Ashleigh's Christmas Miracle

Thoroughbred: Super Editions #1

by Joanna Campbell

Ashleigh Griffen is expecting her first child after the New Year, but on Christmas Eve, as she visits the stables to give treats to her favorite horses, a stallion's kick puts her life and her baby in jeopardy

Genres: Horses, Childrens, Young Adult, Animals, Middle Grade, Contemporary, Fiction

250 pages, Paperback

First published November 17, 1994

About the author

See Jo Ann Simon

Reviews

[Rena Sherwood · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was the first Super Edition in the series. It was just the same old, same old -- only with a higher price tag. This was when I gave up on the series (the first time around. At least I stopped buying them full price from bookstores. Remember bookstores?) Ashleigh supposedly dreams of the future when she has a daughter. A future which happens to be exactly like the present. What the hell?



I've read a lot of science fiction so when someone dreams of the future, dammit, they should dream of futuristic stuff. Or even jokes about who is thought to be President. We get none of that here.

But the most disappointing thing was how the horses are presented here -- or not, as the case may be. The horses are just background fixtures to mall shopping and high school angst and seem very remote.



EDIT July 2024: The core of this book is a dream of the future by Ashleigh as she lays in a coma. Campbell does warn readers what the beginning of the Christina books would be like. Ashleigh either completely forgot about this dream or ignored it, considering she later acts as if this book never happened. I've repurchased most of the Thoroughbred books I had, but not this one. It's best left forgotten.

Other reviewers have complained that this book wasn't "Christmasy" enough, but there is a Christmas party at the beginning. Horses that appear include Wonder (described with a star this time), Fleet Goddess, Blues King, Pecocious, Mr. Wonderful, and an anonymous gelding that has a fear of mice. The blurb on the back states that it was a stallion that put Ashleigh in the hospital, but it was really a gelding. Even the blurb writer didn't bother reading this book.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite the fact that this book foreshadowed the demise of this series, I liked it. Maybe because it was still mostly about Ashleigh, even as she's grown up and about to have a baby. Maybe also because the life she dreams for her unborn daughter as she is unconscious is just a possibility, and that this life is glimpsed in fragments, a memory at age 10, another in her teens, later as she competes at the National Horse Show. I wish that the series could have continued in a way that allowed for the passage of time. Instead, we get Christina stuck at age 12. Boring!

[Sarah Ryder]

****DNFed at page 106****

This has nothing to do with Christmas except vaguely in the prologue and epilogue, so why it’s titled this I have no idea.

There is nothing wrong with this book, I just got bored and have finally come to the conclusion that for me this series just doesn’t hold up to my reading tastes now. I will say though that if you like Christina and were frustrated on how they handled her character from books 24 all the way to 72, then you should read this one as this is the way her story and character should have gone, minus the whole Ashleigh died bit.


‼️Content (up to page 106)‼️

Other: a horse kicks a pregnant woman which forced her into premature labor

[Jo Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

My main disappointment with this volume lays with the title. I picked this up hoping for a Christmas themed book but there is NO CHRISTMAS stuff. It starts out on Christmas Eve and Ashleigh wakes at the end on Christmas morning, but Christina never has a Christmas despite her birthday BEING ON THE SAME DAY. Perfect, easy set up. But NO apparently NOT! (I wonder if they named her Christina because she's born on Christmas Day)

I believe this novel is the right size for the story, but I think they lengthened some parts and shortened some parts. The stuff with ten year old Christina could have been cut down severely and we still would have gotten her bond with Jazz, and then there would have been more time to explain some things at length that needed it.

I don't think Christina's main issue towards the end of the book (which was the proper plot line they just took forever to get to it) was actually resolved. Her dream is to still become an Olympic rider yet she nearly wrecks her knee in the biggest comp at the end of the book. Does she find some alternate therapy which enables her to compete? Does she go for the Para Olympics? Does she slow down competing and finds joy in other things?

I also didn't think they explained the Folly situation properly. They should have said Christina needed a horse whilst she trained Jazz but it just fell to "there's no horse better than Jazz."

Overall, it was mediocre because it look way too long to get into the story. And I'm majorly disappointed because I wanted a Christmas story and did not get one.

[June Willett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why are Joanna Campbell’s super additions so good? I mean CHRISTINA! I am obsessed with Christina. She is just such an inspiring character, and I know that sounds cringe but it’s true. I won’t spoil why she is inspiring though. This book has everything, Drama, Tragedy, Sadness, Love (Yes love for horses and humans), Rivalry, etc. This book is so good I can’t even fart. If you want an amazing spectacular read this book is for you

[Caroline Schroder · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I got the wrong copies of this book where Ashleigh dies! It was so confusing like it was not even her miracle the first chapter was on her, and the rest on Christina. I need to get the right copies.

[AbbeyRoad872021 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book it is so amazing. I love Christina's determination to save little Jazz Goddess.

[JoReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Childhood favourite series (haven't read in a long time) giving all four stars unless it was a favourite as a child.