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Spirit Riding Free #1
The Adventure Begins
Twelve-year-old Lucky Prescott craves adventure, but as a young lady of society she's only been allowed to experience adventure through books. That is, until one fateful day when Lucky, her father, and her aunt leave their neat-and-tidy city life and travel to their new home out west-the Wild West.
At first Lucky is excited, but during the long train ride to her new hometown of Miradero, she begins to worry. What if she doesn't make any new friends? Everyone in the West rides horses, but she's never been allowed to even sit on one. How can she possibly fit in? Anxious about the future, Lucky looks out the train window and sees a majestic wild stallion. When their eyes meet, she senses a connection. But when the stallion is caught by wranglers, Lucky's heart breaks. And when she next sees the stallion, he's tied to a post, refusing to be "broken in."
Spirit Riding Free: The Adventure Begins is the story of a girl and a wild horse, equally out of place in a strange, new world, but equally fierce and brave. With each other to lean on, will these two free spirits be able to find a home together?
DreamWorks Spirit Riding Free © 2017 DreamWorks Animation LLC. All Rights Reserved.
At first Lucky is excited, but during the long train ride to her new hometown of Miradero, she begins to worry. What if she doesn't make any new friends? Everyone in the West rides horses, but she's never been allowed to even sit on one. How can she possibly fit in? Anxious about the future, Lucky looks out the train window and sees a majestic wild stallion. When their eyes meet, she senses a connection. But when the stallion is caught by wranglers, Lucky's heart breaks. And when she next sees the stallion, he's tied to a post, refusing to be "broken in."
Spirit Riding Free: The Adventure Begins is the story of a girl and a wild horse, equally out of place in a strange, new world, but equally fierce and brave. With each other to lean on, will these two free spirits be able to find a home together?
DreamWorks Spirit Riding Free © 2017 DreamWorks Animation LLC. All Rights Reserved.
272 pages, Hardcover
Published May 2, 2017
56 people are currently reading
751 people want to read
About the author
Suzanne Selfors
65 books845 followersSuzanne Selfors lives on an island near Seattle where it rains all the time, which is why she tends to write about cloudy, moss-covered, green places.
She's married, has two kids, and writes full time.
Her favorite writers are Kurt Vonnegut, Charles Dickens, and most especially, Roald Dahl.
Please visit her at www.suzanneselfors.com to learn more about her books.
She's married, has two kids, and writes full time.
Her favorite writers are Kurt Vonnegut, Charles Dickens, and most especially, Roald Dahl.
Please visit her at www.suzanneselfors.com to learn more about her books.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
May 6, 2017
Thank you Little, Brown for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
This story takes place in the early 1900's; a time when the mountains were still being carved to open pathways for railways and buildings were being erected to create new big cities.
We follow Lucky Prescott from her uptight Finishing School for Young Ladies to the end of the rail line in the desert town of Miradero.
Lucky has never really been like the other girls at her school, she's much more lively, has different interests and doesn't mind getting dirty...not to mention, her mother was once a rodeo performer!
While on the train, Lucky catches sight of the most beautiful stallion she's ever seen, but what she sees next is appalling to her -two men on horses throwing ropes around the poor mustangs neck. That's all Lucky needed to see. Now she's on a mission to find that horse and release him back into the wild where he belongs.
Fortunately, when she arrives in her new home city, she spots the horse again. She begins to visit with him daily and while doing so, she learns that the owner of the ranch is trying to tame him. She still has the desire to let him loose. If only she could think of something! Then an opportunity arises...
Every part of me that's still a wholesome child loved this story. I would absolutely watch the tv series if I had NetFlix! The author mentions that this book was based off of the movie Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, I can't say that I've ever watched that so I'm unsure whether it would have affected my opinion or not but I will say that whether you're big or small, I think you will enjoy this.
This story takes place in the early 1900's; a time when the mountains were still being carved to open pathways for railways and buildings were being erected to create new big cities.
We follow Lucky Prescott from her uptight Finishing School for Young Ladies to the end of the rail line in the desert town of Miradero.
Lucky has never really been like the other girls at her school, she's much more lively, has different interests and doesn't mind getting dirty...not to mention, her mother was once a rodeo performer!
While on the train, Lucky catches sight of the most beautiful stallion she's ever seen, but what she sees next is appalling to her -two men on horses throwing ropes around the poor mustangs neck. That's all Lucky needed to see. Now she's on a mission to find that horse and release him back into the wild where he belongs.
Fortunately, when she arrives in her new home city, she spots the horse again. She begins to visit with him daily and while doing so, she learns that the owner of the ranch is trying to tame him. She still has the desire to let him loose. If only she could think of something! Then an opportunity arises...
Every part of me that's still a wholesome child loved this story. I would absolutely watch the tv series if I had NetFlix! The author mentions that this book was based off of the movie Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, I can't say that I've ever watched that so I'm unsure whether it would have affected my opinion or not but I will say that whether you're big or small, I think you will enjoy this.
October 2, 2017
When I was growing up, I absolutely LOVED the movie Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron. I was OBSESSED with horses back then. I dreamt of learning how to ride and owning my own horse someday. Thanks to this book, I was able to remember a part of my past that I'd forgotten. It was nice to take a look back at my childhood self. I have missed her. I still hope to learn how to ride one day but sadly, it is not as big of a dream as it was once. While this book is about the original Spirit's son (who is also named Spirit, which honestly I think is a little silly but I suppose they wanted people to know that it was a reference to the original) it was a good read and an even more enjoyable Netflix show! I loved watched the show more than the book, however the original movie is still my favorite. I hope to rewatch that again soon. It has been such a long time since I've seen it. I think no matter what age you are, any fan of Spirit or horse lover can enjoy this book. It was a cute, quick, and easy read.
June 28, 2017
In a nutshell a sheltered young girl, Lucky, moves westward with his father who works with her granddad's railroad. There she is smitten by a wild horse and by hook or by crook wants to make it her own. The book is geared to 8 to 12 year olds and should be a hit with him. A DreamWorks series that has already been produced and is in season one Netflix. This promises to be the first in a series of books I see this morphing into toys and other products that young girls in particular will want.
May 28, 2021
This review is written by Clio (age 6) and may contain spoilers
This is about a girl named Lucky who moved from the city to the wild west. On the train ride there she saw a mustang get captured, it was a buckskin stallion with a black mane, black tail, and black lower legs. The mesteneros that capture him put him in a pen where they want to tame him in Miradero, the town where she is moving to. She visits him everyday before school and soon after they become close friends because she doesn't like the place and the new people think shes a snob and he is not getting along with Mr. Granger, so they kind of know each other's feelings because they are feeling the same thing. At the end she has to save school people named Abigal and Pru, they ride into a dangerous canyon that's being dynamited. She has to ride bareback on the wild stallion that couldn't get broken by the ranchers to save them. She saves them by taking them down a different path that Pru and Abigal had never explored. The stallion lead them down that path and they got out. Then Mr Granger gave the horse to Lucky and said "that horse has a heck of a lot of Spirit" so she names him Spirit, but she didn't want to own him, but he comes back to see her every day but he doesn't stay overnight. He stays with his herd.
This is about a girl named Lucky who moved from the city to the wild west. On the train ride there she saw a mustang get captured, it was a buckskin stallion with a black mane, black tail, and black lower legs. The mesteneros that capture him put him in a pen where they want to tame him in Miradero, the town where she is moving to. She visits him everyday before school and soon after they become close friends because she doesn't like the place and the new people think shes a snob and he is not getting along with Mr. Granger, so they kind of know each other's feelings because they are feeling the same thing. At the end she has to save school people named Abigal and Pru, they ride into a dangerous canyon that's being dynamited. She has to ride bareback on the wild stallion that couldn't get broken by the ranchers to save them. She saves them by taking them down a different path that Pru and Abigal had never explored. The stallion lead them down that path and they got out. Then Mr Granger gave the horse to Lucky and said "that horse has a heck of a lot of Spirit" so she names him Spirit, but she didn't want to own him, but he comes back to see her every day but he doesn't stay overnight. He stays with his herd.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 16, 2017
Based off of one of my favorite movies (I even have the soundtrack, which is odd for me, but I love the songs, and of course Bryan Adams). It was really cute and I enjoyed it. What an incredible opportunity for the author to get to write this story!
August 5, 2017
It took a little too long to introduce Spirit. I had to return this to the library but I want to try again and see how the story ends!
January 31, 2022
I read this book to my 6 year old daughter every night before bed. We just finished, and I think I loved it more than she did.
August 31, 2023
Now, I know people hate the Riding Free franchise because it does not focus on indigenous people and with the railroads being built which the original Spirit fought and escaped from, this is a slap in the face due to colonialism. And as an indigenous person myself, I very much understand that and the critic this franchise gets because of the erasure of indigenous people and the railroad pathway to colonialism. I really do. BUT as an indigenous person AND a Mexican, I just cannot help, but love this franchise because Lucky is like me - she is also Mexican!! And it can be so hard to find positive representation in fictional Mexican characters that are so lovable like lucky who is brave, very spirited, loves animals, is a loyal and good friend, etc.
Before reading this book I actually watched the entire series and every other animation created of Riding Free, plus, Spirit Untamed. And I love them.
So, with all that said, I really enjoyed the book! It was a bit slow to pick up, however, I really enjoyed seeing all of the characters thoughts about their new life and situation. Especially Lucky. She's the new girl and feels out of place and like she doesn't belong. She's sad and lonely seeing as she had a hard time making friends. So, this is part of why she empathizes with Spirit because he too is stuck somewhere new with no choice. Plus, she knows Spirit is much happier being free than all cooped up.
That and it was fun to see a small glimpse of what Lucky's old life was like. How even though she comes from a privileged background, she is very down to earth and would much rather have freedom than follow high society's rules and regulations.
I also really liked seeing Cora also struggling to adjust to their new home. I felt like it brought more depth to her character.
Jim was nice to see how at home he feels in the frontier and how happy he is. And how much he wants Lucky to love it too and decide to stay.
Overall, I don't think I really have much else to say other than this was a quick and enjoyable read. A great addition to the Riding Free franchise, for sure. And I'm definitely going to read the rest of the books.
Before reading this book I actually watched the entire series and every other animation created of Riding Free, plus, Spirit Untamed. And I love them.
So, with all that said, I really enjoyed the book! It was a bit slow to pick up, however, I really enjoyed seeing all of the characters thoughts about their new life and situation. Especially Lucky. She's the new girl and feels out of place and like she doesn't belong. She's sad and lonely seeing as she had a hard time making friends. So, this is part of why she empathizes with Spirit because he too is stuck somewhere new with no choice. Plus, she knows Spirit is much happier being free than all cooped up.
That and it was fun to see a small glimpse of what Lucky's old life was like. How even though she comes from a privileged background, she is very down to earth and would much rather have freedom than follow high society's rules and regulations.
I also really liked seeing Cora also struggling to adjust to their new home. I felt like it brought more depth to her character.
Jim was nice to see how at home he feels in the frontier and how happy he is. And how much he wants Lucky to love it too and decide to stay.
Overall, I don't think I really have much else to say other than this was a quick and enjoyable read. A great addition to the Riding Free franchise, for sure. And I'm definitely going to read the rest of the books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 29, 2021
Lucky loves to run. It is forbidden at her elite finishing school and gets her into trouble. The best part of school is her friend Emma.
Lucky’s world is turned upside down when her grandfather, who owns the railway company, wants to her father out West to manage the building of the new railroad. Grandfather and Aunt Cora think she should stay with them in town at school in the East.
Lucky is torn, she wants to be with her father, but leaving her friends behind will be hard. The excitement of going out West wins over in the end. Her father insists she go with him, and Lucky wants that too. The train ride takes three long days. Lucky sees a mustang – a wild horse – out the train window and wonders what will become of it.
Settling in Miradero is hard. Lucky wants to make friends at school but finds herself having to sort out who is friendly, and who is not. There are not many children and two camps, the horse riders and the girl that doesn’t ride horses – it’s too common.
When Lucky realises two girls are riding into danger, she must take extraordinary steps to save them.
I enjoyed the enthusiasm Lucky had for adventure and her willingness to give things a go.
Recommended for MG
Lucky’s world is turned upside down when her grandfather, who owns the railway company, wants to her father out West to manage the building of the new railroad. Grandfather and Aunt Cora think she should stay with them in town at school in the East.
Lucky is torn, she wants to be with her father, but leaving her friends behind will be hard. The excitement of going out West wins over in the end. Her father insists she go with him, and Lucky wants that too. The train ride takes three long days. Lucky sees a mustang – a wild horse – out the train window and wonders what will become of it.
Settling in Miradero is hard. Lucky wants to make friends at school but finds herself having to sort out who is friendly, and who is not. There are not many children and two camps, the horse riders and the girl that doesn’t ride horses – it’s too common.
When Lucky realises two girls are riding into danger, she must take extraordinary steps to save them.
I enjoyed the enthusiasm Lucky had for adventure and her willingness to give things a go.
Recommended for MG
May 16, 2017
The entertaining story of a young girl of boundless energy and curiosity and her intrinsic connection to horses. A chapter book, it’s the first in a new series for middle grade readers based on an animated Disney film about a young stallion named Spirit. It takes place mainly in the nineteenth century American west at a time when strict social mores dictated what females could do and how they should act. While Spirit is an essential part of this story, the focus is mainly on Lucky, the twelve year girl with whom he bonds. Told in several different forms including flyers and letters, it’s an appealing story of family and friendship that young readers are sure to enjoy.
January 7, 2019
I thought that this book was really amazing to read and it was so interesting. It talked about the adventures that Lucky had with her friends and also a wild horse that she's met on her way to Miradero, a town where she had to move to. At first, she felt very lonely and didn't like being the "new girl" but in the end, she ended up loving it there, even though it was very different from her old home which was a city. I absolutely loved this book and I found it so interesting!
June 29, 2021
The accompanying show to this book has been a comfort show of mine for years, even if I haven’t rewatched it in a while. The book did not disappoint. It’s a simple middle grade novel that closely followed the events of the show. It was very enjoyable. Will probably read the rest of the series. I’d recommend it to people in a reading slump because it is very fast paced and easy to read. It isn’t dense at all.
January 5, 2019
i think that any horse lover would enjoy this book. if you watch the spirit show on Netflix. this is what happens before all of that
May 26, 2019
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June 25, 2019
I loved the show I loved the movie and I loved the book.
October 8, 2019
I very much enjoyed this book and my daughter LOVED it. As soon as we finished reading it she asked if we could read it again.
June 1, 2020
I read this book with my 6 year old and she gave it a 5 star. She said she loved it. It followed the Netflix series very well.
July 26, 2020
So when I read this book I was expecting a little more in midero than in her city yes it did give more than the show on Netflix did but I would really like them to add more detail.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 9, 2020
It's a novelization of a kids show on Netflix. It's fine! Surprisingly well written and very well narrated. My kiddo is five and much more the target demographic than me, and she loved it.
February 2, 2021
This is a sweet easy read. Totally unrealistic and ridiculously over-simplified, but I am sure it would appeal to 7-9 year old girls.
Read
February 10, 2021It was amazing!
April 2, 2023
I absolutely loved this book its a Netflix original
it was my most favorite Netflix book ever thanks
I will be reading more of these books before I watch the movie
it was my most favorite Netflix book ever thanks
I will be reading more of these books before I watch the movie
April 14, 2024
Not a good book at all
May 12, 2025
i remembered my old books that i never read because i hated reading novels this is my favorite out of all of them thus far.
November 12, 2025
This was a good book to read to my daughter.
May 23, 2022
Night time read when I had nothing left on my shelf
March 16, 2020
I love it! Maybe I'll get the rest of the siris! I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I want my mom to read it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 30, 2017
*I received this book free to read and review by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
One of the main reasons I wanted to read this book was because I read the Spirit of the West series by Kathleen Duey. I also grew up watching the Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron movie, so when I saw this book, I knew I had to read it.
Spirit Riding Free was a wonderful read. The pacing of the story was nice, and there wasn't a lot of unnecessary information that was thrown in. It was a quick, cute read that a young kid could easy be sucked into, especially if they love horses.
One of the things I enjoyed most about this book is that it hits a lot of important things that young kids go through. This book shows that even through different times, kids go through the same things. I think that's why Lucky is a great character, she's relatable. She's also not perfect, she does make some mistakes, but overall, she just wants to do what's right.
I would highly recommend this book to young kids who love animals or just want something light and quick. I also think that older people who like MG would find this book cute to read.
One of the main reasons I wanted to read this book was because I read the Spirit of the West series by Kathleen Duey. I also grew up watching the Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron movie, so when I saw this book, I knew I had to read it.
Spirit Riding Free was a wonderful read. The pacing of the story was nice, and there wasn't a lot of unnecessary information that was thrown in. It was a quick, cute read that a young kid could easy be sucked into, especially if they love horses.
One of the things I enjoyed most about this book is that it hits a lot of important things that young kids go through. This book shows that even through different times, kids go through the same things. I think that's why Lucky is a great character, she's relatable. She's also not perfect, she does make some mistakes, but overall, she just wants to do what's right.
I would highly recommend this book to young kids who love animals or just want something light and quick. I also think that older people who like MG would find this book cute to read.
December 18, 2025
It was fun to read about what happened before seeing the train on netflix episode 1. It was nice to read about what the photo was about in the netflix series. So especially if you are into the netflix series, then I recommend this book! It shows you more characteristics of Lucky!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews