Abby Malone

Dancer #2

by Shelley Peterson

Her first novel, Dancer, continues to be a Canadian bestseller and now Shelley Peterson brings you her eagerly-awaited second novel, Abby Malone. Abby is a young teenager striving to make things work out right. Animals - a coyote, twin baby raccoons, a speedy bay mare named Moonlight Sonata - are things she can handle, but the human world is a more confusing and dangerous place.

Abby Malone sits at her desk in a sweltering classroom in June and daydreams about the beautiful mare across the road. Before we know it, she's out the window, 'borrowing' the mare and rounding up the neighbour's escaped cows, adding another black mark to her record of bad behaviour at school.

Things are not easy at home: an alcoholic mother and an incarcerated father add to her ever-present fear of eviction, yet Abby doggedly tries to make the best of every situation. 'All my problems are with humans,' she tells her raccoons.

But not all humans are bad; Pete and Laura Pierson, the elderly farm couple who live beside the school, give her assistance, encouragement and support while Abby tackles a mystery, falls in love, and competes in a perilous steeplechase. This is a fast-paced story that takes the reader on an unforgettable journey of heartache and personal triumph.

Genres: Young Adult, Horses, Canada, Childrens, Fiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published May 15, 1999

About the author

Shelley Peterson is the best-selling author of numerous young adult novels, including DANCER, ABBY MALONE, SUNDANCER, and MYSTERY AT SADDLE CREEK.

She was born in London, Ontario, and was trained in theatre arts at the Banff School of Performing Arts, Dalhousie University, and the University of Western Ontario.

She works as a professional actress, and has more than 100 stage, film, and television credits to her name. Peterson has had a lifelong love of animals big and small, with particular interest in horses.

She divides her time between Toronto and Fox Ridge, a horse farm in the Caledon hills, which she shares with her husband, three children, and the family dog.

Reviews

[Kacie Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book! Wonderful story and original characters. There are very few books I take the time to reread, but this was one of them!

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another decent novel from Shelley Peterson. I enjoyed the Saddle Creek stories more than this one. Still, a nicely paced novel with all of the familiar characters and comforts of home.

[Tal · Rating 5 out of 5]

No step-sibling or step-cousin relationship? First I've read of Shelley's without one.

[Kavik0917 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!