What do you think?
Rate this book
RAJA, Story of a Racehorse
Mom's Choice Gold Medal
IPPY Award Bronze Medalist for Juvenile Fiction
Benjamin Franklin Award Finalist for Young Readers Fiction (8-12)
Starred Kirkus Review
Written from the horse’s point of view and filled with authentic details, this young adult novel chronicles the life of a well-bred Thoroughbred racehorse destined for greatness. After a promising—and winning—start on the path to the Triple Crown, a series of bad-luck events end Raja’s racing career, and he finds himself pulled into the random world of off-the-track Thoroughbreds. His odyssey takes him from the breeding farms of Ocala, Florida, to the stakes races on the Kentucky Derby trail; from competing as a show jumper on the “A” show circuit to becoming a member of the New York City Mounted Police and witnessing the horrors of the livestock auction. Finally, Raja finds himself in a stable belonging to a retired steeplechase jockey and his 16-year-old niece, where he finally has a chance to realize his destiny.
IPPY Award Bronze Medalist for Juvenile Fiction
Benjamin Franklin Award Finalist for Young Readers Fiction (8-12)
Starred Kirkus Review
Written from the horse’s point of view and filled with authentic details, this young adult novel chronicles the life of a well-bred Thoroughbred racehorse destined for greatness. After a promising—and winning—start on the path to the Triple Crown, a series of bad-luck events end Raja’s racing career, and he finds himself pulled into the random world of off-the-track Thoroughbreds. His odyssey takes him from the breeding farms of Ocala, Florida, to the stakes races on the Kentucky Derby trail; from competing as a show jumper on the “A” show circuit to becoming a member of the New York City Mounted Police and witnessing the horrors of the livestock auction. Finally, Raja finds himself in a stable belonging to a retired steeplechase jockey and his 16-year-old niece, where he finally has a chance to realize his destiny.
272 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2011
84 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 17, 2018
I think this is the perfect book for horse lovers everywhere. Especially young girls.
January 18, 2016
This is Anne Hambleton's debut novel. She is a retired, amateur steeplechase jockey so she knows a lot about the world of horses. Raja is a stunning colt who has everything going for him: good looks, extraordinary speed, stellar characteristics, a Thoroughbred of noble lines, and people around who respect and love him. Yes, the world seems to be a very happy place to be, until one day a terrible thunderstorm blows across the pasture of the farm and a bolt of lightning kills his mother right in front of him. This tragedy leaves him shaken to his core and badly traumatized throughout his entire life. Every time a thunderstorm erupts thereafter, Raja blindly bounds off, out of control, causing him ultimately to terminate his career as a racehorse and get a chance at running in the Kentucky Derby.
His life spirals downward as he is sold again and again. He experiences many new masters, new training lessons and new locations, not all of them up to thoroughbred standards. Raja manages to meet people along the way who see his outstanding qualities and potential. They are willing to rescue, retrain and restore him due to the greatness he possesses. The story is narrated through the eyes of the horse and his horse friends have the ability to converse to him also. You feel such empathy for Raja and you find yourself cheering him on no matter where he finds himself. The author is very adept at detailing how to care for a horse, how the racing world works and the nightmares of being auctioned off or being loaded up knowing you're heading off to become horsemeat. Raja is a book you cannot put down because you befriend this little colt from the very beginning and you walk with him through his highs and lows. You read on eagerly because you cannot wait to find out what ultimately happens to him.
The illustrator is a professional sculptor and horsewoman and her accompanying pencil drawings are a nice visual for the tale. The book has added value as a glossary of horse-world terms gives the reader greater understanding of the terms used in the book. Raja won the "Mom's Choice Award" Honoring Excellence and I think you if you enjoy a good animal story you will really enjoy this one.
His life spirals downward as he is sold again and again. He experiences many new masters, new training lessons and new locations, not all of them up to thoroughbred standards. Raja manages to meet people along the way who see his outstanding qualities and potential. They are willing to rescue, retrain and restore him due to the greatness he possesses. The story is narrated through the eyes of the horse and his horse friends have the ability to converse to him also. You feel such empathy for Raja and you find yourself cheering him on no matter where he finds himself. The author is very adept at detailing how to care for a horse, how the racing world works and the nightmares of being auctioned off or being loaded up knowing you're heading off to become horsemeat. Raja is a book you cannot put down because you befriend this little colt from the very beginning and you walk with him through his highs and lows. You read on eagerly because you cannot wait to find out what ultimately happens to him.
The illustrator is a professional sculptor and horsewoman and her accompanying pencil drawings are a nice visual for the tale. The book has added value as a glossary of horse-world terms gives the reader greater understanding of the terms used in the book. Raja won the "Mom's Choice Award" Honoring Excellence and I think you if you enjoy a good animal story you will really enjoy this one.
July 8, 2012
The story of Raja is the story of many thoroughbreds: hard work, the joy of the run, and a tragic end to the only life that the animal, owners, and trainers know. It's a good book for racing fans, but also, because of the transitions that Raja goes through, is good for lovers of just about /any/ equestrian sport. Young readers will be easily able to feel the emotion and joy of the horse and the struggles within his life.
Some things that I found somewhat off putting were the differences between the thoughts of the horse and simple descriptions in the text. Often there are times when the thought of the horse could have been just as useful as regular text. The change in tempo was somewhat throwing me off as an adult reader, but might not for younger readers. There were also some things that a book on horse racing and horses in general shouldn't have done... like mix up the Preakness and Belmont stakes in one location (or seem to) and write about someone telling a volunteer at a horse show about all the ways a horse can spook. Someone working at a horse show, even as a volunteer should /not/ be handling them if they have no experience what so ever.
For the most part, it was good to get "in the horse's head" and experience life the way the horse does. I found it particularly eye opening to have the horse humanized in the fact that after he suffers his career ending injury, he goes through a process of discovering what he wants to do with his life. Yes, as a horse he gets moved around without any say in the matter, but discovering new lines of work, discovering new sports, is told from a very unique perspective that puts you into the heart of the character.
Some things that I found somewhat off putting were the differences between the thoughts of the horse and simple descriptions in the text. Often there are times when the thought of the horse could have been just as useful as regular text. The change in tempo was somewhat throwing me off as an adult reader, but might not for younger readers. There were also some things that a book on horse racing and horses in general shouldn't have done... like mix up the Preakness and Belmont stakes in one location (or seem to) and write about someone telling a volunteer at a horse show about all the ways a horse can spook. Someone working at a horse show, even as a volunteer should /not/ be handling them if they have no experience what so ever.
For the most part, it was good to get "in the horse's head" and experience life the way the horse does. I found it particularly eye opening to have the horse humanized in the fact that after he suffers his career ending injury, he goes through a process of discovering what he wants to do with his life. Yes, as a horse he gets moved around without any say in the matter, but discovering new lines of work, discovering new sports, is told from a very unique perspective that puts you into the heart of the character.
June 11, 2012
Raja, Story of a Racehorse, tells the story of a Thoroughbred destined for greatness challenged by fate in the whirlwind adventure that his life becomes. To those not familiar with horses, the series of events may seem improbable, but for those who have seen horses change hands and careers often, the story is completely believable. Although at times the reader is left feeling Raja's pain, that discomfort is important for readers to understand the reality of people and horses and how sometimes even well-meaning people can do harm to animals by simply not knowing what to do.
Anne Hambleton writes from the horse's perspective, and her years as a horsewoman shine through brilliantly. I even found myself thinking more about my horse and his thoughts while reading this book. She educates readers without coming across as an instructor and provides exacting details about many different riding disciplines. Hambleton creates great empathy for the horses in the story and also depicts elements such as herd dynamics which are so important to understanding horses and their social make-up.
Margaret Kauffman's lovely illustrations complement the book well, and the text design and layout were very appealing. I highly recommend this book to both horse people and non-horse people. Hambleton's beautiful descriptions, excellent writing, exciting plot, and portrayal of many aspects of the horse industry create a wonderful read for all ages. I hope to see more from this debut author.Valerie Ormond
Anne Hambleton writes from the horse's perspective, and her years as a horsewoman shine through brilliantly. I even found myself thinking more about my horse and his thoughts while reading this book. She educates readers without coming across as an instructor and provides exacting details about many different riding disciplines. Hambleton creates great empathy for the horses in the story and also depicts elements such as herd dynamics which are so important to understanding horses and their social make-up.
Margaret Kauffman's lovely illustrations complement the book well, and the text design and layout were very appealing. I highly recommend this book to both horse people and non-horse people. Hambleton's beautiful descriptions, excellent writing, exciting plot, and portrayal of many aspects of the horse industry create a wonderful read for all ages. I hope to see more from this debut author.Valerie Ormond
April 18, 2013
Author Anne Hambleton has given us a glimpse into the life of a thoroughbred through the horse’s point of view in her novel, Raja: Story of a Racehorse. When Raja is born his owner, a sheikh from the Middle East, has high hopes for racing him. At first it seems that Raja will fulfill those hopes, but his fear of lightning leads to an accident that ends his career before it’s even begun.
This sets off a chain of events that sees Raja end up with a variety of owners, some good, some bad, and move from one purpose to another. Along the way, readers get an interesting look at and education about the variety of ways horses interact with humans. Raja learns dressage and steeplechase. He also discovers that not all horses race. For instance, some are set to work in fields, while others are police horses. Some owners treat their horses well and develop special bonds with them, others see them merely as a means to an end, like winning races or keeping a farm going. Some owners don’t know how to care for horses, and the animals suffer from neglect.
Through the eyes of Raja readers see both the good and the bad, and they get a feeling for how much horses (and other animals) depend on the humans in their lives to protect them from harm. Raja’s connections to the people who care for him, his fears of lightning and the “kill buyer” at auction, his love of running and open pastures, all combine to make his story both touching and educational. You’ll cheer him on to the very last page.
The author provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This sets off a chain of events that sees Raja end up with a variety of owners, some good, some bad, and move from one purpose to another. Along the way, readers get an interesting look at and education about the variety of ways horses interact with humans. Raja learns dressage and steeplechase. He also discovers that not all horses race. For instance, some are set to work in fields, while others are police horses. Some owners treat their horses well and develop special bonds with them, others see them merely as a means to an end, like winning races or keeping a farm going. Some owners don’t know how to care for horses, and the animals suffer from neglect.
Through the eyes of Raja readers see both the good and the bad, and they get a feeling for how much horses (and other animals) depend on the humans in their lives to protect them from harm. Raja’s connections to the people who care for him, his fears of lightning and the “kill buyer” at auction, his love of running and open pastures, all combine to make his story both touching and educational. You’ll cheer him on to the very last page.
The author provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
February 19, 2012
From my full review at Retired Racehorse: http://www.retiredracehorseblog.com/2...
Told in a charming first-person voice, with all the chatty horses Raja encounters on his travels weighing in on everything from fox-hunting to race records, Raja: Story of a Racehorse should be required reading for horse-obsessed kids, and will absolutely please their adult counterparts.
It's a dizzying account of just how quickly a horse can be cycled through homes and careers. Raja, a top-tier Thoroughbred, starts out with a promising juvenile career at Saratoga, but soon finds that a horse’s lot is to be sold, and bought, and given away, and auctioned off, again and again, trailed by a terror of lightning bolts and a tragic sense that he had been destined for great things. Raja’s black rain cloud follows him wherever he goes, and lets loose with the thunder and lightning every time things start to look up.
But you know what the t-shirt says: “Every horse deserves his very own little girl.” Raja, the ambitious Thoroughbred who just wants to be the best, might have been looking for luck in all the wrong places.
Told in a charming first-person voice, with all the chatty horses Raja encounters on his travels weighing in on everything from fox-hunting to race records, Raja: Story of a Racehorse should be required reading for horse-obsessed kids, and will absolutely please their adult counterparts.
It's a dizzying account of just how quickly a horse can be cycled through homes and careers. Raja, a top-tier Thoroughbred, starts out with a promising juvenile career at Saratoga, but soon finds that a horse’s lot is to be sold, and bought, and given away, and auctioned off, again and again, trailed by a terror of lightning bolts and a tragic sense that he had been destined for great things. Raja’s black rain cloud follows him wherever he goes, and lets loose with the thunder and lightning every time things start to look up.
But you know what the t-shirt says: “Every horse deserves his very own little girl.” Raja, the ambitious Thoroughbred who just wants to be the best, might have been looking for luck in all the wrong places.
October 24, 2013
Although this book is intended for the 11+ YA market it could easily be enjoyed by younger and older (much older) readers. Hambleton has included so many small details from the horse world that while reading it I wished it was available when I was in middle school. I'm not going to lie, I got a little weepy a few times. And, while Raja seems to have a fantastical amount of experiences, those of us who know a little bit about retired racehorses know that their stories are rich, varied and oftentimes sad. But, like Raja, many are wonderful animals who deserve second chances.
Read
December 26, 2011So.. I am the author and of course I love it. This is a good read for junior horse lovers (10-12). I am a lifelong horse person and former jockey and I have a lot of young people in my orbit. And I read every horse book possible while growing up. In horse book terms, I would say RAJA is...Black Beauty meets Black Stallion meets National Velevet meets Seabiscuit meets War Horse.
A fun, topical and authentic story with lots of action!
And BOYS like it too!!
A fun, topical and authentic story with lots of action!
And BOYS like it too!!
March 28, 2013
Flew through it, very much written like a modern day Black Beauty. Good, and sad, but without the Marley and Me ending. Frankly I was only disappointed because it was not about an actual horse but rather just a theoretical one, despite the fact that it feels like non-fiction.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews