Storm Chaser

by Chris Platt

Jessie dreams of training horses, and secretly begins working with a Paint filly named Storm Chaser. But when disaster strikes the ranch, will she be able to protect Storm Chaser?
Thirteen-year-old Jessie lives with her family on the dusty Wild Hawk Ranch in Nevada and loves the horses her father and brother break in to sell to local ranchers and rodeo competitors. This year, she is determined to help train the horses, especially when she lays eyes on the wild Paint filly Storm Chaser. When Jessie’s father tells her she is still too young, she deliberately disobeys him by working with the filly.
When a fire destroys the barn, Jessie’s family reluctantly turns their ranch into a vacation dude ranch to earn much-needed money. Jessie becomes wary of Ariel, a rude guest and spoiled city girl who always expects to get her way, and when Ariel announces she wants to buy Storm Chaser, Jessie’s already fragile world begins to crack. What can she do to keep “her” beloved Paint from being sold?
Chris Platt, a former jockey, has written an entertaining and well-paced story with sympathetic characters. Featuring plenty of horse-filled action scenes and information about horse training and behavior, Storm Chaser is sure to delight equine enthusiasts.

Genres: Animals, Middle Grade, Childrens, Horses, Photography, Nonfiction, Realistic Fiction

177 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Chris Platt is an award-winning author of more than a dozen books for young readers, including the popular horse novels Moon Shadow; Willow King and its sequel, Race the Wind; and many titles in the Thoroughbred juvenile fiction series.

She has a degree in journalism from the University of Nevada, Reno, and specializes in writing about horses. During her youth she worked as a jockey in Oregon (she was one of the first female jockeys in the state), and has been a life-long horse owner. Platt lives in Washoe Valley, Nevada.

Reviews

[Rena Sherwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

This 2009 book from prolific YA author Chris Platt seems like a carbon copy of the Phantom Stallion series by Terri Farley. The similarities are hard to ignore:

* Ranch has money trouble? Check.
* Barn fire? Check.
* Our Protagonist already has a horse, but wants another really, really pretty one? Check.
* Filthy rich, spoiled teen girl making life hell for Our Protagonist? Check.
* Neighbors are Native Americans? Check.

This is a really predictable book for anyone that's read any "she wants a horse" type books. Unlike the Phantom Stallion series, paragraphs aren't made up of single sentences. There is an interesting three-page extra about Paint horses after the story and About the Author page.

The only reason this gets three stars and not two is because of the descriptions of training a young horse to halter and saddle. That, and the character of Rusty, the old sorrel gelding that is Our Protagonist's horse. He was freakin' awesome.

I found it odd that it was travel agents that helped the cattle ranch become a dude ranch. I would've liked to know how. This was never gone into. It seems kinda fishy that a working cattle ranch could turn into a dude ranch in just three weeks.

[Brianna Carlson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The main character in Storm Chaser is a girl that is about 10 years old that lives on a run down ranch. The main conflict is that her mother's parents want to sell the ranch because they cannot afford it, but then their daughter gives them the idea of cleaning up the ranch and having people stay at the ranch and pay them like they used to do in the past. Some of the things that I liked about this book is that they actually had some helpful ways of training younger horses and ways to help horses with wounds on their feet. One thing that I didn't really like was the fact that some of the words that they used weren't that good and I felt like it was a little easy. I think that I would recommend this book to girls that like horses that are in about 7th or 8th grade.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book could be read by a boy or girl who is in 4th grade or higher. It could be read by a child who loves horses or just love animals.

2011-2012 Golden Sower Nominees

[Karen GoatKeeper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jessie is lucky. She is horse crazy and lives on a ranch where here father and brother break and train horses every year.
Then lightning hits burning down their barn and winter's supply of hay. The ranch is in financial peril. Jessie's old horse survives, but can't be ridden anymore.
Aided by her friend Marybeth, Jessie helps prepare the ranch to host vacationers. Jessie has her eye on a special pinto filly in this year's group of horses.
But one vacationing girl may upset the entire thing.
The book is easy reading. It is very horse oriented with lots of tips on handling a young horse. It is also about friendship.

[L.B. Shire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story for younger horse lovers. Readers of Terri Farley's Phantom Stallion series would like this author.

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am surprised I haven't read this one before

[Ellen Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this junior fiction story about a ranch family, their horses, their misfortunes and their adventures. Even though Jessie is only thirteen years old in the story, she is not a whiny brat. She is respectful, mature, and very likable. She does disobey her father by learning to train Storm Chaser with her brother, but they're both in it together; also, that's what siblings do sometimes. I liked that Jessie's parents are aware of their children and their motives for doing things and that at the end, Jessie's dad decides that money isn't everything. It was a really nice, sweet story.

[Scott Hayden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book for kids, especially girls and horse lovers. My daughter Krista gave it to me for Christmas.

I liked the multiple problems woven into the plot: Jessica falls in love with a new filly, but knows the family will have to sell it; she is eager to train the horse, but her father thinks she's still too young, despite the fact that she's a few years older than her brother when he started training horses; a barn-fire places the family in financial straights; the only other girl anywhere in the neighborhood is just annoying and young enough to be disqualified as a best friend, despite her loyalty. It's also a nice change of pace for a children's book that NOT every problem in the book is resolved. [Warning - slight spoiler in this sentence - One nasty character in the book remains a nasty character. She doesn't admit she's a haughty flirt and never apologizes. That's a realism youngsters need to grapple with.]

I liked the way that Jessica knew how to read her family's nonverbal communication. This would be a great book to help children understand how respect and other attitudes are displayed in our facial expression, posture, and gesture.

Since I grew up with horses, too, I was fascinated by the author's insights into horse behavior, training, and riding. This is not an author who just read up on horses and happened to choose a ranch as a setting. Chris Platt has been riding since she was two years old. She writes of what she knows well and loves.

Another big kudo I give this book is for having a respectable father figure. What a contrast to most Disney flicks where fathers are either absent, embecilic, or overbearing. Although he's not perfect, suffers pain, gives up some pride, and has to admit an error in judgement, Platt portrays a man worhty of the authority that's his as head of the family.

Finally, I applaud the author's depiction of a main character with an active conscience. Jessica senses right and wrong beyond the letter of the law, even if she doesn't always follow it. Her inner competition between her father's intentions and her desire to train and keep the new filly drives the story.

It's just a little low on action, that's why I hesitate to recommend it for boys, and I almost held back from 4 stars. I don't think I would have liked it as a boy. Yes, there IS action (barn fire, horse training, and a minor accident), but the real drama is well played out in social interactions and heart struggles.

I would recommend this book to those who are teaching "The Young Peacemaker". (See my review and my website http://youngpeacemakerinasia.weebly.com/ ). Many of the novel's elements provide rich food for thought on peacemaking principles.

[Sandra Stiles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessie is a thirteen year old girl who lives on Wild Hawk Ranch in Nevada. Her best friend Marybeth is two years younger than she is. When her brothers and friends bring in the herd of horses that have been roaming free on the range, Jessie spots a beautiful paint that she would love to have. Her horse Rusty is getting so old that she will soon have to stop riding him. She wants an opportunity to break the paint that she has named Storm Chaser but her father says she is still too young. Her brother Duncan doesn't agree with his father so he starts secretly helping her train Chase. When the barn burns down after a storm they have no choice but to open the ranch up as a tourist spot to help pay for what they lost. It is one of their first guests, Ariel, who turns out to be the person to take Chase away from Jessie.
I don't usually read books about horses. I grew up on a farm but didn't have horses. I identified with getting the hay in and feeding the animals and the myriad of chores that goes along with the farm. I did love this book. I found that it kept me waiting until the very end to see how it was going to turn out. I have several students who love horse books and will love the fact that I have added this to my shelves.

[Mich Must Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

Storm Chaser is a beautiful full color conversation piece for a coffee table. This book is extra wide and landscape orientation for maximum effect. Landscape photography is not easy as it would seem. Trying to capture the landscape and capture the feeling of awe you get when your standing there is not easy. Olbinski captures the landscape and the weather formations beautifully. Most of the pictures are on the right with descriptions on the left. Each picture is described with details about his adventure to get the picture. In many cases, he also gives information on how he got the images. So, for anyone interested in photography, this is great! Also, my two toddlers are getting interested in weather: talking about it, getting excited about rainy days or sunny days, etc. They were actually very interested to see this and it seemed to work well as a teaching tool describing different cloud formations and storms. Excellent book!
www.michmustread.com

[Megan]

This is a very good book of what I have read of it. There is a barn fire and she got the chance to finally train a horse by herself and the ranch isn't a ranch anymore it is something else but you will have to find out for yourself. now i am done with it and it is a good book i think that anyone who needs to read books should read this because it isn't just about horses it has a lot of different branches (it has alot of different subjects). Thats all i can think of thanks for reading my review. Hope you read it.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was a nice horse story. It was a good story about a family dealing with a difficult situation. It was also a good story about friendship and realizing who your real friends are...they are the ones who help you when you need it without you asking and who stand by you even when you are not the nicest person. They are not the ones who are mean or just talk to you because they want something. The plot was a little weak at some points but overall this was a good story and kids will enjoy it. I liked the information on horses and horse breaking...very informative.

[Jami · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audience: This is a great book for girls who love horses. It is also a great book for kids interested in reading about real life adventures. It would work well for a teacher looking for a book about choosing friends or one to help teach problem and solution.

Appeal: This book has really engaging characters and the plot gets really intense really fast so readers are compelled to read on and find out if the ranch can be saved as well as what will happen to Jessica's human and horse friends.

Awards List: This book was a 2011-2012 Golden Sower Nominee.

[Susan Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

A 2011-12 Mark Twain Nominee Award in Missouri, Storm Chaser is another horse story. Girls will like this story which features 13-year-old Jessie who lives on a ranch in Nevada. When her father and brother round up wild horses to break and sell to local ranchers, Jessie falls in love with a paint filly. But tragedy befalls the family and they must make plans to sell all the wild horses, including the horse Jessie has her heart set on.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

My 11 year old daughter wanted me to read this book so I did. A simple read for me and I would say the audience is preteen the early teen. THe story is good, easy to follow and if you love horses you do find yourself involved in the story. A small family tries to decide what to do financially with the small ranch they live on when a fire breaks and burns their barns they are left with little choice but to attempt life on a "dude ranch".

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A 2011-12 Mark Twain nominee...Jessie lives with her family on a barely-breaking-even ranch in Nevada. After a fire takes their barn and first hay cutting, the family is forced to open a dude ranch. Jessie falls in love with a new pony, but a nasty, rich girl wants the horse for herself.

[Mari Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great MG novel about a girl, a wild horse and the ranch her parents are trying to save. I really enjoyed this one. There is a lot of description about training horses but it didn't seem to slow down the narrative much. Great message about true friendship and responsibility.

[Julia Gay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. Good story line, great family story showing how good honest hard work does pay off. There are not enough good books with horses and a female main character...this book definitely fills that need!!

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This nut case, like all storm chasers, goes out and chases and photographs storms. Images though are fantastic, and some of his stories about his images are both hair raising and interesting. Whether you are interested in storms or not, well worth the read and look!

[Karen Arendt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice informative horse story, nice lesson without being heavy handed. I enjoyed learning information about different breeds of horses, too. Girls who like horses will like this one for sure.

[Lori Moon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book by the same author as "Sarah's Key." Very different feel, but loved it all the same.

[Pbaker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of my girls last year will like this story about horses-wild!

[Kay]

2011-2012 Intermediate Golden Sower.

[Barbara Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Horses, friendship, family

[Carter Glynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book is slow going and very sad. I was crying a little in this book at a few diffrent parts. But there is not much action in the book or any mysteries. But it is a 2011-2012 Mark Twain award.

[Starr Elementary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. I think both boys and girls would enjoy the story of Storm Chaser. It teaches great lessons about friends how difficult life can be sometimes.

[Judy Moody · Rating 4 out of 5]

Those who like horse stories will love this one

[Jack LaGue · Rating 5 out of 5]

JUST FINISHED! IT WAS AWESOME!

[Abbey · Rating 5 out of 5]

beautiful book i want everyone who luvs horses to read this book plz

[Reba · Rating 4 out of 5]

It ends better than I thought it would.