All or Nothing

Chestnut Hill #6

by Lauren Brooke

Malory has a natural gift for riding, so it's no surprise that she's invited to try out for an exclusive summer riding team. But there are always hurdles. Malory needs to find a horse to ride, compete against her classmates for a spot, and deal with the fact that Caleb - the boy she's liked all year - is trying out as well. It doesn't help that things with Caleb have been tricky as of late, and that joining the team would mean leaving her father and Tybalt for the summer. Malory has always been methodical and reasonable, but even she struggles to make the decision that is right.

Genres: Horses, Fiction, Young Adult, Animals, Middle Grade, Childrens, Boarding School

166 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Lauren Brooke grew up in a ranch in Virginia and now lives in Leicestershire, England. Her husband is a veterinarian who specializes in horses. Her books have been published by Scholastic since Mid-2000, starting with the first book of the Heartland book series. The first book of her popular Chestnut Hill series was published in 2005.

According to an interview on scholastics' website, Lauren Brooke has been riding since before she could walk. She also said she competes in a few local-level horse shows and events.

There may be some other people in books and movies named Lauren Brooke:
Amazon lists the author of "Book of spiritual regeneration" (1995) as Lauren Brooke.
IMDB.com has a record for an Actress named Lauren Brooke. Her only movie is "Wiseguys vs. Zombies" (2003) as Goat Man's Wife.

Reviews

[Eadrinor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the story in this one. Malory realizes the importance of stepping back. Sometimes you need to surround yourself with the important things and get perspective before you can be successful.

[AubreyS. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and I like how things ell into place. I liked how she worked hard to get things done.

[Adum Prince · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that exceeds the terrific rank

[Annie Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good

[Lucy Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was really good!!!!

[LadyMuffinchen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Samantha möchte am berühmtesten Junioren-Reitprogramm von ganz Virginia teilnehmen, doch dafür müsste sie die Sommerferien mit ihrem Vater opfern. Außerdem denkt sie ständig an ihren Exfreund Caleb. Soll sie ihm eine zweite Chance geben? Eines jedenfalls steht fest - dies wird ein Sommer der Entscheidungen!



Der Band rund um Samantha war wirklich gut zu lesen. Man kennt sie und die anderen Mädels ja bereits aus den Vorgängern und bereits dort ist sie mir sehr ans Herz gewachsen. Sie ist bodenständig und hat ihre Prinzipien, für welche sie einsteht. Auch jetzt, in dieser stressigen Situation behält sie einen kühlen Kopf, so schwer es ihr auch fällt. Dabei herät sie nur kurz ins Wanken, weil sie eine Entscheidung treffen muss. Doch eigentlich weiß sie, dass sie ihrem Herzen folgen möchte und so tut sie dies auch am Ende des Buches. Ich finde es hier ganz besonders gut, dass ihre Freundinnen ihr so oder so mit Rat und Tat zur Seite stehen und ihre Entscheidung akzeptieren.

Auch dieser Band ist wieder kurzweilig und ansprechend geschrieben. Man fliegt nur so durch die Seiten und hat wieder das Gefühl in Rose Hill im Stall zu stehen und das Heu und die Pferde zu riechen. Ein gemütlich schöner Jugendroman über Pferde, Freunde und Familie!

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I'm going to admit that within the period of time that elapsed between my reading this book and my writing this review, I watched a few episodes of the Heartland TV series (mostly those that involved jumping so I could laugh and potentially torture myself???). I was exposed full force to Amy Fleming's methods, and I can tell you I'm not particularly repulsed. I dunno if the show just didn't really care about that stuff, I mean it did mostly focus on the drama, but I didn't feel like the show was preaching at me at all (which I cannot say for the Heartland books). This makes me a bit more receptive to this book, but I do think that Mallory is a whiny idiot who needs to stop stressing about boys and get rid of the idea that she's such a great rider because it's only going to lead to her downfall. Plus it sounds like she needs to put in some more work with this crazy horse of hers and do some serious desensitizing rather than simply aromatherapy and T-touch WHICH IS NOT A REALISTIC LONG-TERM SOLUTION TO A HORSE'S PROBLEMS AND BEHAVIORS. But okay, I don't remember that much more of this book other than the obsessive pining over the random guy that doesn't seem great, and the RIDICULOUSLY STUPID decision of Mallory's to pass up an opportunity that would be instrumental to her riding career, and the vague mentions of Dylan, our former protagonist from the first book in the series. Glad to be rid of Dylan, less excited to be saddled with Mallory. Also I cannot forget the aromatherapy and T-touch and whatever else Amy Fleming sold them. Amy, go home and train some horses or just go to vet school and shut up. I should probably read some of these Heartland books to see if she's as bad as I think she might be. Until next time (hopefully not soon), Chestnut Hill.

[Mehsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. The main focus of this book is Mallory, and the important decision she has to make.

Since she got picked for an exclusive program during the summer. Something she never thought would happen, but it happened. For most of the book we will see her doubting between spending time with her dad (which is especially important to her, now that she is at Boarding School and he is all alone, and she really misses him) or going to the summer camp and learn a lot about horses.
I could just imagine how it must feel, I don't have any real life experience with it, but I do know how it feels to be between things and having to pick one over an other. Picking one will make people happy, and the other is more selfish and will mean you will learn new things.

Then we also got the whole Caleb (BAH) situation. He was quite the dick in the last book, and he really doesn't make it any better in this one. Seriously, does that guy have poop for a brain? Or does he truly not understand that people ride for different reasons. One might want to win, but for another it is to be with horses and have fun. I really liked him in the books before this one and the one before this, but now? No. Even with that ending (no spoilers) I am still not on the shipping boat for Mallory x Caleb.

The book was really fun with lots of horses, family moments (Mallory is lucky to have such an amazing dad), competitions and much much more! It was a great book and I truly have to say that this is one of my favourites out of the series.

I do hope that our mean girl will get a redemption moment, because I just want to throttle her.

Would I recommend this book? Yes! Cute moments, horses, boarding school, friendship!

Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/

[Monique · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes I thought this book was a little too perfect, and touchy feely. Almost always, the friend was the one with the sympathetic eyes, and I'm supposed to believe these are 7th grades? You can show how a person is caring, etc, but this was laid on a little thick for the younger crowd. And what parents (Dad in this book) makes it O.K or ignores completely that their 12 year old daughters are seriously dating? Or how ever serious you can date while you 12 and not done with puberty? I just thought that this book focuses a little too much on being part of a couple at a very young age, and then feel strange when your 12 in the 7th grade and you aren't dating anyone.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good for even non horse people

[Chantelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute book of friends working together. Also a Heartfelt book with a lttle romance.

[Michelle Couey · Rating 3 out of 5]

classic, gwyneth my six year old loved it.

[Maddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a mixed gener book,

Romance, action adventure, comedy.


I would recommend it to all readers.

[Twyla · Rating 5 out of 5]

my favorite part was when tybalt was helped by amy from heartland