Team Challenge

The Pony Whisperer #2

by Janet Rising

It's the start of the summer holidays and everyone in the stable yard is excited about entering a new nationwide inter-team competition. When Pia and Cat end up on competing teams, it's bound to end in trouble!

Genres: Horses, Middle Grade

218 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2009

About the author

Janet Rising lives in the UK and is the editor of PONY, Britain's top-selling horsy teen magazine. She is also the author of Pony Talk: 50 Ways to Make Friends. Janet's work with horses has included working at a donkey stud, producing show ponies, and teaching riding to both adults and children.

Reviews

[One Book At A Time · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy this series. It's cute and I'm seeing a positive message in the stories. I love the inclusion of horses and such an important part of the story.

I liked Pia a lot more in this story. I love the family challenges she faces. I think it reflects well on what a lot of preteens are going through at home. She has to watch her mom start dating men other than her dad. Plus, she has to deal with the woman her father has chosen to date. I thought it was interesting the things her dad showers on this women, especially the things Pia has wanted for many years.

I liked how the story presents the idea of working together as a team. The only way they will win is if they help and support each other. I also loved how Pia was able to realize that the horses needed more praise. They weren't getting anything out of being made to train so hard. I loved the message that animals have feelings too.
I'm really enjoying this series. I think it will be something my older daughter will love when she's older. She loves horses! I know I would have enjoyed it at the age of 8 or so.

[Cindy Hudson · Rating 3 out of 5]

In The Pony Whisperer: The Word on the Yard, Pia found an ancient figurine that helped her communicate with horses. Her new talent gained her both friend and enemies, as some people used Pia’s new ability to help their ponies and some just believe she’s lying.

In the second book of the series, Team Challenge, Pia and her friends are discovering that being part of a team is a lot of work. It also means if you want to be successful, you have to focus on what works for your teammates, not just what you feel is best for you. In this case, the teammates include everyone’s horses.

Team Challenge is interesting to read both for the things Pia and her friends learn about working together for a common purpose, and also for the insights it gives into preparing for a team competition. It also delves into the question of ethics, as Pia wrestles with whether or not her ability to talk to horses, and possibly get their cooperation in the competition, counts as cheating.

[Brittney]

chapter one
"hey,Pia,

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still cute

There is good character development, and I loves the whole horse show, explained well as I read too. I did not like the oiji board things thoiufh.

[Nadina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this sequel. Just as cute as the first. Though the challenge they had to overcome according to the description of the book (the ponies going on strike) was taken care of by the middle of the boom, there were still other challenges they had to overcome and it was well written.
I liked that there are background stories to each of the characters that are taking longer to solve. Like Pia's parents, and Cat's secret, though I have predictions as to what is going on there.