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Bonnie #1
The Sweet Running Filly
dream horse
It was love at first site! When she saw the junk dealer's injured, underfed little filly, Julie Jefferson knew this was the horse for her. It wasn't until later, after she had nursed the horse back to health, that Julie realized the filly might be a championship thoroughbred racer. How had a valuable horse like Bonnie ended up up at a junk dealer's? What was the secret of her heritage? Before Julie found the answers to these questions, both she and Bonnie would be caught in a tightening net of mystery and danger, in which Julie's dreams and Bonnie's life were desperately at stake. Followers of the adventures of Julie Jefferson and Bonnie will want to read more about them in A HORSE CALLED BONNIE, also available in a Signet edition.
It was love at first site! When she saw the junk dealer's injured, underfed little filly, Julie Jefferson knew this was the horse for her. It wasn't until later, after she had nursed the horse back to health, that Julie realized the filly might be a championship thoroughbred racer. How had a valuable horse like Bonnie ended up up at a junk dealer's? What was the secret of her heritage? Before Julie found the answers to these questions, both she and Bonnie would be caught in a tightening net of mystery and danger, in which Julie's dreams and Bonnie's life were desperately at stake. Followers of the adventures of Julie Jefferson and Bonnie will want to read more about them in A HORSE CALLED BONNIE, also available in a Signet edition.
156 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 1, 1971
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 5, 2013
I admit it was years and years ago that I read this, but I remember that I absolutely loved this book. When I was growing up I probably read just about every horse book ever written - not just Walter Farley and Marguerite Henry and Anna Sewell - but every obscure title I could get my hands on. Still, this is one of the ones that stayed with me. If you've got a girl that loves horse books, you have to find her a copy of this!
March 24, 2011
This is book 1 of the "Bonnie" YA series of five books. They were published in the mid to late 70's, and I first read them then or in the early 80's. My book's cover features a horse in the winner's circle, accompanied by a blonde girl with a shoulder length "flip" hairdo and blue polyester skirt and jacket, suitable for Marcia Brady to wear to church circa 1968. (EDIT: Oops, I'm describing the cover of another book from the series here, but it's the most memorable cover. This one actually has Julie wearing a "Tammy's in Love" Debbie Reynolds country girl getup while riding a horse against an orange -- gotta have orange or it isn't the 70's -- background.)
Perky Julie Jefferson finds a nearly drowned filly in a creek behind a junk shop and the racing adventure/ mystery story begins. Julie is almost too twee to take, but her devotion to her horse is heartfelt and there is a good chemistry between her friends/ family, including a shy love interest in the form of horse trainer Monty. The characters have good senses of humor and a fondness for Julie that keeps her from being annoying (your mileage will vary, of course.)
The big mystery is, of course, the filly's origins. How did a fast horse (of course she can beat all the other horses at the nearby training track) end up in a junk dealer's creek? A convoluted plot insues, complete with amateur detective work that becomes a comedy of errors.
I have all five of my original Bonnie books from way back when, and they are dogeared beyond belief because I re-read the set every so often. They're old friends. The series is more corny than Iowa and completely loveable. I love moon eyed, tongue tied Monty (still aw shucks, in spite of a recent tour in Viet Nam) making sheep's eyes at Julie, who won't notice him because she's so wrapped up in Bonnie, Bonnie, her sweet running filly Bonnie.
Perky Julie Jefferson finds a nearly drowned filly in a creek behind a junk shop and the racing adventure/ mystery story begins. Julie is almost too twee to take, but her devotion to her horse is heartfelt and there is a good chemistry between her friends/ family, including a shy love interest in the form of horse trainer Monty. The characters have good senses of humor and a fondness for Julie that keeps her from being annoying (your mileage will vary, of course.)
The big mystery is, of course, the filly's origins. How did a fast horse (of course she can beat all the other horses at the nearby training track) end up in a junk dealer's creek? A convoluted plot insues, complete with amateur detective work that becomes a comedy of errors.
I have all five of my original Bonnie books from way back when, and they are dogeared beyond belief because I re-read the set every so often. They're old friends. The series is more corny than Iowa and completely loveable. I love moon eyed, tongue tied Monty (still aw shucks, in spite of a recent tour in Viet Nam) making sheep's eyes at Julie, who won't notice him because she's so wrapped up in Bonnie, Bonnie, her sweet running filly Bonnie.
July 30, 2024
Although this series was originally aimed for teens, adult horse lovers can also enjoy it. It is so rare for any horse book to be well written, let alone one aimed at the over 12 crowd, that makes a book like this a rare animal indeed. For example, Our Heroine muses about a story she heard about gamblers that bet on two raindrops running down a window glass, "as if they had pedigrees."
Rare stuff, indeed.
Even rarer is a book set in the weird, wacky world of Thoroughbred racing to be, for the most part, accurate. That in 1971 the authors knew about how in demand Northern Dancer was shows that they knew their stuff.
Granted, stolen horses is a common trope in equine and mystery literature. But to have it done well and convincingly is really hard to do.
This is a strong start to the Bonnie series. If you want to pursue it, I recommend you stop at book three.
The worst part of this book is the cover. The horse pictured is a chestnut. Bonnie is a dark bay.
Rare stuff, indeed.
Even rarer is a book set in the weird, wacky world of Thoroughbred racing to be, for the most part, accurate. That in 1971 the authors knew about how in demand Northern Dancer was shows that they knew their stuff.
Granted, stolen horses is a common trope in equine and mystery literature. But to have it done well and convincingly is really hard to do.
This is a strong start to the Bonnie series. If you want to pursue it, I recommend you stop at book three.
The worst part of this book is the cover. The horse pictured is a chestnut. Bonnie is a dark bay.
May 27, 2020
This is another book I'm torn on giving a rating. I remember reading this series near the time it first came out, and I LOVED it. I'm sure I've read it many, many times back in the 70's. If I read it for the first time now, I probably would rate it closer to a 3, but for nostalgia's sake, I had to give it a 4. Many fond memories of going to the race track with my Mom, and wanting a horse of my own (I had plans that I could keep it in my closet, and nobody would ever notice; probably a good thing I never got my hands on one). The main character is gutsy and tenacious and caring, and I particularly loved her father this time around, for giving her his love and support and understanding, and for letting her do things the way she wants, even though it puts her in danger.
August 14, 2017
for some reason I've had this book for a few years and although trying to read it could never get into it. I'm glad I tried reading it again this summer because once I got a couple chapters in, I was extremely interested in the story!
July 20, 2017
Was pretty good
September 23, 2021
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
March 1, 2025
Growing up, I loved all things horses. This was probably my favorite horse book. I read it over and over again and still have it on my bookshelf.
October 24, 2017
This was a really good horse themed mystery type book.
A girl finds a half dead filly at a junkyard, and buys her thinking that she might be a good saddle horse. But once she has been fattened up, she can fly by any of the racers her family works with. Where did she come from? Racers like that aren't bred by accident and left to starve in a bargain lot.
A girl finds a half dead filly at a junkyard, and buys her thinking that she might be a good saddle horse. But once she has been fattened up, she can fly by any of the racers her family works with. Where did she come from? Racers like that aren't bred by accident and left to starve in a bargain lot.
December 27, 2015
The Sweet Running Filly is the beginning of it all - Julie Jefferson and Bonnie's story begins here, when Julie finds and rescues a scraggly mare from certain death. As it turns out, Julie is the woman for the job, with her vast resources in the racing horse world. And Bonnie might not be quite as scraggly as she first appears. As Julie finds her way into adulthood, Bonnie makes her way back into beautiful condition, and eventually they will both be forced to face the big bad world together.
This horsey novel has plenty of action and intrigue built into it, but above all it has heart. Though there is a firm stake between right and wrong written here, the characters are well fleshed out and relationships explored, reaching the audience in a way that just a morality tale could not.
This horsey novel has plenty of action and intrigue built into it, but above all it has heart. Though there is a firm stake between right and wrong written here, the characters are well fleshed out and relationships explored, reaching the audience in a way that just a morality tale could not.
October 7, 2019
Birthday Book #25 from my friend Heidi. Oh, yes, I'm very familiar with this series, for obvious reasons. It was read and re-read many times as a young girl. And I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting it. Really a terrific thriller about a stolen horse rescued by our heroine Julie Jefferson. Great characters and a great plot and a reasonably realistic depiction of the racing world.
January 28, 2013
this series is a must read for any horse lover of any age.
While it might be alittle tame for mature reading it holds the attention, and moves right along in action.
While it might be alittle tame for mature reading it holds the attention, and moves right along in action.
February 9, 2016
This was an AMAZING story! A perfect read for any teenager and older. Excitement, young love (of animals and humans), new friendships, and mystery! Like a modern day Nancy Drew! 100% satisfaction!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews