DJ's Challenge

High Hurdles #2

by Lauraine Snelling

A new job for her mother and a possible move to another city threaten to part DJ from her horse.

Genres: Horses, Young Adult, Christian Fiction, Christian, Animals, Fiction, Middle Grade

160 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1995

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

[Rebekah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Something "homey" and relatable about these books. I'm enjoying them. ☺️

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

This starts where "Olympic Dreams" ends....DJ is grounded because she had tried to run away, and Amy Yamamoto, her best friend, had chicken pox. DJ went to bed & thought maybe it was a good thing that school was starting soon.

Although she was 14, she had just become a "latch-key kid" and was on her way to the Academy the next morning. She missed Diablo, but he and his owners, the Ortegas, had moved to Texas. She interacted with each of the horses in her care. James had been accepted at the West Virginia Military Academy, but he didn't know when her would be leaving. Gray Bar, James' filly, was looking for treats. When she got home, the house smelled lonely, but she started getting dinner ready anyway.

After chores, drawing, & making dinner, she was hoping that the phone would ring. Until now Gran had made the house a home, but at least the smell of the tacos got rid of the empty smell. She decided to think about Major, Joe's horse that would soon be hers, then went back to drawing. When Lindy, her mom, got home, all she saw was that the kitchen was a mess, which upset DJ. She was raging at her mom's accusations. When she cut her hand on a piece of broken glass, it dripped all over the kitchen, and she wondered how long it took to bleed to death!

[Jean · Rating 2 out of 5]

I recommend reading the first book, first.

Contains: Disrespect of her mother.

[Elivia Kanatiquelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Major would be the definite dream horse!
Love these books! Great job, Lauraine!

[Sandra Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Books 1 and 2 have been the best so far. I read these a gazillion times as a kid and loved them.

[Chloé · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember absolutely loving this series when I was a bit younger. Now, they don't hold quite as much charm and as much of a place in my heart, but they're nostalgic nonetheless. One thing I'm finding quite interesting is that now that I'm older and have obviously matured some, I am now able to read these books and not just think about DJ's perspective on things, but also the other characters. In fact, I think my favorite character now is Hilary, not DJ like it used to be, the reason being simply this: Though not in exactly the same sense, I am more like Hilary now than I am DJ. Hilary is older and more mature than DJ, she's a leader, and the young ones, including DJ, look up to her. I also find myself getting frustrated with DJ for her Mom and Gran and etc. But at the same time I still remember being 11/12 and sympathizing so much for DJ. It is quite a weird experience, but a good one. The only other thing I really wanted to add is that I definitely like this one much more than the first, especially now. It just seems to be better written and less repetitive.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

its a really good book about a kid whos gran is geting marryed and dj is mad but her gran tells her to say a bible verse each night and it makes dj a little better.

[Christine Meunier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to follow.