A Horse For Kate

Dad sank onto the couch next to Mom. It’s not our business, honey. Capri belongs to Mr. Miller. If he decides that’s what is best, it’s not up to us to question his decision.”

Kate spread her arms wide. “But we could buy her!”

Dad shut his eyes. “We’ve discussed this before, Kate. I’m not going through it again. I’m sorry.”

“But Dad!”

“No more argument, Kate. You need to take care of your chores. I don’t want your work at the barn to interfere with your responsibilities at home. You promised to keep up, remember?”

“Yeah.” She scuffed her toe against the carpet, wanting to say more but knowing she shouldn’t. When Dad used that tone, any discussion was over. Finished. Done with. Nothing would change his mind. Not even an earthquake.

Book: A Horse for Kate (Horses and Friends) by Miralee Ferrell, David C. Cook, 2015

Genre: Horse Book, Realistic Fiction

Target Audience: Girls 10-14

Subjects: Obedience to parents, Prayer, Friendship

Summary: All she wants is a horse. Just one big, expensive, difficult to care for, horse. Ok, so Kate isn’t exactly thinking of it in those terms. But her parents are. First there was the move. That caused her to have to quit her riding lessons. Then there’s the fact that her little brother has severe autism and any extra money or focus needs to be poured into him. Kate is not feeling too thrilled with her parents right now. When an ad appears for someone to come clean a local stable in exchange for lessons, Kate leaps on the opportunity. There are just a couple small problem with it though: first, she hasn’t asked her parents about it yet. And second, the new friend she’s making who would come with her is uncertain about horses herself and has a mom who is terrified of them. At the rate things are going, Kate isn’t even going to see a horse, let alone own one!

Notes: A Horse For Kate is the first in the Horses And Friends series. In this first book, Kate is all focused on getting a horse of her own. She prays, asking God to give her the horse. She tries to convince her parents that having one is an essential. And she tries to get her new friend to be as into horses as she is. When things don’t go her way, she assumes God isn’t listening. A near disaster with her little brother changes her perspective a bit on what is actually important.

Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 4/5

Reviewer:  J:-)mi

Psalm 37:3-6 – Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.