Horse Trouble

An American Library Association 2021 Best Graphic Novel for Children Twelve-year-old Kate is laser-focused on her one true passion: horseback riding. But try as she might, she can't hide from life's problems in the stable. There's nothing Kate loves more than being around horses. But her best friend is allergic to them, so Kate has to take riding lessons without her. Kate's forced to navigate some of life's hardships—like the mean girls at the stable who tease her and her body insecurities—all on her own. To make matters worse, Kate is continually falling off her horse. To Kate, her tween years feel like one unfair punishment after another. Can she get over it all...and get back on her horse? Horse Trouble, the debut graphic novel from children's book artist Kristin Varner, is an oh-so-relatable graphic novel with humor and heart.

When Mrs. Reg, the manager of Pine Hollow Stables, goes away for a few days, The Saddle Club is determined to pitch in and keep things running smoothly. Lisa, Carole, and Stevie decide they know everything there is to know about horses, so they'll have no problem managing a stable for a few days...right? Wrong! instead it seems that every time the girls try to help, disaster quickly follows. More paint winds up on one of the horses than on the stable; several riders don't get quite the ride they expect; and Mrs. Reg's paperwork is in utter chaos. Soon the members of The Saddle Club are wondering if being horse crazy is all they need to manage the stable, after all!

A new series for early readers!

The main character, Olivia, is an eleven-year-old girl who loves horses and finds her greatest happiness with them. The rest of her life is not so great: her family mostly ignores her and don't really understand, and she's a bit of a social outcast. She feels unhappy a lot of the time, as many young girls can feel, and in a low moment of unhappiness she unwittingly wishes to become a horse, as she thinks this will solve a lot of her problems. Olivia is shocked, to say the least, when she is actually turned into a horse. Thrust into the unprecedented situation of being a girl in a horse's body, Olivia is unsure of what to do. She feels strongly that she should keep her unusual state a secret, and joins a group of wild ponies, but is forced to seek help after sustaining a bear attack. Luckily, she winds up at a good stable, and meets Jenny, the daughter of the man who runs the centre, and together they form an unbeatable team in the show ring. But when Olivia can't resist showing off how much she knows, she puts her secret and friendship with Jenny in jeopardy. Olivia must decide whether she wants to remain a horse or return to her life as an ordinary girl, and in the process is taken on a journey of self-discovery.

Abandoned by her mother at a young age, Tara Cummings has been passed from foster home to foster home; not wanted anywhere by anyone. At thirteen she's skeptic and suspicious, with no family, and no friends. Horse therapy "will teach trust, perseverance, respect, and the value of teamwork," or so says the program's instructor. Tara is unconvinced. Trust only broke her heart, perseverance meant more failures, and no one respects or wants to team up with the misfit foster kid. At the farm, Tara meets Trouble, an angry and defiant horse, bent on destroying everything and everyone around him. Tara is frightened of the enraged horse, until she realizes Trouble is as misunderstood and untrusting as she is. Pushing aside her fear, a special bond is formed, much to the surprise of everyone at the farm. Trouble trusts Tara, and Tara in turn finds hope and acceptance as well as the will to love and trust again herself. But, Tara's confidence is shaken as an even greater challenge looms ahead. Trouble's mean and manipulative owner is the one and only Alissa, Tara's nemesis. Can Tara overcome her own limitations and fight to save the horse who freed her heart and gave her life value and meaning? Or will Alissa destroy them both?

Fairy princess turned mortal, Rebecca discovers her horse Sally has unexpectedly given birth to a filly. Rebecca names the newborn Saturday. In the midst of joy, a monster tries to kill them. Protecting her horses isn't Rebecca's only problem. Hiding the fact that Saturday has the ability to speak the human language and is growing wings is becoming a big problem all its own.

From his first time riding as a child, William Shatner has felt a deep love for horses. Whether seated in the saddle, communicating with them, or simply appreciating their beauty, his bond with these majestic animals is deep. For decades he has sought to share his joy—with children, veterans, those with disabilities, and many more—through his annual Hollywood Charity Horse Show. And here, he brings that same joy to his fans and readers. In Spirit of the Horse, the Star Trek and Boston Legal legend speaks from the heart about the remarkable effect horses have had on his life and on the lives of others. From his first horse, bought impulsively on the advice of a twelve-year-old, to his favorite horses, acquired after many years of learning what to look for, this book draws from Shatner’s own experience and pairs it with a wealth of classic horse stories, including unique retellings of the Pegasus myth and the feats of the most famous war horses throughout history. The result is a celebration that captures the unparalleled connection between humans and horses—and the power, courage, mindfulness, and healing that they can inspire in us. Many fans have heard about Shatner’s passion for horses; few have seen it revealed as completely as it is here.