  | Full Text Reviews: Booklist - 03/15/2010 Abby gets her heart’s desire: her parents purchase Griffin, the gentle horse she has grown to love during her riding lessons. But when her best friend, Devon, can’t get past her fear of the horse to share Abby’s excitement, they quarrel. Abby turns her attention entirely to Griffin and works hard to prove that she is responsible enough to care for him and ride him safely. Still, she misses Devon, and finally she reaches out to mend the friendship. Although girls who love horses are the obvious audience, other readers will also enjoy this appealing chapter book with its simple plot and subtly drawn characters, from the sympathetic though flawed protagonist to her reticent but supportive father to her canny little brother, who’s not above a bit of blackmail to get what he wants. Illustrating one scene in each chapter, Himler contributes shaded pencil drawings that capture the actions and emotions of the characters. A good choice for readers new to chapter books. - Copyright 2010 Booklist. Bulletin for the Center... - 04/01/2010 It’s finally happening for nine-year-old Abby-she’s getting a horse of her very own. When Griffin arrives, she’s struggling a little to adjust to the reality of her new responsibilities, but she’s still completely besotted; the problem is that her best friend, Devon, doesn’t seem to properly appreciate this new wonder in Abby’s life, causing a rift between the two. Sibling dynamics are particularly well depicted here: Abby’s little brother, Brad, easily gets Abby’s goat and uses threatened tattling to blackmail her, yet she still misses his company when he’s elsewhere. Abby’s self-focused attitude is developmentally credible, while her stretching to handle the large task she’s taken on is evoked in ways that kids will recognize (she keeps making mistakes that put her and Griffin into risky situations). The Devon plot isn’t well explored or successfully concluded, though-in fact, the story wraps up with startling haste-and the book tends to brush off the implications of Abby’s horse-handling errors. Himler’s gentle, sketchy illustrations are a little ill at ease in drafting horses, but the kids have an informal authenticity that enhances the it-could-happen-to-you flavor of the story. Youngsters who like to enhance their horsey yearnings with the trappings of reality will likely enjoy putting themselves in Abby’s place and telling themselves that they’d have done better. DS - Copyright 2010 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. School Library Journal - 06/01/2010 Gr 3–5— This is an enjoyable book about a young girl's experiences with her first horse. DeLaCroix skillfully interweaves two plotlines: Abby's struggle to prove to her parents that she can take care of the animal, and her efforts to maintain her relationship with her best friend despite their diverging interests. Abby soon realizes that caring for Griffin is time-consuming. She doesn't understand why her friend is afraid of him, and she doesn't appreciate Devon's interest in her cat's new kittens. With her parents' advice, Abby learns how to balance taking care of Griffin with the rest of her life and to reconcile her differences with Devon. The characters and their relationships, including Abby's connection with her younger brother, are realistically portrayed, and the story has humorous touches. The occasional full-page black-and-white line drawings are well done and assist readers who are making the transition from easier chapter books, such as the author's The Hero of Third Grade (Holiday House, 2002).—Marilyn Ackerman, Brooklyn Public Library, NY - Copyright 2010 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Loading...
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