Shadow Over San Mateo

Golden Filly #6

by Lauraine Snelling

As sixteen-year-old Tricia grieves over the death of her father, she loses interest in horse racing and begins to question the wisdom of God

Genres: Horses, Young Adult, Christian Fiction, Fiction, Animals, Childrens, Christian

155 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1993

About the author

Award-winning and bestselling author Lauraine Snelling has over 80 books published with sales of over 4.5 million. Her original dream was to write horse books for children. Today, she writes adult novels about real issues centered on forgiveness, loss, domestic violence and cancer in her inspirational contemporary women’s fiction titles and historical series, including the favorite, Blessing books about Ingeborg Bjorklund and family.

Lauraine enjoys helping others reach their writing dreams by teaching at writer’s conferences across the county. She and her husband Wayne have two grown sons, and a daughter in Heaven. They live in the Tehachapi Mountains with a Basset named Sir Winston ob de Mountains, Lapcat, and “The Girls” (three golden hens).

Reviews

[Rena Sherwood]

This was the book that made me quit the series back in the 1990s. I had given it a chance because back then I bought any book with a horse in it. This was just too ridiculous. It was so unrealistic. It wasn't even goofy enough to laugh at.

I believe Trish crashes her car here. Back in the 1990s, some dumb major car manufacturer, I think Crysler, had the bright idea of giving the winning jockies in the Triple Crown cars. The same jocks won. Pat Day (I think) won so many times that he gave his cars away to grooms or charities. So Trish got THREE FREE CARS. And millions of dollars.

And crashes a car because she's a teenaged brat with a good reason for being bratty. She's been grieving her father SINCE THE FIRST BOOK (because you start doing that as soon as you hear that terminal cancer diagnosis) and she has not been allowed to grieve, because that shows she's a bad Christian.

She questions God. GASP!

So what? Any normal person would do that.

You can't feel for her because this is written so badly. The whole issue of grief is shoved under the rug. All whining, ignoring reality, and preaching. It's the same old shitty Job story again, moral of which:

"I'm God. Sit down and shut up."

This is the kind of guy you want kids to worship, Snelling?

It's not only that this has nothing to do with reality or horses, it's just so incredibly dull. It amazes me that this crap got such good ratings and sold so well. Did I read a different book from everyone else?

[Paloma · Rating 5 out of 5]

ese ciento o libro me en cuanto es un texto in increíblemente fantástico yo le dio cinco estrellas me en canto no opinión es excelente o muy creativo y también al que creo está ilustración lo felicito muy bien

[Rebecca House · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very sad story. Hit close to home for me with Trish’s suicide attempts.

[Carol]

I cried my way through this book!

Tricia Evanston kept thinking of her brothers words, "Just get through the ceremonies." She couldn't look at him, just left him support her as the cameras took pictures of Spitfire. The win was a family affair, Spitfire, bred and raised by Hal Evanston, was the winner of the Belmost Cup, but why was his son, David, accepting? Trisha said, "We did it, Dad," over the mike, as they left the Secret Service held back reporters. The limo took them to the hospital, Trisha was crying. Her father's voice seemed to say, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished my race." The family said their final goodbye to him as they left his hospital room. Trish's mother collapsed into her brother's arms & Trish tried to stop shaking. Even the nurses knew he was a fine man, even though he had only been at that hospital a short time. Spitfire was to be shipped to BlueMist Farms in Kentucky. What hope did she have?

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this series very much. A girl who lives on a horse farm in Oregon wants to be a jockey. Finally, her dream is coming true. Just as it has come true, her father dies of cancer. After this, she learns to cope with his death by turning to God. The one thing I did not appreciate about this book was the whole boyfriend/girlfriend thing throughout the series. But, overall, I definately enjoyed them.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was excellent as it takes a real look at grief. I recommend for all teens as it is such a good view into how grief can manifest itself. Adults, too, if they've never experienced grief themselves.

[Rivkah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like how Snelling takes Trish through the grieving process, and shows that even with our biggest dreams fufilled without God they are nothing.

[Arwen]

A great book!