-western adventure series for girls about a fifteen year old girl and her friend as they travel around with her dad and start to enter the horses, rodeo and western scene. In this book, Crystal’s family has decided to move to this town and Crystal is settling in, making plenty of new friends. One of those friends starts to ask some very deep questions about Crystal’s faith. Once again, Crystal struggles to find the right words to share what she believes. Her sister encourages her to write a letter to her friend and tell her that way – which winds up answering exactly what her friend was asking. Crystal is still working at figuring out who she is, who she wants to be and what God wants her to be.

Recommendation Scale: 4/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

1 Peter 3:15 - But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.