Runaway

Starlight Animal Rescue #1

by Dandi Daley Mackall

From the author of the beloved Winie the Horse Gentler series! Dakota doesn't want to warm up to her new foster family; in fact, she plans to run away as soon as she gets the opportunity. Just as her plans to escape unfold, she falls in love with a horse that others have just about given up on. She accepts the love of her new family as well as the love of God through a series of events.

Genres: Horses, Animals, Christian, Fiction, Contemporary, Middle Grade, Christian Fiction

206 pages

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

A professional writer for over 20 years, Dandi Daley Mackall has written dozens of articles for popular magazines and published around 500 books for children and adults alike, with sales of over 4 million.

A frequent guest on radio and television talk shows, she lives in rural Ohio with her husband, three children, horses, dogs, & cats. Awards include the Edgar Award for Best YA Mystery, the Helen Keating Ott Award for Contributions to Children's Literature; Distinguished Alumni Award from Mizzou; ALA Best Book; Christian Children's Book of the Year, Amelia Bloom, Mom's Choice Awards. Her YA novel, My Boyfriends' Dogs, is now a Hallmark movie.

Reviews

[Stephanie A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

All the right ingredients -- foster girl in need of love, loving foster parents, an incredible small town (I want to eat at the Made Rite!) and a farm full of fantastic animals, especially the horse on the cover -- but definitely for a lower reading level than I expected given my memories of enjoying Winnie the Horse Gentler in high school, so it sped by like a short story. I'll happily finish the quartet but it's more fun to daydream about this world than read it, I think. My daydreams will include less cloying inclusion of Scripture verses in everyday conversation.

[Carol Arnold · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book for the Tim Challis 2018 Reading Challenge, A book for teens or young adults. Well, maybe I'm stretching it a bit! It was probably aimed more at preteens! But, I needed an easy read cause I had a cold and couldn't focus on anything that was too challenging! It was an enjoyable read anyway. A 15 year-old girl in the foster care system is placed with a new family who not only rescues unwanted children, but also unwanted animals. In the process, she learns about true love from family and from God.

[RebekahAshleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Runaway is book 1 in the Starlight Animal Rescue series. It was a fun, quick read. I will probably eventually read the rest of the series.
It kind of reminded me of the Keystone Stables series by Marsha Hubler.

[Taryn Spearey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this story! Dakota Brown has always run away from her foster homes. It's seems like it'll be no different when she arrives at Starlight Animal Ruscue.

I think things start to change for Dakota when she starts bonding with the horse, Blackfire.

I was really glad to see Dakota change her mind at the end of book and decide to stay at Starlight Animal Rescue. I think she mand a good decision.

I'm going to also read books 2 and 3 in this series.

[Renn Shearin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Runaway by Dandi Daley Mackall was a sweet and enjoyable teen novel that demonstrated the importance of a loving and forgiving family and a trust in God. Dakota has never had a real family that cared for her, and she has never felt needed by anyone or anything. The new foster family she lives with is quite a different sort who rescue both children and animals, have very loving relationships with one another, and have such unique personalities that Dakota does not know what to think. All she knows is to make lists and to runaway. Runaway from others, from herself, and from God. This novel is the first in the Starlight Rescue series and contains references and contact with both Winnie and Catman from the Winnie the Horse Gentler series, which was a wonderful addition for those who have read that previous series. I also liked the characters because they were all very unique and each had their own quirky traits that set them apart. Dakota was the main character, and the novel was told in first person from her point of view. She had her own flaws, but as the book progressed, it was inspiring to see how her heart and attitude changed once she experienced love, trust, and forgiveness. Her relationship with Blackfire the abused horse was also enjoyable to see as both had experienced some kind of abuse at the hands of others. Runaway was an easy and quick read, but it was a good young teen novel, and I look forward to reading more of the series for fun this summer.

[M.K. Laffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow I love this book so much, even on the fourth read😂 Never gets old

[Parker Keys_to_hades]

I forgot how adorable these books are. I read them when I was about eleven, and they were some of the first books I binged.
Reading them now, ten years later, I still can’t put them down!
My only problem with them (which is why I knocked off a star) is the way that they present the gospel. Kids don’t just need to know that Jesus loves them, they need to be taught that all have fallen short of the glory of God and need to repent of their sins. Children aren’t spiritually fragile like a lot of people believe, and can handle a lot more than you think 😄
Content: For a middle grade series, this series deals with pretty heavy stuff. Kids in foster situations, one had an abusive father, one has lost both their parents, and there is some mention of a woman being a drug dealer/user. It’s dealt with in a delicate, straightforward manner.

[Twyla · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite part was when Dakota decided to stay with her new foster family rather than run away. My least favorite parts were all the lies and sneaky things that Dakota was doing, like taking money, and driving the truck without permission and crashing it into a tree. Luckily, she didn't get in as much trouble as she was expecting.

[Evie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a book that I was completely obsessed with, I remember I bought it from a charity shop, just a book that the synopsis sounded intriguing. Little did small me know it would become a book that I would reread constantly.
And this is definitely the book that sparked my love for family centered books, will forever remember this book <3

[Margaret Welwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

An outstanding work of warmth, humour, faith and love. Highly recommended.

[Natalya Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ❤️ it! It was a good book. I loved reading it every night. I really liked the end, the end may be my favorite part of the book.

[Evelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story!!

I picked this story because I grew up with and love horses and I love animal rescue! It fulfilled my every expectation and then some!

[AISilverB · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this series 😍 It makes me want to love life more.

[Lupe Goat · Rating 4 out of 5]

noice. I liked it.

[Michaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a cute book. I needed a typical horse-girl read because I’ve been missing having hoof therapy. Plus, if only all fosters were like Annie and Popeye, the world would be a better place.

[Jasmine Denise Roush]

Love it

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was pretty good. But it made me want a horse even more than I already do.

[Lorelai Howe · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was really good I loved the main character and it had God in it so that made it even better

[AlishaReadsAllDay · Rating 1 out of 5]

A 10 year old blackmailed me into reading this, and I can safely say I did nothing to deserve this book.

[Mikayla leanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Currently visiting my dad after 13 years and going through a box of old stuff. I remember absolutely LOVING this story when I was 9/10. My heart

[Keeley McJunkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kinda cheesy but I liked it.

[~Elliana~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Made me cry and not most books do that..READ IT NOW

[Noelani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daughter is loving horse books these days.

[Wendi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect for : Personal reading, Great gift book for child/young adult

In a nutshell: A gentle, charming book filled with learning opportunities, hope, faith, love and family. Once I picked this book up, I found it refreshing in its simplicity and it's faith-centered attitude. No pushy preaching here - but something a child/young adult/adult/parent can read and enjoy, while getting a sense of peace, happiness . . . and family. Dakota Brown has been from foster-home to foster-home, never fitting in, never staying long. She is brought to the Coolidges farm, where she meets a wonderful family who help her see that she might be able to be part of a family after all! It was great to watch Dakota make choices that affected both her and those around her. The families reactions always surprised her, as they put people above posessions. Throughout the book, choices are made, some good - some bad, and there are consequenses to help reinforce growth and learning.

My Review:
This book is about Dakota Brown, a 15 year-old girl who has already been to seven different foster homes. Now she is being taken to the eighth foster-home by Ms. Bean, her social worker. From the get-go, Dakota is planning to run-away, and plans to enlist the help of Niel, another kid who has been lost in the foster-system for so long he plans to leave for good.

Dakota uses her list-book to help keep some sort of control of her life. The book lincludes many 10-Reasons Why . . . lists (Why I Don't Like. . . Why Horses are Better Than Cars . . . , etc).

Ms. Bean feels that Dakota might do better with a change of pace, so takes her to Nice, the small community where the Coolidges live on their farm Starlight Animal Rescue. Dr. Annie and Chester "Popeye" Coolidge are loving parents to both their natural son Hank, and two other foster-children Kat and Wes. Each memeber of the family has a significant impact on Dakota, helping to ultimately help her make the best choices for both herself, and the family.

Not everything in the story is perfect (which wouldn't be realistic). One member is fighting a serious illness, and one has ties to a troubled parent. Dakota makes many mistakes in her first two weeks (crashing Popeye's and Hank's truck, stealing money from the Pet Adoption canister), but through these mistakes, she learns valuable lessons and comes to learn that she has found people to care for, who love her for herself. Could this be the family she has secretly yearned for?

Characters: I encourage you to come meet the people who cheer for Dakota when she successfully gets her driver's permit (she admits never knowing a time when someone has cheered for her, what can I say - I felt like cheering as well), who help her learn to be part of a team, who teach her to be responsible and care for someone/something else (Blackfire the horse has a special transformation that is entirely thanks to Dakota). The characters, both human and animal, are wonderful. Each has a personality that is used by the author to help with growth within the family. I truely loved each character.

Story-Line: I think the story-line was great, especially considering the age group most likely to read the story, those around 9-12 or so years old. Kids will be able to relate to the characters' feelings and actions, even if they aren't a foster-child themselves. It will help kids to look at how their actions affect others, and that they can have a positive impact on people and animals through their choices and how they treat others.

Readability: This was a very easy-to-read story for all ages. Even though it is written as juvenile fiction, it is all-ages appropriate. It made me smile and walk with a lighter step.

Overall: A great book, written with a Christian influence (not over-powering, more inspiring and hope-filled). This is sure to be a favorite book/series for both kids and parents.

[&#x1f434;wallenhorsegirl&#x1f434; · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh. My. Gosh. This was amazing!!! I loved Dakota instantly! She was great. I wish there were more in the series about her and blackfire. I highly recommend this to any horse girl! Please read this book! You will be laughing and maybe even crying! Amazing for sure! 💕😊

[Lis K · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful beginning to the Starlight Animal Rescue series. The main character, Dakota, is 16 years old but I think both tweens and teens would enjoy this book. I was surprised but glad that the author portrayed a youth in foster care as her main character. Having worked with this group of youth before, I totally connected with Dakota's attitude of just wanting to run away, putting on a game face until she could leave, and trying not to get too attached to anyone. Other readers might think she's hard to like but I really felt for her since she had no sense of permanency. Just like the author's other books, the supporting cast of characters are unique and funny, especially the foster parents (I wish there were a lot more foster parents like them!). Since I don't know much about horses, I always feel like I learn so much about horses and their behavior whenever I read Ms. Mackall's books. For those who read the Winnie the Horse Gentler series, you'll be happy to know these two series are connected. The foster family, the Coolidges, are related to Winnie's friend Catman Coolidge. Also, the kids email Winnie and Catman for advice about horses and cats. There were some pretty humorous moments and pretty touching ones, too. I really loved the Bible verse that finally spoke to Dakota about how much the Father loves us that He calls us His children because that is what we are! How it must speak to a child who longs for a father's love and a real family! On a side note, there is a helpful section at the end of the book on "tips for finding your perfect pet." I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to any tween/teen.

[Soleil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Back Cover: A new series by Dandi Daley Mackall, author of the best-selling Winnie the Horse Gentler series! "I've run away seven times--never once to anything, just away from. Maybe that's why they call me a "runaway," and not a "run-to."" Meet 16-year-old Dakota Brown. She used to love all things "horse" until she lost everything, including hope. The minute she sets foot on her foster parents' farm--Starlight Animal Rescue--she plans her escape. But can an "impossible" horse named Blackfire and this quirky collection of animal lovers be the home she's always dreamed of? Starlight Animal Rescue: Where problem horses are trained and loved, where abandoned dogs become heroes, where stray cats become loyal companions. And where people with nowhere to fit in find a place to belong.

~~~~

Runaway, the first book in the Starlight series, is a series that goes along with the Winnie the Horse Gentler. A foster teen, Dakota, has bounced around the foster system for a while. When she goes to a family who lives on a farm, she immediately plans to run away for good. But the foster family she's with is more than she thought it would be. As the time soon comes, will she go and start over, or stay with the family?
I really enjoyed this book, and I would suggest it to anyone who loves animals and foster families.

I would rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.

[Sofia Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Typical Dakota -"Wherever we are going, I won't be staying. That much I can promise. I've run away seven times -never once to anything, just away from. "

Dakota Brown has mastered one thing:running away. Wherever Chicago's social services place her this time, she is determined to find a way out. But this new foster family isn't like the others. Something's different. People are nice, caring even. And there's an animal shelter nearby where Dakota can be with the horses whenever she wants. But she doesn't belong here, does she? She's just a foster, right? Her escape time is coming up, and Dakota doesn't know what to think.

"Runaway" has a very interesting perspective, which I, for one, should probably read more on. Dakota has never had a good family. That's why it's hard for her to understand the concept of being a part of God's. The family, at least most of it, is Christian. They love Dakota, something she had never experienced with foster parents and siblings. Faith isn't described as much as it could be, though.

On the technical side, "Runaway" relied very heavily on dialogue, which slowed down the story somewhat. And sometimes it was hard to tell what emotion the speaker was talking with.

Overall, "Runaway" has a good idea and good suspense, I think (I kept wondering how and if she was going to run away) but I'd really like if there was more about God.

[Jenny Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dakota Brown is a foster kid who's been in the system long enough to have a sob story for any setting. She makes lists to feel in control and has almost mastered the art of avoiding attachment. She plans her escape before she ever arrives at her next home. Until Dakota is assigned to Starlight Animal Rescue and the family that runs it. There she finds herself stranded in the country with two other foster kids, dogs, cats, and horses. She had no problem keeping disconnected from the people, it was the horse that captured her heart. Dakota instantly connects with a horse dubbed Black Devil. The connection runs so deep that she renames the horse Blackfire and sneaks out to train the whenever she can.

I initially ordered this book for my daughter, but when I found myself bored one day and the book sitting lonely on her shelf I couldn't help myself. It was hard to put down. I enjoyed the different personalities of the characters and the interesting peak into the world of the horse. I will definitely be encouraging my daughter to pick this one next time she is looking for something to read.

[Meagan Myhren-Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

RUNAWAY
Starlight Animal Rescue
By Dandi Daley Mackall

Dakota Brown's known to be a runner. She's been in the system since she was 9 and before entering it her home life was less than ideal.

But there is something different about this foster home. First it's in the middle of nowhere, and it has a really lame name Nice. Why anyone would want to live in someplace called Nice is totally beyond Dakota's comprehension. Then it is also home to Starlight Animal Rescue, not that there is anything wrong with animals, though Dakota isn't a fan of cats. But there are horses... And when Dakota and her caseworker Ms. Bean arrive they are definitely not on their best behavior trying for a good first impression, which is a shocker for Dakota.

But when Dakota finds a horse that needs her she is torn. Should she continue her plans to runaway to California? Or could she actually finally find a home with the Coolidges? And will Dakota discover what she truly wants before she ruins her chance to be part of a loving family?