Stealing Thunder

by Mary Casanova

Libby visits her neighbor's spirited horse Thunder every day, grooming and riding him, and when Mr. Porter starts to abuse Thunder she decides to steal him away to safety, with the help of her new friend Griff.

Genres: Horses, Childrens, Animals, Young Adult, Fiction

144 pages, Paperback

First published March 15, 1999

About the author

Mary Casanova is an award-winning children's author of novels and picture books. Many of her books stem from her life on the Minnesota-Canadian border; yet some of her stories have taken her as far away as France, Norway, and Belize for research. Whatever the setting for her books, Casanova writes stories that matter--and stories that kids can't put down.

Her book awards include: American Library Association "Notable," Aesop Accolades by the American Folklore Society, Parents' Choice "Gold" Award, Booklist Editor Choice, and two Minnesota Book Awards. Her books frequently land on state children's choice book master lists across the country. "The greatest reward for me," Casanova states, "is when a young reader tells me she or he loves one of my books. For me, it's all about communicating writer-to-reader through a character and story."

Casanova grew up in a family of ten children in St. Paul, Minnesota. In a bustling camp-like atmosphere, Casanova found that writing became her voice. "Words are my paintbrush," she explains, "my way of exploring the world around me."

Now, with 19 books published and many more under contract and forthcoming, she divides her time between writing and traveling. Nationally and internationally, at schools and conferences, Casanova shares her love of writing and reading with children and adults.

Her newest novel, The Klipfish Code, makes use of Mary's on-site research in Norway. The story explores an important facet of Norwegian history through the experiences of Marit, a 12-year-old Norwegian girl who finds a way to fight against the 5-year Nazi occupation of Norway. Marit and her brother Lars are separated from their parents (who are working for the Resistance) and sent to live on an island with their gruff grandfather and school teacher aunt. During the course of the story, Marit's aunt is one of the Norwegian school teachers that gets sent to a concentration camp for refusing to integrate Nazi propaganda into her classroom. With potential danger waiting every turn, Marit finds a way to help the Resistance and eventually reunite her family.

Mary's series, Dog Watch (Simon and Schuster) is based on her northern Minnesota village where dogs are allowed to roam free—as long as they don't get in trouble. If they get in trouble, they earn a sticker on their page at the village clerk's office; too many stickers and a trouble-making dog must remain at home. "I never know where the next story will come from. It’s a delight when the stories come right from this corner of the world I call home." She makes her home in a 100-year old house on Rainy Lake with her husband, Charles, and their three "above average" dogs and spends free time with their horses, Jay and Midnight.

Reviews

[Jade]

could use a little more detail

[Lacy Dohner · Rating 2 out of 5]

Libby's beloved neighbor Jolene Porter has just disappeared, leaving behind a disgruntled husband with financial woes, a sprawling horse ranch, and Thunder, the horse that Libby loves. When she discovers that Mr. Porter is abusing Thunder-- and possibly has even more sinister plans for him-- Libby knows she must get Thunder to safety. With the help of her new friend Griff, a boy with a shady history of his own, she hatches a plan to rescue her beloved horse-- but neither of them realize how desperate and dangerous Mr. Porter has become.

To start with, this book could use a good editor. There were a handful of typos, as well as bigger issues like plot holes and loose ends (Why did Jolene disappear-- and then come back-- and then disappear again???). Libby was not a terribly likable heroine. She seemed to have a chip on her shoulder with no real reason why. My biggest problem was her seemingly unfounded mistrust of her parents. They seemed like pretty perfect parents-- and she resented them for it? While Griff is explaining how he ended up in foster care, Libby agrees that her parents are a disappointment, too-- they won't immediately buy her a $5,000 horse. She reasons that she can't tell them about Mr. Porter's abuse because they'll be too disappointed to find that she's been sneaking out-- but then they find out about her sneaking out, and she still doesn't tell them. They respond to her moods and attitudes with consistent empathy and patience, and always believe her, but she claims she can't talk to them because they won't take her seriously. Ultimately, this reads like a first draft.

[Brynn Petersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was very exiting and unexpected, but also very emotional. I would really recommend this book.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Libby loved her neighbors' horse, Thunderbird. When she discovered that the man was being cruel to the horse, she decided to hide Thunder.

This was an okay book, but I get tired of books where the parents never listen to their children and don't believe anything they say. Therefore, the child has to take matters into his own hands and does some dangerous things.

[Jaden Collins · Rating 2 out of 5]

it sucked. But I'll admit it did get me to smile a bit at the end.
I picked this book up for 25 cents at a thrift store so I wouldn't say it would be a waste of money but I wouldn't pay full price. It needed something, what I dont know.

[Amanda Engelking · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty decent. Not sure why Libby just didn't tell her parents that Thunder was being abused, but I guess then there wouldn't be much of a story.

[Felix · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 .5

[Erin Cantu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this with Delaney. Great horse book for a young reader. She loved it

[Sophia Barsuhn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun little trip down memory lane. It seemed like a much longer book as a child, but it's only 136 pages and takes place over a month at most. It was nice to read it again.

[Sue Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝙑𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙜𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮
𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙨 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙨
𝙎𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙗𝙤𝙣𝘿'𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙨𝙚
𝘼𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙙𝙞𝙙 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙩

[Hadi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book when I was younger, and it’s still a fun read sometimes. My only problem was how Libby’s parents never listened to her, because I have always hated books where the parents think that they have complete control and their children have nothing important to say. I have a feeling that, with the way her parents are portrayed, if she had told her parents from the beginning that Thunder was being abused they wouldn’t do anything because they would think ‘Oh, it’s not our place to step in because it’s that man’s horse’ which is what a lot of adults seem to do. They think they can’t do anything because it’s not their place so they don’t help, but then the child magically finds a way to help anyways. I can name so many books where this happens.

[M (Inactive because school) · Rating 5 out of 5]

How touching!! I have found this book as a great teacher! And why? Because it taught me how to be brave no matter how hard things are. Plus it's a story of genuine friendship. Libby was the REAL owner of Thunder because she's the real person who loves him. I recommend this to everyone- who could read! I mean, everybody should read this book. It's a read worth praising....:)

As I read this book I tried to picture out the scenes that every page tells me. Well, I really didn't like Mr. Porter! Gosh, he was one pain in the posterior(or butt)....and he even tried to hurt his horses just to get money. Is that even a real owner? I don't think so.... He's a murderer!

I was amazed Libby was able to make it to Thunder's salvation. No matter how Porter tried to kick their butts( Libby and her friend Griff-I forgot if this is the correct spelling 'cause I read this during 7th grade..heehee), he couldn't. He's the bad guy, so whatever he does comes back to him like a wicked boomerang.

Anyway, Griff was pretty funny! I mean, he's some sort of Greg Heffley..well, at least a part of him! Especially when he and Libby first met. Libby was up in a tree trying to spy on Mr. Porter's evil schemes on his horses while the kid was putting his clothes off to bath in some kind of river..I forgot what kind of body of water it was. And thank goodness Libby stopped him.

This is a great book for middle schoolers. You better read it. It's a fast-paced and great read.:)

To adults, if you're gonna read this book, you gotta open your minds and bring yourselves back to your childhood. This book's a ninja- it kicks butt! It's touching. too!!

[Logan.nester · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many people have been abused may like this book. The book "Stealing Thunder" by Mary Casanova has many good characteristics. One characteristic is sadness like when Libby, the main character, sees thunder, a horse that the main character loves, bleeding because he was being hit with a crop, a short riding whip consisting of a stock without a lash. Another characteristic is pain like when Libby is riding off on thunder and thunder gets bit by a German Shepard. A final characteristic is stealing like when Libby and Griff, Libby's friend, steal thunder so he would be safe. People who like action and sad books will like "Stealing Thunder" by Mary Casanova.

[Megan M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this book 4 stars. I liked rhis book because i like to read about adventure and horses. This book kept me reading to find out would happen next. It wasn't interesting right away in the begining of the book but later on it got very interesting. I like this adventure book because I liked to read about Libby the girl that is trying to help a horse that is being treated in a harsh way. I liked that because she is caring about what the horse wants and not what she wants. If you like to read about horses and adventure you should read this book.

[Cyban Gicole Sibug · Rating 5 out of 5]

I amazed Libby was able to make it to Thunder's salvation. No matter how Porter tried to kick their ass( Libby and her friend Griff-I forgot if this is the correct spelling cause I read this during 7th grade..hihihihihi), he couldn't. He's the bad guy, so whatever he does comes back to him like a wicked boomerang.

[Katelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was really suspensefull when you havent got to the part where the lady across the street hasn't come back, but a little original and dull

[Alyssa Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books when I was a young girl! I was obsessed with horses and read this book several times! I recommend it for all girls that loves horses.

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a good book but good in the way that it follows the same formula as any horse story