A Horse for Kate (Volume 1)

This book was so good. It was by far one of the best Christian horse books that I have read. Love it! I will recommend this to anyone who likes horses.

Great book. Our granddaughter loves it.

One of my girls loves horses and stories about them, so I was excited to read a book geared for her age group by a familiar author. I was pleased to find my expectations of an age-appropriate read were met, and even exceeded, by a strong spiritual thread woven throughout.This book is told in third person, but mostly from Kate’s perspective. She is a very human young lady who struggles with the challenges that accompany moving to a new place, family hardships, and even her attitude. What I especially liked is that even when Kate gets a bit out of line in her words or actions, she doesn’t remain there long; her conscience and the Holy Spirit’s conviction bring her around. Kate frequently prays about whatever is troubling her, and when she feels she’s been selfish in those prayers, she confesses and prays about what she realizes to be the real problem. In spiritual matters, Kate is a good example for the girls likely reading her story.The novel pacing is even and the prose and dialogue are all believable as coming from a young teen. The tension within the novel is both common to tweens and teens, but also age appropriate for younger readers. Will she make friends in her new school? Will she get the horse she so longs for? There is also a nice subplot involving Kate’s autistic brother. This is handled with sensitivity and empathy, giving girls a peek into the world of someone not very different from themselves, but facing a family challenge that can be very difficult at times.The theme of friendship is also explored with some depth. Being there during times of need, encouraging each other, and keeping her word to her friend, even when it goes against her deepest desires, are all things Kate and her new friend Tori exhibit.There is a lot of horse terminology but it’s explained well within the context of the book. Girls interested in horses and their equipment will enjoy learning new things or being immersed in a world that they dream about.This fairly predictable story will appeal to kids in the recommended age group of 8-12, and even younger girls will likely enjoy it if a parent reads with them. And the lack of surprises, especially unpleasant ones, will be welcome to parents who might be understandably concerned about what their children are reading. There is almost nothing objectionable within these pages—there is one mention of a boy and whether he is considered “hot” or not, but that is the only thing I’d flag as possibly questionable. And while the conclusion may be a bit unrealistic, I’m going to attribute that to a young girl’s version of a “happily ever after” ending, especially given that there is no real romance in this story, which again, parents of this age group will likely appreciate.The story will work well for girls interested in horses or who have moved to a new town recently. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to my friends who have young daughters interested in riding or caring for horses. Overall, this novel is a great “chapter book” for young readers just beginning to strike out into their own reading interests, and Mom and Dad won’t have to worry that they’ll run across any attitudes, actions, or other content that they might wish to shield their young readers from.I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for this honest review.

Kate and her family are now living on their deceased grandparents farm in Oregon. Kate didn't want to leave Washington State but her dad lost his job so times are tough. Although Dad now has a new job, money is still tight as Pete (6), Kate's younger brother is autistic requiring a lot of help and treatment etc. Kate would love her own horse but now is not the time.Kate's first day at school does not go well with Kate realizing that she (white) is now in the minority. It is not long before she makes friends with Tori (Spanish). Having always loved horses and horse shows etc. Kate is surprised when Tori admits to having never been near a horse let alone ridden one. When the girls both get offered jobs in exchange for riding lessons at a local stable Tori's parents say "No" due to her mom being very scared of them. This really tests Kate's commitment to Tori as she longs to be back on a horse. However the girls had made an agreement that if both of them couldn't work there, neither one would.What happens when Pete goes missing? Where is he? How does this change things?This book is for ALL youngsters who not only love horses but enjoy books that emulate good friendships. You can give this book to your child knowing that they are not going to read anything they shouldn't. There is a lovely, respectful and loving relationship between Kate, Pete and their parents. Both Kate and Tori's parents work hard to make a living and each set makes decisions together regarding their child/children. Not only that but your child will learn some basic horsemanship for example: grooming and hoof picking. This book is based on Christian principles but is not preachy. I would give this book 10 stars if I could. I was that impressed! SO glad I found this series for our youngsters to enjoy.

A Horse for Kate is a fun read with the usual middle school angst and a series of character building adventures. The first person point of view provided nice character depth that could’ve been deeper, and the spiritual and relational interactions were both interesting and instructive. A nice read for young girls and horse lovers.In the middle of the school year, Kate Ferris relocates from Spokane to rural Odell Oregon—tough to do in seventh grade. The Ferris’s have inherited grandpa’s hobby farm, including a barn but minus the horses. Kate dreams of a horse of her own, but with her brother’s need for special Ed, and Dad’s low paying job, this seems impossible. At school, Kate struggles to fit in until Tori, one of the Hispanic locals, breaks with her crew and decides to hang with Kate. Together they befriend a mysterious horse seemingly abandoned and neglected, and together they land a job at a local stable where Tori begins writing lessons for the first time. Kate must make some tough choices that challenge her honesty and perseverance.

A 9-year-olds review of A Horse for Kate:Kate, the main character is energetic, an adventurer, and she love, love, loves horses. She has a little brother named Pete with autism—which means he doesn’t talk a lot. Kate has a hard time adjusting when her family moves from Spokane to Odell. At her new school she meets Tori and the two become friends.One day, on their way home from school they meet a mare that is not well taken care of. When they meet the owner and tell him how he’s not taking care of mare. He tells them he wants to sell her. The next day, she’s gone. When Kate finds her, will the owner let her keep the mare.Kate’s faith is apparent in the story by how she prays to God for help with many things.Sometimes the book made me feel nervous and sometimes it made me feel excited.I really like the way the author wrote the book and would rate it 5 stars.I would recommend it for animal lovers like me.

A nice gift for my grand child, but the cost including the postage was a bit high. However, further to that, I like the book condition and find it is quite presentable. thank you

Good service and product as advertised.

Enjoyable

I really like how this reads. It is a great story for young people, teaching them about praying, doing the right thing, caring about others, making rough decisions and more. Enjoyed it, interested in the others ones in the series.

Daughter loved it