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Heartland #1
Coming Home
This powerful series follows Amy Fleming through the loss of her mother and her struggle to continue the work at Heartland-a refuge for abused and abandoned horses.
128 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
376 people are currently reading
8520 people want to read
About the author
Lauren Brooke
121 books639 followersLauren Brooke grew up in a ranch in Virginia and now lives in Leicestershire, England. Her husband is a veterinarian who specializes in horses. Her books have been published by Scholastic since Mid-2000, starting with the first book of the Heartland book series. The first book of her popular Chestnut Hill series was published in 2005.
According to an interview on scholastics' website, Lauren Brooke has been riding since before she could walk. She also said she competes in a few local-level horse shows and events.
There may be some other people in books and movies named Lauren Brooke:
Amazon lists the author of "Book of spiritual regeneration" (1995) as Lauren Brooke.
IMDB.com has a record for an Actress named Lauren Brooke. Her only movie is "Wiseguys vs. Zombies" (2003) as Goat Man's Wife.
According to an interview on scholastics' website, Lauren Brooke has been riding since before she could walk. She also said she competes in a few local-level horse shows and events.
There may be some other people in books and movies named Lauren Brooke:
Amazon lists the author of "Book of spiritual regeneration" (1995) as Lauren Brooke.
IMDB.com has a record for an Actress named Lauren Brooke. Her only movie is "Wiseguys vs. Zombies" (2003) as Goat Man's Wife.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 541 reviews
October 27, 2019
I absolutely love the television adaption of this book, so it was only natural for me to find the book it's based on! It took me many (and I mean MANY) years to find this book on my wild book hunt but I finally found it! And wow-za it was cute and sweet and everything I could have imagined! Sure, it's not identical to the television show (have you SEEN how many seasons Heartland has?) but it's still an absolute gem!
This book pulled at my heart strings for sure, but it was very sweet! I will definitely be continuing with this series when I find the sequels!
Coming Home by Lauren Brooke follows Amy, a young teenager who works on her Mom's horse ranch. Throw in her grandpa Jack, the helping hand Ty and her sister Lou, and you've got an interesting cast! Amy also has a best friend, an interesting neighbour and LOTS of horses! This book is for those young girls who were obsessed with horses... seriously, this entire series is about helping horses heal and get better.
I wish I would have gotten my hands on this book when I was a kid. It's a quick read, very sweet and has lots of heart in it (haha... joke... heart in Heartland... lots of puns...). The book is simplistic in nature, but it's a book for middle grade readers. If you're expecting a master's thesis on horses, this book isn't for you! As a middle grade novel it's absolutely perfect. As an adult I can point out some major flaws, but this book wasn't written for adults. The accident that occurs in this book is the most interesting "flaw", but it's a children's read so seriously, we don't need to break it all apart. Let it be as middle grade novel.
I really want to continue this series since it is heart warming. Even though there's a fair bit of grief in this novel, it felt very real and wonderful. Especially for those middle grade readers!
Side note: FYI... the television series is different from the books. While it's not the same, both are marvelous in their own ways.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book! I want to read the entire series if possible! And, if you enjoy the book, I highly recommend the television show since it's full of heart too! Ah yes, another pun, what did you expect from me?
Four out of five stars!
This book pulled at my heart strings for sure, but it was very sweet! I will definitely be continuing with this series when I find the sequels!
Coming Home by Lauren Brooke follows Amy, a young teenager who works on her Mom's horse ranch. Throw in her grandpa Jack, the helping hand Ty and her sister Lou, and you've got an interesting cast! Amy also has a best friend, an interesting neighbour and LOTS of horses! This book is for those young girls who were obsessed with horses... seriously, this entire series is about helping horses heal and get better.
I wish I would have gotten my hands on this book when I was a kid. It's a quick read, very sweet and has lots of heart in it (haha... joke... heart in Heartland... lots of puns...). The book is simplistic in nature, but it's a book for middle grade readers. If you're expecting a master's thesis on horses, this book isn't for you! As a middle grade novel it's absolutely perfect. As an adult I can point out some major flaws, but this book wasn't written for adults. The accident that occurs in this book is the most interesting "flaw", but it's a children's read so seriously, we don't need to break it all apart. Let it be as middle grade novel.
I really want to continue this series since it is heart warming. Even though there's a fair bit of grief in this novel, it felt very real and wonderful. Especially for those middle grade readers!
Side note: FYI... the television series is different from the books. While it's not the same, both are marvelous in their own ways.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book! I want to read the entire series if possible! And, if you enjoy the book, I highly recommend the television show since it's full of heart too! Ah yes, another pun, what did you expect from me?
Four out of five stars!
March 13, 2015
Read this entire series as a kid. Loved them all. Plan to reread this year!
August 15, 2011
Found this and the next two in the series in my closet (I must have got them when I was a kid; I vaguely remember reading the first two) and decided to give it a read through before I sold it at the used bookstore.
Verdict: well-researched, badly written. The horse-related info is good--it's very nice to see Monty Roberts' techniques used and acknowledged. For that reason alone I might have liked this book if everything else hadn't been awful. The only other thing that interested me, Amy's relationship with her sister, wasn't enough to keep me from wanting to throw this book into the wall, or stop reading it at like page 80. (I did the latter.)
Basically, the characterizations, plots, and writing, are all really, really simplistic and predicable. Well beyond what I at least would expect from a mid-grade sort of book, which I'm guessing this is. (Also, there's a character who the author keeps going back and forth on calling "Grandpa" or using his FULL name. It's weird. He could have just been "Grandpa" and/or "Jack" sometimes as well; the last name makes it seem like he's some unknown throughout the whole book.)
But what annoyed me most was that all the characters are apparently epically stupid. Sometimes it seems intentional, and is acknowledged--even then it's annoying, but...really, it's just ridiculous throughout the book.
I won't get into every case, but the worst concerns what happens to Amy's mother (not really a spoiler as the back cover gives it away) because there were blinkin' OBVIOUS ways around what happened. For one, simply feed the abandoned horse in the barn/shed where he is and wait out the storm there. No need to bring the trailer at all, or if they did no reason to drive back in the storm. They could have fed him there and come back with the trailer in the morning. The horse is said to be "in good condition" and there's nothing mentioned about hazards where he is; so WHY NOT? (Why didn't the author, say, give the horse a medical emergency? That would have made Amy's mom look like less of a moron for putting him in the trailer and trying to drive in a severe storm.)
I also find it a bit weird that in a non-emergency situation (which this was) Amy's mom would simply take a horse (one she suspects is stolen no less) off someone else's property--abandoned or not--without so much as calling whatever people she knows at the police department.
Verdict: well-researched, badly written. The horse-related info is good--it's very nice to see Monty Roberts' techniques used and acknowledged. For that reason alone I might have liked this book if everything else hadn't been awful. The only other thing that interested me, Amy's relationship with her sister, wasn't enough to keep me from wanting to throw this book into the wall, or stop reading it at like page 80. (I did the latter.)
Basically, the characterizations, plots, and writing, are all really, really simplistic and predicable. Well beyond what I at least would expect from a mid-grade sort of book, which I'm guessing this is. (Also, there's a character who the author keeps going back and forth on calling "Grandpa" or using his FULL name. It's weird. He could have just been "Grandpa" and/or "Jack" sometimes as well; the last name makes it seem like he's some unknown throughout the whole book.)
But what annoyed me most was that all the characters are apparently epically stupid. Sometimes it seems intentional, and is acknowledged--even then it's annoying, but...really, it's just ridiculous throughout the book.
I won't get into every case, but the worst concerns what happens to Amy's mother (not really a spoiler as the back cover gives it away) because there were blinkin' OBVIOUS ways around what happened. For one, simply feed the abandoned horse in the barn/shed where he is and wait out the storm there. No need to bring the trailer at all, or if they did no reason to drive back in the storm. They could have fed him there and come back with the trailer in the morning. The horse is said to be "in good condition" and there's nothing mentioned about hazards where he is; so WHY NOT? (Why didn't the author, say, give the horse a medical emergency? That would have made Amy's mom look like less of a moron for putting him in the trailer and trying to drive in a severe storm.)
I also find it a bit weird that in a non-emergency situation (which this was) Amy's mom would simply take a horse (one she suspects is stolen no less) off someone else's property--abandoned or not--without so much as calling whatever people she knows at the police department.
October 1, 2013
Coming Home is the first book to the Heartland novels series, written by Lauren Brooke. A 14 year old girl named Amy has a huge passion for horses. With her mother’s help, she is learning skills on how to take more care of horses and how to “horse whisper” while also giving her attention to the other farm animals at Heartland, a sanctuary for horse that have been exposed to emotional and physical harm. But when her mother is killed in a terrible trailer accident, Amy has to grow up quickly, and notices how drastically her world is changing.
Out of all of the four books by far this is my favorite. The author wrote it so well that while reading it you feel like you apart of the story. Her detailing of the situations or the characters are just so realistic. I saw how caught up into the book I got and I realized myself not being able to put it down. This is a wonderful book to read, it’s a great length, it keeps you engaged ; I can tell you there will not be a moment while reading this book that you get bored. This book is great for all age groups and for anyone who is as much as an animal lover as myself. I hope when you pick up this book and start reading it you will enjoy all the aspects that the author has to offer.
Out of all of the four books by far this is my favorite. The author wrote it so well that while reading it you feel like you apart of the story. Her detailing of the situations or the characters are just so realistic. I saw how caught up into the book I got and I realized myself not being able to put it down. This is a wonderful book to read, it’s a great length, it keeps you engaged ; I can tell you there will not be a moment while reading this book that you get bored. This book is great for all age groups and for anyone who is as much as an animal lover as myself. I hope when you pick up this book and start reading it you will enjoy all the aspects that the author has to offer.
July 12, 2016
Put this down 1 star since I first read it a few years ago, because Amy's emotions didn't annoy me as much back then, but I still really enjoyed it. I recently went on a horse trek after not riding a horse for years and it's put me back in horsey mode :p Not good. I'm happy I read this book though. The heart feels - both happy and sad and angry. Is it weird how I think and I kind of like Matt though. He seems sweet. But then again so does Ty :p I was so sad when So much sad. But then anger when I mean, Pleased that I own the first 8 books in the series. I'll definitely be reading them.
November 25, 2011
I recently encountered the television series and was curious about the book series that spawned it. The TV series in some ways improves on the books. Both are wholesome and good family fare.
For decades I've accepted the stereotype that adolescent girls are attracted to horses because they're big and powerful and somewhat threatening but with care and training they can be loving beasts... unlike the other beasts that fascinate girls of that age, teenaged boys. I feel that this book doesn't cater to the stereotype but does fulfill it.
This is not a series that I imagine has much appeal to teen boys, but I found this one interesting. I probably would read another in the series in a pinch but probably won't go looking for them. I think that they somehow lack something that makes them truly entrhralling. The characters lacked a level of development that made them feel as real as they might have. As someone who's read a lot of fiction that's been redeveloped on the screen, this one felt more like a tie-in book than as a source book that spawned a series.
For decades I've accepted the stereotype that adolescent girls are attracted to horses because they're big and powerful and somewhat threatening but with care and training they can be loving beasts... unlike the other beasts that fascinate girls of that age, teenaged boys. I feel that this book doesn't cater to the stereotype but does fulfill it.
This is not a series that I imagine has much appeal to teen boys, but I found this one interesting. I probably would read another in the series in a pinch but probably won't go looking for them. I think that they somehow lack something that makes them truly entrhralling. The characters lacked a level of development that made them feel as real as they might have. As someone who's read a lot of fiction that's been redeveloped on the screen, this one felt more like a tie-in book than as a source book that spawned a series.
June 17, 2014
So, I might be a little obsessed with the Canadian TV show based on this series, so of course I had to give the books a try as well. There are definitely a few differences so far, but the show has the same heart as the books do, for sure. I enjoyed it, and I'll probably read more of these at some point.
October 31, 2012
I love heartland both the tv series and the books. they are totally different but still amaze me. Heartland forever!!!
December 14, 2010
#1 Heartland, Coming Home
Posted on December 14, 2010 by kayleighc18111680
Book Review: Heartland
By: Lauren Brooke
Book Reviewed by: Kayleigh C
“Do you wish that a frightened or abused horse can learn to trust again? Do you wish that a horse’s scars of the past can be healed again?” If you do, heartland is the perfect stable for you. Where you will meet a special person in Heartland- Marion. She can teach you in Heartland. She uses special methods- love.
The story begins when Amy, the daughter of Marion who is fifteen years old went for a ride with her best friend Soroya. They went on a trail ride and found an abused horse who was stolen by thieves stuck inside a cold dark room without any food and water. The thieves found out that polices were searching for them so they fled- and left the horse behind. Amy manages to convince her mother to save that horse during a storm. They finally headed out. But when they headed back, an accident happens…
Lauren Brooke writes about horses. Also in her books, there would always be a problem during that, she makes it exciting. I like the book because the problem hooks me in. Also there would be a happy ending. I think the best part is when they start coming back because it is really exciting and it hooks me in.
I would recommend this book to 4-6 graders who love and understand horses.
Posted on December 14, 2010 by kayleighc18111680
Book Review: Heartland
By: Lauren Brooke
Book Reviewed by: Kayleigh C
“Do you wish that a frightened or abused horse can learn to trust again? Do you wish that a horse’s scars of the past can be healed again?” If you do, heartland is the perfect stable for you. Where you will meet a special person in Heartland- Marion. She can teach you in Heartland. She uses special methods- love.
The story begins when Amy, the daughter of Marion who is fifteen years old went for a ride with her best friend Soroya. They went on a trail ride and found an abused horse who was stolen by thieves stuck inside a cold dark room without any food and water. The thieves found out that polices were searching for them so they fled- and left the horse behind. Amy manages to convince her mother to save that horse during a storm. They finally headed out. But when they headed back, an accident happens…
Lauren Brooke writes about horses. Also in her books, there would always be a problem during that, she makes it exciting. I like the book because the problem hooks me in. Also there would be a happy ending. I think the best part is when they start coming back because it is really exciting and it hooks me in.
I would recommend this book to 4-6 graders who love and understand horses.
watched-film-only
September 30, 2016Added 9/30/16. (first published January 1st 2000)
I'm streaming Heartland (TV Series) Season 1, Episode 1, "Coming Home".
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005IF0NK4/...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1094229/?...
Based on novels created by Lauren Brooke
Coming Home - "This powerful series follows Amy Fleming through the loss of her mother and her struggle to continue the work at Heartland-a refuge for abused and abandoned horses."
"about a 15-year-old girl named Amy Fleming, who lives in Virginia on a horse ranch called Heartland,"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heartla...
HORSES!
I learned about this author at a FunTrivia.com message board. The members were discussing a quiz topic about the "Heartland" novels.
I'm streaming Heartland (TV Series) Season 1, Episode 1, "Coming Home".
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005IF0NK4/...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1094229/?...
Based on novels created by Lauren Brooke
Coming Home - "This powerful series follows Amy Fleming through the loss of her mother and her struggle to continue the work at Heartland-a refuge for abused and abandoned horses."
"about a 15-year-old girl named Amy Fleming, who lives in Virginia on a horse ranch called Heartland,"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heartla...
HORSES!
I learned about this author at a FunTrivia.com message board. The members were discussing a quiz topic about the "Heartland" novels.
February 17, 2009
This is my review for the entire series. I generally stay away from horse girl series and formulated paperbacks but this was an exception. I read through the series, in middle school starting with the 8th. Reading them in order is not particularly important because there's enough background given in any book. The series is about Amy, whose Mother dies in a car crash. Her mother started a horse farm called Heartland that rehabilitates horses physically and mentally. Amy decides to keep the farm running with the help of the knowledgeable stablehand, Ty. The philosophy at Heartland respects the horse and uses kindness and horse behavior knowledge to help the horse's recover. Amy must deal with difficult decisions and work hard to figure out a cure for the horses. The series ends at number twenty. I'm actually glad that it does and I didn't have to grow out of them and have that cloud my memory.
July 28, 2021
Amy Fleming lives with her grandfather and mother on the Heartland farm. There, her mother helps neglected and frightened horses. Together with her mother, she dreams of expanding Heartland further so that they can help even more horses. But a serious accident suddenly makes all those dreams a distant memory.
I really love the series based on these books, so I couldn't help but buy this book after discovering it at a flea market. At first I was skeptical because the backstory of the characters is a bit different from the series, but after a few pages I was hooked and could hardly put the book away. It has been a long time since I read a book in just one day, even such a short one, but with this book I couldn't help myself. The story spoke to me on so many levels and I could relate to Amy's grief, her guilt and also her problems with her sister. This book was the perfect book for me and I can recommend it without reservation to anyone who loves horses.
I really love the series based on these books, so I couldn't help but buy this book after discovering it at a flea market. At first I was skeptical because the backstory of the characters is a bit different from the series, but after a few pages I was hooked and could hardly put the book away. It has been a long time since I read a book in just one day, even such a short one, but with this book I couldn't help myself. The story spoke to me on so many levels and I could relate to Amy's grief, her guilt and also her problems with her sister. This book was the perfect book for me and I can recommend it without reservation to anyone who loves horses.
May 10, 2013
I read the majority of this series when I was in elementary school. I can't speak to the writing, as I don't remember it too vividly. What I will say is that the books resonated with 10 year old me because they were about a girl who was dedicated to horses, even the ones nobody else believed in. Amy isn't rich; she doesn't have all the nicest riding clothes and she doesn't go to shows every weekend. I was the same way; I took lessons at a stable with girls who had it all and took great comfort reading about someone who was more like me. The books hold a lot of good horsey information and the character development isn't bad. In retrospect, I'm glad I read a series centered around a relatively self-sufficient and dedicated young woman at that age. I would recommend this to any young girl who loves animals, but especially horse lovers.
November 26, 2018
I read this book to check out its suitability for my granddaughters and was pleasantly surprised.
For girls who are into horses, this is just the ticket. The ranch is named Heartland and its aim is to heal horses and hearts.
This story reminded me that many popular stories involving children seem to require the loss of a parent. I wonder if two-parent families are too boring or too ordinary to spawn extraordinary children.
The girls will love this series.
For girls who are into horses, this is just the ticket. The ranch is named Heartland and its aim is to heal horses and hearts.
This story reminded me that many popular stories involving children seem to require the loss of a parent. I wonder if two-parent families are too boring or too ordinary to spawn extraordinary children.
The girls will love this series.
September 27, 2025
I really enjoy the TV show that's based on these books, and I also grew up on a horse farm although horses are my mom's thing and not mine. Unfortunately, it seems I'm going to like the TV show much better than the books which is very rare for me. The characterizations are flat, and the writing more simplistic than it would need to be. The main character Amy is supposed to be 15, but she has the emotional maturity of an eight-year-old, which makes it hard to root for her even with all the awful things she's going through. The horse training methods the characters use are described well; this is basically the technique my mom uses when working with her horses. However, there are some oddities of language. For example, characters refer to the person who shoes their horses as the blacksmith when normally that person would be called a farrier, though most of them are blacksmiths as well. Maybe that's different in different parts of the country, but where I grew up that usage would've sounded really strange. I can imagine young girls who are crazy about horses liking this series, but I think I'll stick with the TV show from now on. 2.5 stars
January 25, 2022
myśle ze fajna rozrywka dla młodszych, było tu troche rzeczy, które mnie zaskoczyły no ale jako koniara troche śmiesznie mi się to czytało. Ogolnie podsumowując, super zabawa dla młodszych😃
October 20, 2019
Not my favourite, but I guess we all have differences. I was always eager to read this as a kid but was told to wait till I was older, so when I actually read it I was somewhat older...I just didn't find it terribly engaging.
June 10, 2019
Heartland is my favorite series of movies. I just found out from a friend that there is a series of books too!! I said that I had to read one so I did. This book is really good! I want to read the rest of them too! This book is about a girl named Amy and she lives on a farm with her family. There are also a couple of workers that help out there such as Ty. Amys mom, Marian, is a horse whisperer. One day Amy had ridden out on a horse to check on her labor and she got distracted by a horse that was sick. Right then and there Amy went back to tell her mom, and she was hoping that they could go and help it. There was a bad storm rolling in at the same time. They went anyways. When they got there Amy and her mom loaded the horse onto the trailer. The horse trusted Amy and her mom. On the way back the rain was so thick Marian couldn't see. They got in a car accident. Amy woke up in the hospital 8 days later. Amy then asked where her mom was and her sister had told her that the family took a loss. Her mom had died. The funeral was three days after she died so Amy was not able to attend. How did she live her life without her mom? Amy was only fifteen at this time. What was life like for her? You will have to read the book to find out what happens!!! I recommend this book to anyone who loves family and animals.
June 11, 2022
I never read this series as a kid but I’ve seen it and heard about the TV show so with 3 daughters I decided to check it out. I’m so glad I did it was a sweet, quick read for me. Heartland is about a 15 year old girl named Amy who has watched her mom heal horses for years. After a tragic accident Amy turns to the only thing she knows to help heal her, horses.
I love Amy’s determination and strength. She is kind and would be a wonderful role model for young girls. I also enjoyed the bond between the two sisters Amy and Lou. Although their relationship is rocky they learn to understand each other at the end and how important they are to each other.
Amy has a true gift. I truly enjoyed reading about all the horses she encountered and how she used her instincts to heal them. This book held my attention to the very end. I will read more from this series and plan to pass it on to my daughters. I would recommend it to anyone of any age who loves books about family and animals.
I love Amy’s determination and strength. She is kind and would be a wonderful role model for young girls. I also enjoyed the bond between the two sisters Amy and Lou. Although their relationship is rocky they learn to understand each other at the end and how important they are to each other.
Amy has a true gift. I truly enjoyed reading about all the horses she encountered and how she used her instincts to heal them. This book held my attention to the very end. I will read more from this series and plan to pass it on to my daughters. I would recommend it to anyone of any age who loves books about family and animals.
October 19, 2018
This book i never thought it would be as good as i thought it would be. This book is really sad because her mom died and she have to look at the farm by herself and that all the horse that are sick she has took look after as best as she can to help the animal out .she is only 14 years old name Amy got sick after her friends came to see her and after she got home she wanted to work with the horses but her dad said no but she still did it.Then later on in the book the horse that was really sick had to be put down and Amy said no the horse not going anywhere and she said where the horse goes i go and her dad said no and then the horse was gone then Amy stay in her bedroom all day the next day .
February 2, 2019
I asked for books about horses, and this was one of them. It's midgrade so I was able to read it in about an hour as a palate-cleanser after reading a book about World War II.
Amy is 15 and works on a ranch for injured horses, but Amy acts alternately like a nine-year-old and like a nineteen-year-old. I found the inconsistency in her age, her thought process, and her abilities to be a bit jolting, especially when she acted like a much younger kid.
Overall the story is pretty decent, and I'd give this to a horse-loving kid in a heartbeat. I'm probably not going to look at the rest of the books in the series, though.
Amy is 15 and works on a ranch for injured horses, but Amy acts alternately like a nine-year-old and like a nineteen-year-old. I found the inconsistency in her age, her thought process, and her abilities to be a bit jolting, especially when she acted like a much younger kid.
Overall the story is pretty decent, and I'd give this to a horse-loving kid in a heartbeat. I'm probably not going to look at the rest of the books in the series, though.
June 7, 2020
I was surprised to find that the show Heartland is actually based on books. I've seen episodes in the past, and during quarantine, I watched the first season, and I'm around halfway through the second season now. So I thought I'd finally try the books out.
I couldn't believe how thin this book is. It's like a children's book, not the thicker YA I was expecting.
It was immediately clear that this was very different from the show.
I thought this must take place in Canada because the show does, but it actually takes place in Virginia.
There were bigger differences to come. Ty had been there three years, so he knew their mom before she passed, unlike the show. Something the show doesn't really do is tell people's ages and more of their history. Ty dropped out of HS at 16, and is 17. Ty doesn't live at the ranch like he does on the show, which I don't like.
I also knew beforehand after watching season one's bonus material that the show chose to make Ty a 'bad boy' and that in the books Ty isn't like that. So that was another big thing they changed.
In the end, at least after book one, the show made things more interesting with Ty being 'bad' because in here he didn't have much of a presence. I hope the author builds his character more.
Their dad, Tim Flemming, was a British show jumper, who was hurt at a championship, and ended up paralyzed. A very big difference from the show.
Amy has brown hair and gray eyes. She's turning 15, so she's two years younger than Ty.
Lou is blue-eyed and dark-haired like the show, but she lived in England, where their dad's from, and has a British accent. She hoped their dad would come back, so she stayed in England, but moved to New York.
Scott is 29, and has a younger brother. I wish the show did it that way, too. Unlike the show, they don't appear to be Native American. At least it wasn't mentioned if they were.
I liked the information on training horses, how they get a horse to join up with them by having them run around the corral. She used a long line and flicked the end of it on his hindquarters to get him running in either direction. She keeps the horse moving by clicking her tongue and raising the longline to keep him moving.
In order for the horse to trust her, she has to show him she listens to him and understands him, and wants to join up with him.
She kept her eyes on his, and her shoulders square with his. She moved her shoulder to get him going in the other direction, and watched the inside ear. If it's fixed on them that's a good sign, that the horse respects you. And if they start making chewing motions and licking their mouths. Then they stretch their necks out, near the ground. It's them saying they want to team up with you. She then dropped her eyes, coiled the rope and turned angled away from them and wait for them to come up to them. When they come up to you, it means they wanna join up with you, that they trust you. To prove it, she walked away and the horse followed her, and also followed as she circled in each direction. When she stopped, the horse did. It's really amazing how that works.
In here, they rub a horses ears to calm them.
Amy turned fifteen, but she seemed even younger. Her dialogue just made her sound childish, not like a teenager.
Amy sometimes irritates me on the show, but she really irritated me in here. So much so that I actually didn't like her. This was right after her mom's death, and with Lou wanting to change things at the ranch, I know she's going through a lot, but she annoyed me. She took too long to come around, to actually get out of the house and help run the farm.
Although I get how she couldn't understand how her sister and grandpa acted as if nothing had happened, and expected her to move on, she eventually realizes she needs to help the horses.
I was so irritated when she childishly jumps on Star, an expensive jumper, and an expensive jumper who isn't hers, and goes running away from Lou,& gets lost. She realizes she could have hurt Star, but thankfully didn't.
In the end Lou is the one to cure Sugarfoot, Mrs. Bell's Shetland pony, after the woman passes away. Lou unknowingly sings like Mrs. Bell did. I do like that the show didn't kill her off like this book did, at least so far on the show. I liked that someone else healed a horse, that it wasn't just Amy, because in the show, it's all Amy, all the time. Very exhausting.
Like the show, it's one thing after another. A lot of drama. Too much drama for my tastes. The back and forth, the fighting, one minute they're having a nice moment, the next they're back to fighting.
Also like the show, there's at least one horse case to solve in every. single. episode. In here, there were actually two, Star, Nick's horse, and Sugarfoot. So that's two in one book. Also, like the show, they cure the horses remarkably fast, within days.
I couldn't believe how simple this was. The scenes were short, with hardly a long conversation, just short dialogue. I wish it was more YA, but this was leaning towards children's, with the length and the writing. If they're all this short and simple, it's no wonder there's like 29 books in this series.
I didn't like the sudden ending at all. It cut off with no warning, right in the middle of the scene with Amy, Lou and Sugarfoot.
This was short enough to read in one day. Some things I like better in here, & others I like how it is on the show. I'm disappointed by how simple and juvenile this was. There was also an abundance of exclamation points. I hope there's more to Ty in the next books, and more to the characters in general, cause there wasn't much in here.
If they're all like this, I'm in for a long ride.
I couldn't believe how thin this book is. It's like a children's book, not the thicker YA I was expecting.
It was immediately clear that this was very different from the show.
I thought this must take place in Canada because the show does, but it actually takes place in Virginia.
There were bigger differences to come. Ty had been there three years, so he knew their mom before she passed, unlike the show. Something the show doesn't really do is tell people's ages and more of their history. Ty dropped out of HS at 16, and is 17. Ty doesn't live at the ranch like he does on the show, which I don't like.
I also knew beforehand after watching season one's bonus material that the show chose to make Ty a 'bad boy' and that in the books Ty isn't like that. So that was another big thing they changed.
In the end, at least after book one, the show made things more interesting with Ty being 'bad' because in here he didn't have much of a presence. I hope the author builds his character more.
Their dad, Tim Flemming, was a British show jumper, who was hurt at a championship, and ended up paralyzed. A very big difference from the show.
Amy has brown hair and gray eyes. She's turning 15, so she's two years younger than Ty.
Lou is blue-eyed and dark-haired like the show, but she lived in England, where their dad's from, and has a British accent. She hoped their dad would come back, so she stayed in England, but moved to New York.
Scott is 29, and has a younger brother. I wish the show did it that way, too. Unlike the show, they don't appear to be Native American. At least it wasn't mentioned if they were.
I liked the information on training horses, how they get a horse to join up with them by having them run around the corral. She used a long line and flicked the end of it on his hindquarters to get him running in either direction. She keeps the horse moving by clicking her tongue and raising the longline to keep him moving.
In order for the horse to trust her, she has to show him she listens to him and understands him, and wants to join up with him.
She kept her eyes on his, and her shoulders square with his. She moved her shoulder to get him going in the other direction, and watched the inside ear. If it's fixed on them that's a good sign, that the horse respects you. And if they start making chewing motions and licking their mouths. Then they stretch their necks out, near the ground. It's them saying they want to team up with you. She then dropped her eyes, coiled the rope and turned angled away from them and wait for them to come up to them. When they come up to you, it means they wanna join up with you, that they trust you. To prove it, she walked away and the horse followed her, and also followed as she circled in each direction. When she stopped, the horse did. It's really amazing how that works.
In here, they rub a horses ears to calm them.
Amy turned fifteen, but she seemed even younger. Her dialogue just made her sound childish, not like a teenager.
Amy sometimes irritates me on the show, but she really irritated me in here. So much so that I actually didn't like her. This was right after her mom's death, and with Lou wanting to change things at the ranch, I know she's going through a lot, but she annoyed me. She took too long to come around, to actually get out of the house and help run the farm.
Although I get how she couldn't understand how her sister and grandpa acted as if nothing had happened, and expected her to move on, she eventually realizes she needs to help the horses.
I was so irritated when she childishly jumps on Star, an expensive jumper, and an expensive jumper who isn't hers, and goes running away from Lou,& gets lost. She realizes she could have hurt Star, but thankfully didn't.
In the end Lou is the one to cure Sugarfoot, Mrs. Bell's Shetland pony, after the woman passes away. Lou unknowingly sings like Mrs. Bell did. I do like that the show didn't kill her off like this book did, at least so far on the show. I liked that someone else healed a horse, that it wasn't just Amy, because in the show, it's all Amy, all the time. Very exhausting.
Like the show, it's one thing after another. A lot of drama. Too much drama for my tastes. The back and forth, the fighting, one minute they're having a nice moment, the next they're back to fighting.
Also like the show, there's at least one horse case to solve in every. single. episode. In here, there were actually two, Star, Nick's horse, and Sugarfoot. So that's two in one book. Also, like the show, they cure the horses remarkably fast, within days.
I couldn't believe how simple this was. The scenes were short, with hardly a long conversation, just short dialogue. I wish it was more YA, but this was leaning towards children's, with the length and the writing. If they're all this short and simple, it's no wonder there's like 29 books in this series.
I didn't like the sudden ending at all. It cut off with no warning, right in the middle of the scene with Amy, Lou and Sugarfoot.
This was short enough to read in one day. Some things I like better in here, & others I like how it is on the show. I'm disappointed by how simple and juvenile this was. There was also an abundance of exclamation points. I hope there's more to Ty in the next books, and more to the characters in general, cause there wasn't much in here.
If they're all like this, I'm in for a long ride.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 22, 2009
To me this book is very interesting and i like this book alot! The book has a lot of excitement. When i read this book i wanted to keep reading because it makes you want to keep reading more and more. It does this because they keep excitement in it and when you are reading there is never a boring part in this book the author keeps you hooked in. This book has to be one of my favorite books.
January 23, 2009
This book was great. I can relate to amy a lot. I have a hose name ranger and his past was terrible. We had to grt red of him to a place where he could run free. Amy losses her mother in a car reck and she can't let go.
September 17, 2015
I loved this book! I started watching the TV show and I figured I should read the books. It is about a girl who is trying to manage her mom's horse ranch after her mom died. It is a fun and dramatic book to read.
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January 28, 2019I don’t want to add a rating to this because I read it when I was a child BUT I just spent half an hour on a google search to find this book because the first time I read it (and every time after that) I sobbed my eight year old heart out. I don’t even like horses that much.
November 30, 2012
A GREAT book. really emotional and inspiring. as a horse enthusiast and equestrian i would recommend this book to ANYONE, i enjoyed it cover to cover.
January 17, 2019
I read it for a school book report and I really liked it. I
February 9, 2025
Even after all these years, I still enjoy reading about the simplicity of Heartland. That, and the horses.
October 16, 2019
In the book heartland coming home, the author tells about a girl, Amy Fleming, a young girl that lost her mother in an accident. Amy has a huge passion for horses, she helped her mother take care of the horses and rehome them. Amy and her mother, Marion Fleming, were in a terrible trailer accident from trying to save a beautiful black stallion. Marion died in the accident and Amy had to grow up fast and take over her mother's work. Amy was now the “horse whisperer.”
My favorite part of the story was when Amy was working with spartan, the beautiful black stallion Amy and her mother rescued the night of the accident. I like this part because it shows how hard working Amy is and how she never gives up. I myself believe I am hard working and don’t give up easily. When Amy was working with spartan to go into the trailer he was scared and didn’t want to go into the trailer. Amy never gave up and finally got spartan to go into the trailer.
I recommend this book because of the way it shows that you should never give up. I like how it shows you to never give up because most people give up easily and don’t try hard. When you give up you don’t achieve anything. This is a very good book and any horses lover or person would love it.
I give this book a five star rating. I gave it this rating because it has inspired me and should inspire you too.
My favorite part of the story was when Amy was working with spartan, the beautiful black stallion Amy and her mother rescued the night of the accident. I like this part because it shows how hard working Amy is and how she never gives up. I myself believe I am hard working and don’t give up easily. When Amy was working with spartan to go into the trailer he was scared and didn’t want to go into the trailer. Amy never gave up and finally got spartan to go into the trailer.
I recommend this book because of the way it shows that you should never give up. I like how it shows you to never give up because most people give up easily and don’t try hard. When you give up you don’t achieve anything. This is a very good book and any horses lover or person would love it.
I give this book a five star rating. I gave it this rating because it has inspired me and should inspire you too.
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