Shadow Horse

Shadow Horse #1

by Alison Hart

Horses + mystery + rescuing abused animals = a triple crown of perpetually popular preteen genres!

Thirteen-year-old Jasmine is found guilty of assaulting Hugh Robicheaux, the owner of the horse farm where she works. But she's still determined to prove that Robicheaux killed Whirlwind, the mare she loved. Jas is sure that Shadow Horse, a scrawny brown gelding she rescues at a horse auction, is the key to the mystery—but just how is Shadow Horse connected to Whirlwind?

Deftly written by a teacher and equestrian who has authored more than sixty books, this heartwarming and inspiring Edgar Award nominee will have special appeal for mystery fans as well as young horse lovers.

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

261 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Alison Hart is a pseudonym for writer Alice Leonhardt

A Virginia author of over twenty mysteries and historical fiction novels for children and teens, loves “writing books that keep young readers glued to the pages.” At the age of seven she wrote, illustrated and self-published The Wild Dog, a book which she shows to readers to make the point that it is never too early to be an author.

Reviews

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple, unpretentious horse novel. Loved it as a preteen, and it's a cut above most of the trashy made-for-horse-crazy-children books out there (I'm looking at you, addictive yet truly terrible Thoroughbred series). Curiously enough, Alison Hart also wrote some of those terrible Thoroughbred books, but she clearly does better when she's not confined to the happy-go-lucky, unicorns-shitting-rainbows requirements that HarperCollins apparently demanded of its many Thoroughbred authors.

Rereading because I finally found a library that stocks Whirlwind, the sequel to this for which I've been looking for a few years now. (I'm not a book snob, I'm not above reading some preteen horse books as an adult, because damn it, I never did get to find out what happened to Jas and Whirlwind after all these years!). Was as good/intelligent (for what it is) as I recalled.

[Myra Faye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of there would be a 6 star I would have rated it a 6 .it is not your regular horse book .I LOVE IT!

[Shealyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

i loved this book the most out of all the books i have read this one is my favorite. i loved it when she found out that horse she had was a horse that she thought had died . settings : human society and a barn summary : after assaulting the owner of a horses farm she worked at she got sent to juvenile jail for about 2 to3 years there I think . she went on to live with her grand father but she found out that she had to go live with someone different she had to be at a adoption home because her grandfather was sick and in the hospital .but what she found out was that she had a phone call there from the man she assaulted and he threatened her that if she was good her grandfather would be safe but if not something bad was going to happen but I forgot what it was .a day later she meet a boy that worked at the barn/human society she now lived a for now and she falls in love with him but I will not tell you what happened when they start to like each other . also at the end it gets really good but I cant tell you will have read it to find out what happened . Recommendation ; you should read this book if you like juvenile novels and people falling in love because I know I loved it and I hope you love it to .

[Sarah Parker · Rating 3 out of 5]

loved it but didn't like ending they didnt solve the mystery

[Faith Wisniewski]

Student Name:Faith Wisniewski Date:4/25/19 Submitted:4/25/19
Book Title: Shadow Horse Lexile:620L


Personal Response:
Personally, I liked Shadow Horse. At first, the book was very boring, but then the book started picking up pace and actually talking about horses. This book contains a little bit of romance, some mystery, and horses.

Summary:
Shadow Horse is a book about a young girl named Jas. Jas was put in foster care because her grandpa had a stroke, and she brutally attacked Hugh, the man who killed Whirlwind. Jas decides to stay quiet about her suspicions of Hugh killing Whirlwind, so she's put on probation for her actions and is sent to live with Ms. Hann. Ms. Hann owns a farm named Second Chances. Second Chances gives all animals a second chance. Ms. Hann rescues horses. At one of the auctions, Jas decides to tag along and finds a horse that she easily diagnoses and decides is worth the money. After a few weeks of medication and good feed, Shadow is ready for riding. While riding, Jas figures out that Shadow is good at jumping. This leads Jas to new suspicions about Hugh and a horse named Aladdin. The suspicions about Aladdin are confirmed and lead Jas to figure out what might have happened to Whirlwind.

Recommendation:
I would recommend Shadow Horse to middle school and high school girls who like reading mysteries. I would also recommend this book to girls who like horses.

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

“She was a flash of gold as she cantered around the ring. Ears pricked, neck arched, she moved like a movie star in the spotlight as she sailed over the last fence. Landing smoothly she slowed to a trot in front of the crowd, tossing her mane as if to say ‘Wasn’t I great?’ / Because she was great. She was the most beautiful horse in the world. / But now she was dead.” (Hart #6) Jas’ life was torn apart that day they found Whirlwinds body, dead in the pasture with remanence of poisonous yew branches around her. Hugh her owner immediately accuses Jas’ grandfather of the murder of Whirlwind, overcome by grief Jas attempts to attack Hugh with a hoof pick. So then after a guilty court case Jas ends up at Second Chance Farm where her foster mother Mrs. Hahn rescues horses from slaughter auctions. When Jas finds a skinny, broken down brown horse that she falls in love with she convinces her foster mother to buy him. As she begins to work with the new horse Shadow she discovers his true identity. Will Shadow’s real identity help solve the Whirlwind mystery? Find out by reading the thrilling mystery Shadow Horse by Alison Hart.

I really liked this book, it is a really touching, yet exciting book. The trill with a taste of mystery kept the book interesting. Shadow Horse's story line is about love and second chances. Second Chance Farm is a place where rescue animals go to get rehabilitated to get sent to new homes. Jas is used to prefect horses, always groomed, manes pulled the right length, prefect. At Second Chance Farm “Jas walked down the aisle, glancing into the rest of the stalls. Hollow eyed horses with rough coats, knock knees, and ewe necks looked back at her.” (Hart page 41) Jas has to get used to giving these imperfect horses a chance.

I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars because I really liked this book, it is hard for me to keep reading a mystery book, but this book kept me reading. I only gave it 4 stars because it was not the best book I have ever read, as it was an easier book for me so the language was simple. Although it still was really good. I would recommend this book to mystery, and horse loving readers. I would also recommend this to any mystery loving reader but the book does require some background knowledge and a love of horses or it might get boring or hard to understand.

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Personal Response:
I really liked this book because it was about horses. This book also taught me that having a horse isn't always about showing them and getting the blue ribbon, it's about your feelings toward them.

Plot Summary:
In the beginning of this book Hugh killed his horse Whirlwind, and had blamed Jas’s grandfather. While he was getting blamed for killing a horse he had a stroke and fell. Jas got mad and ran at him with a hoof pick and slashed his cheek with it. Jas ended up going to Juvenile Detention for it. She then has to spend forty-five days in foster care because her grandfather is in the nursing home and can't take care of her. She then lives with a nice lady named Miss Hahn, who owns according to Jas “ reject” animals.Whenever Jas wasn't on lockdown she was working for Miss Hahn. Miss Hahn took her and Chase to a slaughter auction, at this auction Miss Hahn bought a horse for Jas to fix up. Jas named this horse Shadow. Shadow was a skinny sick horse, he didn't eat for six to eight weeks before he was bought. When Chase and Jas help heal up Shadow they turn him out to pasture. When they did Shadow decided to chase the neighbor's cow and jumped 5 ft. fence. When Jas saw this she remembered a horse at her old farm named Aladdin. Jas got curious and started researching on Shadow and Aladdin. Jas gets invited to show on of Miss Hahn’s friends what Shadow can do. When they arrive at the stable she figures out that Shadow is Aladdin and that Whirlwind is alive. Miss Hahn is offering Jas and her grandfather a place to stay at the farm and she will get to show Shadow and start looking for Whirlwind.

Recommendation:
I give this book a five star because it has everything I look for in a book.This book is a perfect book for anyone who likes horses or anyone who likes mysteries. I would recommend this book to everyone. It was a great book from front to back.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

They were on their way to bringing home a blue ribbon in the National Hunter Division class when 13-year-old Jasmine Schuler found her favorite mare, Whirlwind, lying dead in her pasture. Now she must face the inside of a courtroom and juvenile hall. No one will believe the true side of the story; that she only attacked the owner of High Meadows Farm because he had poisoned Whirlwind on purpose. But Hugh Robicheaux never loses. Jas knows that, but she never gives up. When Jas is pronounced guilty in court, she is sent into foster care at a farm for abused animals. She finds a way to use her new life to prove her charge against Hugh. All signs led to a sick brown gelding she buys from a killer auction. Could Shadow hold the key to the answer of Whirlwind’s death?
Shadow Horse by Alison Hart is a book about loss and friendship. As my favorite book of all time, I only have good things to say about it. As soon as I read the first line,
I knew that this book wasn’t a one that I would put down. And I didn’t. I read this book for a whole day, just sitting on the couch reading it. There were answers on every page, and I was, more than once, afraid that if I blinked, I would miss something important. Until I read this book, I absolutely hated mysteries. I didn’t really like thinking a lot when I read. However, when I read Shadow Horse, my entire view of mystery books changed in a very positive way. Alison Hart is the kind of author that fits a lot of feeling into one sentence, which made me really feel all of the emotions the characters did. This great book inspired me and made me relate to Jas. I have one had loss in my life, and I overcame it by doing something I love.
A teen or tween that enjoys horses and mysteries would definitely love this book as much as I did!

[Olivia Hochstadt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do you think it's fair if you are put into a Juvenile Detention Center for hitting someone after he killed your beloved prize-winning horse? Neither does 13-year-old Jasmine Schuler. Jas had a horse. A beautiful winning horse named Whirlwind. She rode at a very high-class riding barn and went to fancy horse shows each week. That was until her horse was killed. The stunning Whirlwind was murdered. The only person who would do such a thing would be Hugh Robiceaux, the owner of Jas's riding barn. That assumption sprouted in Jas's mind when she saw Hugh standing over her dead horse's body and her grandpa who had just passed out. Hugh is accusing Jas's grandpa, but Jas knows that Hugh's most loyal employee and care taker of the farm would not do such a thing. Now Jas is sent to a Juvenile Detention Center, a courtroom filled with sophisticated looking people, and a foster home called Second Chance Farm. The foster home she is sent to supposedly has horses that she can ride, but when she steps into a farm for healing sick or injured animals and one horribly sick horse, Jas is not pleased. Throughout her time with the owner of Second Chance, Ms. Diane Hahn, and the handsome but cocky Chase, Jas learns acceptance to herself and others, plus she falls in love with a boy and another sick and scrawny horse found in the corner of a horse action stall. But, the mystery of her Whirlwind's death still hangs over Jas's head. She has to find out who killed her fantastic prize winning horse, and save Second Chance Farm all at the same time. I would 110% recommend this mysterious book for anyone who loves horses, mystery books, and simply a fun easy read.

[Oceane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I greatly enjoyed the topic of this book, but found it lacking in word choice and such. Being 14 years old and an accelerated reader, I was quite disappointed upon finding that the author's style of writing wasn't as eloquent as I would have liked. There were also some elements in the story that were unbelievable — why would he hint towards Aladdin? How was her foster mother right there at the right time? Sadly, I can't give this book a 5 star review, but I felt it portrayed relationships between the characters well.

[Bella · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a middle grade horse book it was pretty good. Would definitely recommend for younger kids who like horse stories.

[Solange · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book but my school does not have Whrilwind : (

[Shazza Maddog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jas is in foster care because of three things - her grandfather had a stroke and is under medical care, her beloved horse, Whirlwind, died, and Jas attacked Hugh Devereux with a hoof pick and was assigned foster care as she couldn't stay in jail as a youth offender.

Now, instead of living on an incredibly gorgeous horse farm, Jas is living at a place called Second Chance Farm - a rescue farm with donkeys, horses, goats, and other animals, and two volunteers: Chase, a cute young man, and Lydia, an older teen, and Miss Hahn.

When Miss Hahn takes Jas and Chase to a horse auction, Jas sees a horse with a medical problem she recognizes and convinces Miss Hahn to buy him. They bring home Shadow and soon discover that, as a healthy animal, he can jump nearly anything they put in front of him. But there's something else that reminds Jas of a story she'd heard about one of Hugh Devereux's horses - that he'd jump the fence to go chase the neighbor's cows and Shadow does the same thing.

But Aladdin was supposed to have died of colic and Shadow is here in front of Jas. If Shadow really is Aladdin, then maybe Hugh's lied about other things, too - and Jas might be able to get out of her legal issues if she can figure out what happened to Aladdin/Shadow.

A great mystery for middle school readers, especially those who love horses.

[Hannah Conrad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shadow Horse follows Jas as she is put in foster care when her grandfather is hospitalised and Jas herself is facing charges for attacking the barn owner after her beloved mare Whirlwind is found dead. Jas learns who she can trust as she works to find justice for Whirlwind and stop the sadistic barn owner Hugh. When Jas and her gaurdian rescue a gelding that Jas names Shadow at an auction, Jas learns Shadow is actually Aladdin, a horse who Hugh faked the death of for insurance fraud and sold. Jas realizes Whirlwind may also be alive and seeks to uncover the truth.

I loved this book! I gave it a reread this year and still enjoyed it just as much. It's a great suspensful mystery with interesting characters. I also enjoyed the sequel Whirlwind and hope that a third book comes out.

[Sam Abbott · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first mystery book I read in middle school and I fell in love with it. My copy is so worn and frayed from being read so many times. I decided to reread it again tonight and remembered just why I loved it so much. Jas has a natural way with horses and for digging deep into the mystery of what happened to her beloved horse. There was just enough suspense to keep a young reader on the edge of their seat. I’ll be keeping this book on my shelf to reread again

[Erin Boras · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Kobo was dead so I grabbed this teenage favorite off the shelf to read in the meantime. It was just as enjoyable as I remember with a fast-paced mystery plot line. Juvenile but that is the target audience so that is to be expected. Overall really glad I picked this up and read it today as it was a blast from the past. Jas as a character is portrayed as a very real and believable emotional teenager but the villain could be fleshed out more if I were being picky.

[Megan Brunssen · Rating 5 out of 5]

So this was a reread for me since it was my favorite book growing up so I’m a little bias. But I loved the story of a teenage horse girl, Jas, that gets moved from a fancy stable with her grand father to second chance farm as a foster kid after an altercation with the fancy stable owner that bans her from the stables and her grand father being hospitalized means no one else can care for her. Her being a detective to try to figure out what happened with her horse Whirlwind that died and how the newly saved horse, Shadow, at Second Chance come into play was a great story line.

[Stephanie Pieck · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story of Jas and her quest to prove that the owner of High Meadows Farm killed her prize show horse. The mystery wasn't hard to figure out, and clues had a way of falling easily into Jas' hands. Still, girls who are horse-crazy will enjoy the book, and the young-teen romance is nicely understated.

[Hannah McMurphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This took me back to my childhood when I only read horse books. One of my students really wanted me to read this, so I did! Not really my cup of tea anymore, but I didn't dislike it. I enjoyed the unraveling of the mystery. I only wish that this wasn't a series and that it had all wrapped up in one book!

[Toby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I read this for the first time in 7th or 8th grade. I recently got my old kindle up and running and this was the first book on there I re-read. Honestly, it still holds up! For a short work, the characters have decent depth, and I remember that the sequel gives them more space for development.

[Nikki Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books as a young girl and still as an adult. It is a book I have read many times over and you can guarantee when I travel I have the well worn book in my bag to read. If you love horses and like a little mystery it is definitely a great read!

[Stina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book about 5 times in my childhood. It was so nice to read a horse girl story that was so much more than finding the horse of your dreams. It helped me to feel more forgiving to the fact that I had interests outside of being an equestrian yet being around horses was my whole world.

[Katy Elizabeth Yager · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book .

[Marina · Rating 2 out of 5]

it wasn't a bad book. I just didn't enjoy it.

[Ellen Kay Rees · Rating 5 out of 5]

A true joy to read as Rez grows up and fights for right.

[Haley Cunningham · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book a so much, this is probably the tenth time I've read it

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome young adult novel! Made me cry several times and I found the main character to be completely relatable. I whipped right through this book in a matter of hours.

[Emma Lehmkuhl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it!!

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really cool story.

[Imani Lugo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ugh just got reminded this book existed and had to give it a 5 star, the chokehold this book had on me when I was a kid😩 I honestly may just have to read it again